what a drag

[golf4kev]

fell this morning in driveway. my right foot is dragging.

[momap53]

Ask your doc or PT what is best to help you stay mobile safely. Falls can be so dangerous. Hoping that only your pride was injured. AFO'S can be of tremendous help of you are suffering from foot drop.

[HelenL]

Did that more than once, now I'm totally doomed if I fall. Get your doc's office for a prescription for AFOs they'll help you maintain for a while. And use either a cane or a rollator walker to maintain balance.

[johnnyliverpool1]

i fall often.. got the stitches in me head as momentos.....plenty of em.....gives my face character.....i have been lucky to fall on me head, anywere else and i might have hurt myself, ha.havent got dropped foot i got slapped foot..really annoyingwalking on solid floors..slap, slap, slap........i walk into people, smack half open doors with me head.....asked the neuro and he said it was because i didnt know were me legs were..silly fool. there on the end of me bum......all good fun init....johnny

[dragonflydi]

See next message--still haven't got this editing thing right yet. Sorry! --Diane

[dragonflydi]

AFO's are awesome, Johnny. My husband was able to walk much, much longer than he would have been able to without them. They gave him balance and confidence. --Diane

[johnnyliverpool1]

AFO...dragonfly.....i know am dull but wat r they......johnny

[old dog]

Johnny - I didn't know what they were either until the folks on this forum told me. My primary care doctor fixed me up with some lace up ankle supports that were less expensive and are helping. My ankles were collapsing to the inside, causing swelling as well as affecting stability.

[Brother Rock]

Let see, AFO, is that an Air Force Officer? No wait, a Advanced Flying Object? Errrr, that can not be it. How about Assisted Falling Object? Well darn, I guess I have not real idea what a AFO is afterall!

[dragonflydi]

I have no idea what AFO stands for, but they are unobtrusive leg braces that look like a firm shoe insole with a "stick" attached at the heel that goes up your calf. The insole part slips inside your shoe and the "stick" has velcro straps that wrap around your calf. They give the wearer balance and a firmer step and prevent foot drop, which can lead to falls. Wearers usually need to get those special, deeper shoes because they can make regular shoes too tight. My husband went to a special shoe store to get his deeper shoes. He went to a special orthotics place to be fitted for the AFO's. I guess the "O" stands for orthotics. Medicare will pay for those shoes if you are diabetic but not if you have ALS--go figure. They did pay for the AFO's however.

[old dog]

AFO -ankle-foot orthotic

[AKmom]

I have have been wearing AFO's for a couple years now. They worked pretty good too. But now I have a hard time lifting my legs and my feet drag or shuffle type of walk. Also in the past month the right leg (which was were the PLS started, has been turning inward even with the AFO. The are very ex spen sive but worth the added years of walking upright!

[golf4kev]

Thank for hmu AK. What exactly is an afo?

[HelenL]

read the posts above...

prevents us from falling over when stepping on something uneven, like a blade of grass.

[johnnyliverpool1]

helenl....dumped on yr ass by a blade of grass...funny......johnny