Robo Leg versus MS

Foot drop has been a nuisance of mine for over four years, it was also my first obvious symptom of MS. Throughout my life prior to MS I was an athlete and would play pretty much anything, being six foot six was always a bonus too. These days being tall is kind of a pain, my cane is massive and scooting up to the table at a meal is dangerous situation for all parties involved.

As my MS has progressed my entire left leg has become numb and pretty much useless. So walking can be an adventure especially when my knee feels like hyperextending at an inopportune time. With foot drop and knee uselessness I have developed a “vault” to my walk to clear my foot.  None of this helps my balance at all and I often feel like I’m riding an out of control carousel, up and down and up and down.

Over the years I have assembled “my robot leg” as my nephew calls it to battle the deficiencies in my leg. It consists of a ToeOFF Fantasy and a Don Joy Full Force ACL Knee brace and a whole bunch of Velcro! I worked together with my brace doc at the U of M orthotics and prosthetics facility in Ann Arbor and we came up with robo leg. I know it’s not the best solution but it works for me. Do you have any innovations that you have come up with to help fight off symptoms of MS? Keep up the fight!

Be a Warrior Today,
Donn