Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 It could be time for new braces if they are hurting your feet. You can also contact the company where you got them to see if they can do a re-evaluation or adjustment on them. Mother to Ashlee Rayne & Aimee Renae Blog ________________________________ From: bakerballam <bakerballam@...> Sent: Tue, March 1, 2011 8:18:13 PM Subject: Brace sores  HI. My name is and I was diagnoses with CMT about 2 years ago. I wear custom fit AFOs for both feet. I have started getting a sore on the front outer pressure point on my left foot. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to help prevent this? I put cushions inside the braces but it doesnt seem to help. It has gotten bad enough it hurts even when i do not wear the braces. I am at a loss on what to do because I am try to walk on the inside a little more now the inside is getting sore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 I went back to the clinic I received the AFO from and they put special foam inside where I was having the sores. I kept bandages on the sores until they healed and I rarely have any problems since they did that to the pressure points where everything rubs. From: bakerballam@... Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 02:18:13 +0000 Subject: Brace sores HI. My name is and I was diagnoses with CMT about 2 years ago. I wear custom fit AFOs for both feet. I have started getting a sore on the front outer pressure point on my left foot. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to help prevent this? I put cushions inside the braces but it doesnt seem to help. It has gotten bad enough it hurts even when i do not wear the braces. I am at a loss on what to do because I am try to walk on the inside a little more now the inside is getting sore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 , Go back where you got them and have them adjusted. Geri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 This shouldn't be happening. Get an appointment as soon as possible with your orthotist. And in the meantime, pay close attention to the sores. Keep them clean and aired, use lotion to keep soft and do not let them rupture and become infected. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Hi , My 9 year old daughter went through this same experience in the last year. The pain in her foot was so bad that it was causing her to alter her gait, & not in a good way. We took her back to her orthotist (an amazing man) and he immediately made some adjustments to the thickness of the plastic right where it was being rubbed, then added some extra cushions. Immediately it started feeling better (she had developed a huge callous on that spot). It has been about 3-4 months now & her callous is all gone & the braces don't irritate her foot in that spot. Lesson we learned: Go see the orthotist as soon as trouble comes up. They should be able to trouble shoot & fix the situation fairly easily. :} On Mar 1, 2011, at 6:18 PM, bakerballam wrote: > HI. My name is and I was diagnoses with CMT about 2 years ago. I wear custom fit AFOs for both feet. I have started getting a sore on the front outer pressure point on my left foot. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to help prevent this? I put cushions inside the braces but it doesnt seem to help. It has gotten bad enough it hurts even when i do not wear the braces. I am at a loss on what to do because I am try to walk on the inside a little more now the inside is getting sore. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Hello , The sore spots usually arise due to high pressure points under the AFO. The AFO needs to be adjusted and modified to prevent that from happening. The AFOs must support the foot and ankle and must do so over the largest cushioned area possible in order to prevent high pressure points. One reaction of the skin under a high pressure point is to form a callous to protect itself. The callous can eventually form a cyst if there is enough skin damage. This is usually indicated by a dark spot under the callous. If the cyst becomes infected, it can be very painful. The cure is to drain the cyst and keep it disinfected until it heals from the inside. I have experienced all of this procedure taking months of time to effect a cure. I go to a Podiatrist once a month to get the calluses reduced by grinding or scalpel cutting away the built up callous which reduces the damage and makes walking more comfortable. You can live with this situation as long as you do not have to run or walk long distances. In my case the bones of the ankle and foot have gotten out of position making the calluses impossible to avoid. At 75 years, I have lost a great deal of weight and strength requiring me to wear my AFO whenever I stand up. Therefore I put it on when getting up in the morning and take it off when going to bed. Dealing with the calluses is part of the deal with use of an AFO. AFOs can be made from different materials and to different designs. Some can be rigid and others quite flexible. It all depends on your individual condition and rate of change to the ankle/foot structures. Another point to make is that the underside of the AFO must present a stable foundation to the ground and it must be built so as to allow your hips a level gait or troubles with the lower back can develop. Right now, my gait is half peg leg in nature and this is not good. Unfortunately, the muscles in my left foot are so weakened that the AFO provides all of the stability and correct support angle so it is paramount that I keep a constant eye on it and rebuild and modify it as I go along. It helps to have been an engineer with some training in supporting loads to sense when it is right. That part I could not offer advice for without inspecting your stance and gait as a Physiatrist would do. I have used them in the past with great benefit. This part of CMT/HNPP is strictly individual in nature and there is no way one size or application fits all. Wishing you a comfortable situation, 75 EdM from NH P.S. Socks or stockings are important. Nylon is abrasive to the skin and can cause damage. The upper portion of the AFO that wraps around your shin needs to be protected as well especially at the anterior position under the strap because the skin is thin there with little tissue over the lower leg bone. Regular use of an antiseptic skin lotion on the areas in contact with the AFO is helpful. I use Jergens with Aloe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 , I have gotten those before and they hurt! It's not like we can change into another pair of AFOs! Your best bet is to make an appointment w/the people that fit you into the brace to begin with. Depending on what type of brace you have, these guys can usually have your problem solved in minutes b/cause they see these situations all of the time and know the pressure points so well. Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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