AFO

[Guest guest]

Hi,, I need help please...

I am trying to get used to and wear one AFO on my left foot, because of foot

drop.. It sure does help. But now I hear and read about AFOs weakening your

musles there because it is holding you calf all day.

I come home from work and immediately take it off. I walk my treadmill and ride

my stationery bike a few times a week, should do more, LOL,,, hoping this will

keep the muscle strength that I have, and build more, and not loose any.

If I go walking in the neighborhood I walk the old way without the AFO and

watching my every step, again to build muscle and not loose any. I wish they

could make these not so high and not so full of plastic.

This is my second orthotist and he is much better and aims to please. He made a

full foot plate but that DID NOT work. I could not fit that into any of my

shoes. So he cut it back and so on.

I even read a message from someone here that prefers to not try AFOs because of

it weakening the muscles... Oh dear.. thanks for reading and tell me how you

feel about these... I really like having you all to talk to, because sometimes I

feel like I am the only one with CMT in the whole wide world. But of course I

know I'm not.

Thanks again... Elaine

[Guest guest]

Elaine,

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Yes, it is difficult

making the decision that you need AFOs because of the worry of

muscle wasting. But sometimes you have to make necessary changes in

your life to keep yourself from injury.

I wear my AFOs when I go anywhere. I do not wear them around the house and

occasionally when I go outside in my yard. But like you said, you need to be

very careful. Once you wear them and you realize how much they help you to

walk, it is hard not to wear them. At least that's the way it is in my case.

I think you're doing the right thing by not wearing it all the time. I have had

mine for almost 3 years and I can tell that my legs are weaker. However, I

don't know if it is caused by the AFOsor the natural progression of the disease.

I'm glad you found a good orthotist. Did you buy larger size shoes

when you got the AFO? You usually need to buy at least one size

larger & a wider shoe with extra depth. There is no way my AFOs

would fit in my pre-AFO shoes.

Yes.. it's good to have a place to come to and talk about CMT

because a lot of people simply don't understand it.

Holly