Re: Jean Neilsen and Marmaduke Loke, Bracemakers

[Guest guest]

<Lastly, please make sure your Orthotist is certified; there are

strict standards, educational qualifications, for Orthotists, just

like Docs and Lawyers. Ask your Orthotist questions about his/her

background. Be smart, be savy. Your feet and legs will thank you.>

You are a thousand per cent right about that, Gretchen. I have always been very

fortunate in that department.

Barb

[Guest guest]

Gretchen,

Thanks for the heads up and I personally thank you because I don't know if you

remember but I was looking in to purchasing them before you told me that they

were a scam.

Before you told us about them, I actually spoke to Marmaduke and he spoke to me

be for almost an hour. He told me he would have a NJ (where I am from) doctor,

certified orthotist, and licensed physical

therapist evaluate me and I would pay him directly and

Marmaduke would make the braces and ship them. He said insurance would cover

them if I was " aggressive " with them. He told me they sometimes break but not

much different then than regular AFOs would and that seemed honest and possibly

encouraging since I had

mine 10 years and never broke.

What concerned me was he said if they broke he would " make best efforts " on

fixing them or replacing them at a lower rate. That

seemed fishy to me and later I read he would not fix them and would become

unavailable. When I asked how his was different than the " Helios " I saw on the

OrthoRehab site he told me his side of the story.

According to him, he worked there and since he was " doing all the work " and it

was his idea, he left and started his own business making them even

better...blah blah. I was a little skepticle about

him, he seemed like he was the only one there and eager for business. He also

seemed charasmatic and a good BS'er saying he spends 10 hours studying the video

of each persons movements to make the perfect brace that would allow people to

walk normal again.

Well I did contact the doctor in NJ who emailed me this pre-registration form

with standard questions. This was the most poorly drafted form and I couldn't

even fill it out it was so bad, so of course I didn't.

I would have had to pay over $1,000 just for a consulation. It certainly seems

like a scam too me. If they were as good as they make it seem they would have

been better recognized in the medical community and they would have changed the

way braces are made

today. I feel bad for those who paid all this money and got scammed. They feed

on people's weakeness.

Mobility is priceless and most of us would give up most of our posessions to be

able to walk normal.

I do have one question, do you think or does anyone have good experiences with

the OrthoRehab Helio's? I would hate for them to get a bad rap because of

scamming imitators. Thanks.

Andy

[Guest guest]

You're one lucky duck, Gretchen. ;-)

I just wish all LICENSED orthotists were at least competent. Here in Texas, we

attract orthotists from all over the fruited plains, who were the general high

school morons, who excelled at nothing, and then - EUREKA! - they discovered a

field which requires less skill

than a carpenter (sorry, grandpa), but with the prestige of a doctor, and the

income, too!! Orthotists - in general - suck.

They should make half the money (i.e., eliminate insurance

payments), and drop the 'licensure' clown game - I suspect the good ones would

stay, while the hustlers will move into another field, to crap on someone else.

Unfortunately, we really need AFOs, KAFOs, etc., so we're (including insurance

companies, Medicare, etc.) sort of collectively screwed.

I'm glad I got that off my shoulders this morning. lol ;-)

[Guest guest]

I have to agree with you. I once had a guy make my AFOs both for my right

leg...LOL..I haven't had very good luck with things like that. For the cost of

braces and our health don't you think we should keep going back until they get

them right???

Geri

[Guest guest]

Hi Andy,

Glad you sensed a scam with Marmaduke.  He is quite the saleman and so is

Jean-.  The story he told you about him having the idea for the Helios is

false as well.  I know the entire story concerning him and and it is

not as he told you that is for sure.  I was responsible for Jean- losing his

license with the Board of Orthotics and tried for Loke's license as well but

since it was who actually made my braces they could go only after him

even though Loke was involved in it too.  I kept hoping that someone would file

suit against Loke and then he would have his license revoked as well.

I can vouch for Mitch Warner of Ortho Rehab Design as being the best and his

braces are the best on the market for CMT as far as I am concerned.  He is the

most knowledgeable man I have ever met as far as CMT goes too.  Yes they are

expensive but if you would understand the process in making them you would see

why.  The last I had heard he was in the process of making less expensive ones

but I have not heard why they are different than the Helios but I am sure he

would explain it to you if you are interested in them. 

Betty

[Guest guest]

Hi Betty,

Thanks for the reply and recommendation of Mitch

Warner. I only wish they had facilities closer to

me, I live in NJ and it will be expensive and

difficult for me to fly to Las Vegas to get them. It

seems they are worth the money and hopefully in the

next few years they will be more accessible and

cheaper.

Great job with having 's license revoked and

eventually I am sure Maraduke's will too. It is sad

how anyone can prey on people's weakeness like that.

Andy

[Guest guest]

Hey we already have two left feet so maybe they were trying a new method lol. I

am sure its not as easy as it seems to make the braces but with all the years it

takes to be licensed you would think they would be able to cast you and have

your feet pointed straight but what do I know right?

Andy