Deedeedah reply to AFO’s.

[Kenu]

The blue one was my first Turbomed afo for outside of shoe 👞. Turned out Great 👍. Will work on all my shoes and allowed my calf and achilles to strengthen to where I can get around the house without one👍. So happy I bought a second one called Turbomed Xtrem👍. The new one is a little stiffer and pulls you’re foot up more as walking. I can now bend over and pick things up and can get on the ground and back up 👍Before I had an inner shoe one that was casting to my foot and went inside shoe. You had to wear a size bigger to get you foot in, so it limited my shoes $$. Now the new Turbomed fits all my shoes and are the correct size shoes 👍. The first one was purchased thru commercial insurance and cost me $100.00. The second one was thru Medicare and cost me $65.00. Have had no maintenance on either one and both had two year warranty 👍. 🙏😉😊 Ken 🐾🐾

[deedeedah]

Who did you go through for this Turbomed? Ordered on line?

[Kenu in reply to deedeedah]

PCP wrote a prescription for afo and then I took it to Orthotics doctor and he sent paperwork to insurance for approval 👍. I had all the info from Turbomed so he could contact them and order it. He had never seen one? He always casts and makes the ones that go inside your shoe 👞. He was surprised and really liked it when it came and he adjusted it a little. If you go to Turbomed Orthotics online you can get all there info 👍😉 Ken 🐾🐾

[cassielynn71]

@kenu I have the insert AFO. How does this one attach? Is it attached to your shoe laces on top of your shoes?

[Kenu in reply to cassielynn71]

Thru the eyelids on your shoes 👞. It shows how to attach to dress shoes, boots , cowboy boots, etc. Ken 🐾🐾

[mrsmike9]

How handy that you can have an external one so you don't have to mess with your shoes. Very smart! My sister in law who is a PT told me that at some point I will no doubt develop foot drop on my left side as my reflexes on that side are nearly all gone. I will have to keep this in mind! Thanks! (Of course when this time comes I will no doubt forget about it and have to post with the question.)

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

Kenu Thank you for this helpful info. I have an AFO that was cast to my foot, ,and is meant to be worn in your shoe. It severely limits my choice of footwear, and I am forced to either buy a bigger size pair of shoes, or but two pairs of shoes, one to fit my right foot, (6 1/2) and one to fit my left foot, with AFO (7 1/2) I will be asking my neuro to write a prescription when visit her next time.

My biggest concern is not the limited choice of foot wear but rather the fact that I have seen muscle atrophy on the leg with the AFO. The calf muscles are slowly shrinking and I think that it is because of its limited use. I use to prevent foot drop, and it is helpful, but at what expense. So goes the saying "damned if you do, and damned if you don't"

Keep Smiling,

Carole

[livewell2]

I have an afo that fits inside shoe but do not wear it because it is too stiff

[livewell2 in reply to livewell2]

Maybe this one will be better. Got my other one about a year ago. Will probably need to wait a while before Medicare will pay for another

[KarenUSA]

I have worn an AFO inside my shoe for about 4 years. My calf muscle is much smaller on the leg with the AFO. I was blaming the muscle shrinking on weak muscles due to MS, now I’m wondering if the AFO caused the shrinkage. How would the Turbomed device keep the calf muscle strong?

[Kenu in reply to KarenUSA]

It alows you more movement in your calf and ankle. You walk differently and can feel the bottom of your foot and you don’t due that with the others. My calf had also shrunk with the other brace and now it’s getting bigger and stronger again. I can actually get around the house really good without it, but when I go out it’s always on. It always allowed me to get rid of a cane 👍. I can wear the right size of shoes and just about any of them. I have two now, one for working and bumming and the other for more dress up 👍. I am able to get down on my knee and back up, could not due that before. Has been great for me 👍🙏😉 Ken 🐾🐾

[falalalala in reply to Kenu]

Thank you for posting this info.I am very glad to hear that you are gaining muscle back with this new one.

I had wondered about muscle atrophy.

[KarenUSA]

Thanks for letting me know this device has helped you. It seems much healthier to have the muscle mass come back and stop the atrophy. I plan to investigate getting one of these for myself.