Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs): Your experience?

@ray666 Ray - Mike did bring up a good point about the pair you can order on Amazon. As they say, you can run the idea up the flagpole and see if they help with balance. If so, you can try using those and my unprofessional opinion would be that if you experience better than a 50% improvement in balance, then perhaps down the road pursue a pair insurance might cover. I know you would run this past your medical team first but at least it would indicate that you are searching in the right direction to help with balance issues. By the way, the drop foot you had for a short period of time 10 or 15 years ago, were you having any lower back issues at that time?

Hi, Ed (@njed) - I just got back from my appointment with my podiatrist. He was surprisingly anti- my trying APOs. (I intend to try them anyway.) One of the things I like about my podiatrist (besides my having trusted hin for years) is he's exceptionally knowledgeable when it comes to PN - that, plus he knows my history inside and out. That's why I was so surprised to have him comedown so fast and hard on my giving AFOs a try. In short, he said, with my particular balance issues, AFOs could be more hazardous than helpful. That's after he did a manual manipulation of both my feet and had me walk up and down the hallway several times while videoing my gait. That foot drop episode Ihad 10 or 15 years ago? No, no pain whatsoever. When I thought back, I did recall carrying a way-too-heavy sack of way-too-heavy things with one hand (off-centering myself), thereby injuring my peroneal nerve. At least, that was the best cause & effect I could think of. - Ray (@ray666)

@ray666 The mere fact that you have a podiatrist who is exceptionally knowledgeable about PN gives you an advantage. It's hard enough to find a neurologist with exceptional knowledge about PN. I have found that some doctors sort of resent patients coming up with something that they the doctor did not suggest. On the other side of the coin, you trust and rely on this doctor so you may need to evaluate his opinion. So, in your case, if he is anti AFO's, what can he suggest helping you with improved balance and prevent a fall.