[tri-med] Re: AFO's

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jwaite"
> I didn't realize that they had to wear them at night.

Depends on what the purpose of them is for. In Alex's case its because he
has grown way to fast (currently 5 foot 2 inches and no sign of slowing
down) and his hamstrings are now physically too short making him walk on his
toes. He physically can't get his heel down.

Since he could stand I have taken him to our early intervention/ disability
team because I was concerned about his feet. His hams have always been
tight, he rolls on his ankles big time because of low tone and one side of
his foot grows faster than the other side. (his big toe and the next are
normal size, the other three toes are really tiny). But we have always been
dismissed.

Sick of the sprained ankles (because of all those problems) and tired of
Alex being excluded from so many things because of his balance and the risks
I finally bit the bullet last year and took him to a private orthotist. Like
me he was horrified that nothing had been done a lot earlier. Thats why its
costing me about $3,000 for them, which is a third of my yearly income. Pray
he doesnt grow too fast!!!

If Alex had gone into AFO's younger then the 24 hour situation probably
would never have happened. Now he needs them around the clock to try and
stretch the hams so that he can physically get his heel on the floor. Once
we get to that point, which will probably take 12 months, he can go back to
just during waking hours. And if it doesnt work we will have to go to serial
casting - which I definitely wouldnt enjoy!!!

If I continued to do nothing it would have eventually gotten so bad that he
would probably not be able to walk at all or at least get to the stage of
hobbling rather than walking. I couldn't let that happen, no matter what the
cost.

I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere.
-- Unknown

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (9 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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