old dog
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 313
- Reason
- DX UMND/PLS
- Diagnosis
- 08/2011
- Country
- US
- State
- OR
- City
- Scio
I have a problem with hyperflexia of the right knee as well as foot drop. At my last appointment with the PT, she had me try a ready-made, carbon fiber AFO, but it did not have a hinge at the ankle which restricted movement and made it much harder to get up from a sitting position. She then brought out a hard plastic model with a hinge in the back about a 1/2 inch above the heel. This style, although too large, seemed to work much better. An orthotist (if that's the term) was present and made a fiberglass cast of my feet and legs up to the knee. He was going to make a custom-fitted AFOs based on these casts which were to be ready in about a week.
Considerably more than a week passed, and I did not hear anything about the AFOs. We called and learned that the person who made the casts was no longer with the company. The vibes indicated he had been let go, although I don't know that for a fact. I contacted the PT to ask if there was someone else with the company she works closely with, as the person we talked with said I need to come in and be recast. I have not heard from her.
I'm a little uneasy about this situation and have the following questions:
1. I've read posts that indicate some people do not like the hard plastic AFOs. If anyone has tried both custom AFOs and ready-made, carbon fiber, which have worked better?
2. Do AFOs stop the knee from bending back?
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Considerably more than a week passed, and I did not hear anything about the AFOs. We called and learned that the person who made the casts was no longer with the company. The vibes indicated he had been let go, although I don't know that for a fact. I contacted the PT to ask if there was someone else with the company she works closely with, as the person we talked with said I need to come in and be recast. I have not heard from her.
I'm a little uneasy about this situation and have the following questions:
1. I've read posts that indicate some people do not like the hard plastic AFOs. If anyone has tried both custom AFOs and ready-made, carbon fiber, which have worked better?
2. Do AFOs stop the knee from bending back?
Thanks for any advice you can give me.