Has anyone found a foot brace that helps?

Posted by wolfie1 @wolfie1, Feb 17 1:50pm

I’ve had pn for over five years and have suffered from the shooting electric pain, complete numbness from my feet to my knees, and fingertips. This is such a battle physically, emotionally and psychologically. I have fallen more times than I can count and broken two bones. I had to give up driving and most of my independence. Now, I’m feeling my ankles are weakening. I can’t feel if my feet are flat as I get up and walk. I bought one of the plastic knee high ones but I don’t feel safe as it’s slippery…wondering if anyone has any advice? Sorry for the sob story but I have some really low days because of this.

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Profile picture for Locksmith @lockmith

My knee high brace is to be worn inside my shoe or boots. It was not designed for walking. They might make one for walking. I used a lace up ankle brace that I can walk in but it can slip as well. Just be careful especially if you have hard floors.

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@lockmith and bajjerfan = Thanks guys have it made, your humor and will power are great keep it up and God Bless you both

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Profile picture for bajjerfan @bajjerfan

@quietriver

It isn't my feet or shoes that make walking difficult. It's when I start walking that the muscle/s in my right side below the top of my pelvic bone and down to part way down my glute on the right side start to tighten up and cause me to bend forward somewhat. I can feel the pain and tightness along my lower back and part way up both sides of my spine. I have a spot at the top of my pelvic bone that sometimes feels inflamed on its owk or when exercising or when lying on my back on a hard or soft surface. I suppose I could have another try with a muscle relaxant, but i feel tired a lot as it is and they would just exacerbate the problem. For me Metaxalone/Skelaxin is the preferred MR. I tried 800mg once a day, but didn't notice much. That's another that's best gotten from Mark Cuban's Low Cost Drugs, esp. the 800mg size which can easily be cut in half.

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@bajjerfan- Quietrivers answer. Something I do is get a large towel get it wet heat it up in microwave one or two min so it isn't so hot it hurts me and wrap it around my lef till it cools. This seems to loosen the mussel. Then put on supenders as I find a belt will cause the musels to tighten from the thigh down the leg and prevent me from walking very far. So far it is working good. Now I don't use any help to get around. A lot has to do with your physical condition to start with. I started building up myself using chair excersizes and sitting in the chair. later I stood behind the chair and started doing leg excersizes. Standing behind the chair for support and sitting down and stending up that builds the upper leg and back mussels for me. But I always stood with my back to the couch while doing my leg excersizes. Reason is so if I lost my balance I ended sitting on the couch. I Plan ahead and never put my self in a position to get hurt doing aa excersize program. It improved my walking and balance a lot.

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Profile picture for bajjerfan @bajjerfan

@lockmith
Use the same brace for walking outside and around in the house. It should have 2 straps to hold it to the leg. Trim an odor eater pad to fit the brace. The pad goes between your foot and the brace. You might want to wear tie type shoes. In the house just use it with a pair of slippers. Mine is made of carbon fiber. It is slick on the bottom so that's why you use it in slippers.

My neurologist gave me a prescription for one. The place where I got it mde sure it fit my foot and shoe.

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@bajjerfan I have the walk-on-flex made by Ottobock, doc gave me a prescription as well for drop foot. Been wearing since March 2020 and work out well with no trips in 6 years and helps a lot with improved balance.

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Profile picture for NJ Ed @njed

@bajjerfan I have the walk-on-flex made by Ottobock, doc gave me a prescription as well for drop foot. Been wearing since March 2020 and work out well with no trips in 6 years and helps a lot with improved balance.

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@njed
Medicare did cover most of it.

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Profile picture for bajjerfan @bajjerfan

@njed
Medicare did cover most of it.

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@bajjerfan On my end Medicare paid the full amount for both. I didn't question anything. I actually got my AFO's at a company that fits folks with prosthetics'.

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Profile picture for NJ Ed @njed

@bajjerfan On my end Medicare paid the full amount for both. I didn't question anything. I actually got my AFO's at a company that fits folks with prosthetics'.

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@njed

Mine wasn't self-fitted. I got mine at a similar place. IIRC Medicare covered about 95% of it.

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Mine is like the one here.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html
It's hard on the sock tho.

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@randy Morris
Go to saebo.com they have several different braces for you to look at.

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