ankle splint/support/AFO's

[Guest]

I am having problems with my ankles subluxing / general pain & stiffness.Any bright ideas on splints or supports??

I am using tupi-grip(better than nothing) but would like something more supportive.

Any suggestions ??


Cheers
x
Siobhán

[nonyanomemory]

Hi Shiv, forgive me if you said this already but have you had an assessment by a physiotherapist/podiatrist for your ankle instability. Whilst wearing supports for this for some of the time may be appropriate - it is not a long term solution. Perhaps physio could do work on wobble boards etc. It may be that wearing an orthotic custom made by a podiatrist etc would be an option. There are a range of over the counter supports available from good chemists such as Boots. But ultimately, I think seeing a specialist therapist for this would perhaps be beneficial as they will be able to assess your needs. Hope this helps nonya

[Guest]

Hi Nonya,

Thanks, I'm awaiting an assessment from prof. G's physio team hopefully in the next week or so. Whan I had my appointment with him early this month the hospital were moving so could'nt have assessment!! Hows yer luck!! As things are getting worse, ankles, jaw etc.. I will be letting her(physio) know. I've just started subluxing ankles, shoulder and hips.

I badly need some lifestyle advice and understanding of all this.As i have only been diagnosed since May 05 and SYMPTOMS GETTING WORSE.
X
sHIV

[Guest]

Hi Shiv

Sorry to hear things are still getting worse I hope you get some physio/answers soon.

I wanted to add to what Nonya said about wobble boards + orthotics -
wobble boards even the the wobble cushion help to strenthen your feet and ankles (I have exercies from physio this also helps me with my core exercises and balance) You can pick up cheap wobble boards these days (even Tesco was selling them for under £10). I got a great fun one from Laura on HMSA weekend, that has games in it somore fun and the kids have started doing it too.
Orthotics, I was referred to surgical appliances for ankle braces and the guy/doc I saw was brill and had a good knowledge of HEDS and suggested insteps, (I have flat feet apparently) and they have been a great improvement for my ankles, I am still having alot of probs with my hip/back and am wondering if it's a contributory factor.. however my be coincidence, but I'm def not going over on my ankles like I was.

Hope this helps.

Chrisb

[Guest]

heya shiv,
my ankles give me the worst trouble out of any of my other joints...well..not both of them really just the left one as ive had a nasty spill on it and broken my leg which led to several surgeries. anyway, currently im trying a tie-up ankle brace which actually seems to be doing quite well. my ortho said its much stiffer than my aircast which you wouldnt think because the aircasts are made of plastic and the newest brace i have is cloth. anywho...its always best to see your dr for the right kind of ankle brace but if youre interested in a tie up you can just go to this site: http://www.ankleshop.com/stabilizing.html .
if thats not what youre looking for then you can always google search. well, hope i helped you out at least a little!

[Guest]

I was told by my physio that wobbled boards are a bit to harsh on weak ankles but wobble cushions may be a lot better to build up the strentgh to start then go onto wobble boards.

ankle braces that link didn't work for some reason Star spangled. Must of got moved or something. I can't believe the ankle braces I was given the other year costs $130 and turned out to be wrong I needed insoles, though my right ankle is still weak so need to see someone again abou that

[nonyanomemory]

A word of warning to anyone who has thin skin/tearing and or infection issues as my eds daughter has particularly. She was unable to use the bobbly wobble cushion as she can't even wear trainers to use this equipment for above reasons. The bobbly bits tore her feet to shreds so physio got her to use the wobble board with the support of double bars to grab hold of for support, as wobble board was flat and not bobbly. (They only had bobbly wobble cushions so don't know if they are available un-bobbled! So for those that bruise/skin tear easily bobbles beware! These problems don't necessarily apply to all with hms - my daughter has this problem particularly. Hope this was helpful. nonya

[Guest]

My wobble cushion is bobbled a lot one side, but only slightly bumby the other and I sit on the less bumby side and it isn't uncomfy at all, but I don't have the fragile skin of HEDS or EDS (Though tell my skin that when it chafes on most material ) so cannot relate to that problem Nonya, but if I run my hands down the bobbly side it is a little rough so could see how someone with problem skin can have serious problems, but the less bobby side seems ok-ish from my less fragile skin point of view. Itis hard to know when you don't have the same symptoms though so whats ok for me could be a nightmare for someone with HEDS/EDS

[Guest]

hmm..sorry about that link!

http://www.ankleshop.com/stabilizing.htm

that link should be working as i just tried it and it worked so *fingers crossed*

-melissa

[adele]

okies.........
so what do u sugest when you have tried various splints and they are telling you that they dont think any others are going to work.... and they think that you will end up in a wheelchair, cus my ankles are so bad.
they have now told me that the only option may be to have the subtalers(sp) an bone in the ankle area fused. now do i go for the op, or not. i am really stuck. and so are the hosp cus they dont particuarly want to operate cus a) i have EDS and b) my age and the chances that it could go wrong could mess up the rest of my life.
any suggestions would REALLY help, i have to go back next week cus they gave me aircast splints to try today and they do NOTHING at all. the consultant could see that they didn't do anything but i still have to wear them for a week before they can do anything else. hopefully they will give me some more malleolocks next week as they do help a lil, but its not helping much and my ankles are just getting gradually worse instead.
thanx for reading and thanks for the help.
take care, lots of love
Adele xXx<><

[Guest]

I am being referred back to my physio to assess my ankles again. the problem i have is they do not like to splint or support weight bearing joints as this can in the long term further weaken the muscles. my first physio sessions showed me exercises to strengthen the ankles (and you can get non bobbled air cushions try a company called sissel) and i do seem to fall over less often. however when im suffering from the chronic fatigue and my muscles relax and give up, i become unstable again. I hope to persuade the physio to sort me with ankle supports i can use when im fatigued so I can still work without the falls and associated pain. I use my knee supports only when i can feel the knees are unstable and lack of support will cause more movement and pain.
if the physio isnt convinced then i go back to the OT to see if she can help

[justme]

my physio was the opposite and I was handed splints with out being asked and told I must wear them...I do when I feel I need to as they are so uncomfortable and I have wear big sloppy shoes to get them over the splint. Going out to a nice do in trainers is just not done!

[Guest]

Adele have they bothered with trying to strenghen your ankles or do they just throw braces at you? The braces are only going to weaken the ankles more so of course they are going to get much worse until they are of no use to you. If they do operate the outcome could be a problem as fusing bones in these conditions causes a domino affect. Once you stabilise one are it will eventually put great strain on the next joints along. This is why surgery should always be the last resort in these conditions and exercise then bracing first. I hope they find a better alternative for you.

Az

[Sue New]

Hi Everyone,

Here is a picture the ankle brace I have recently been given to help stop my ankle "inverting":

http://www.sportstek.net/aeq.html

I only got it yesterday, but so far ..... so good. It has really helped to stabilise the ankle .

Take care all

Sue.

[nic_mitchell]

hi,
I have had to resort to calipers and boots to stabalise my ankles. strengthening was tried and failed- on xray they took to check for any hidden problems it showed i have very little of my ankle structure (tendons etc ) left so bracing or fusing the joint were only real option.
I chose not to have surgery and to learn to live with the ugly footwear, however my brother, in the same position eds etc, has opted to have his fused, i guess if it works really well for him i may try it.