[AfterMyNap]

One of the many joys I've been experiencing is the "snap-back" of the knee as my drop foot gets weaker and weaker. It is pretty severe and quite painful now, so I'm looking into a positive-stop brace sometimes called a "Swedish Cage". Anyone out there have some opinion of its efficacy?

[SandyC]

I never heard of it Cindy. Jim had a full cast leg and foot brace made by the prosthetics department at the VA. It helped him greatly. The only downfall was when he went to sit down he had to flip a switch to get it to bend. That dern thing scared me many nights standing in the corner! lol

Let us know what you find out. You always seem to find the good stuff around here.

[lady_express_44]

I don't know anything about it, but just wanted to ask if they have MRI'd the knee?

I have the same issue, Cindy, and I think it was my very first clear symptom (my knee's buckled and I went down regularly). There hasn't been any pain YET, but I can imagine that after a while of doing this a person could cause additional damage.

Perhaps it is just a MS-strength issue at this point, but it might be worth checking if there is something "fixable" going on too.

Cherie

[SallyC]

Ooooooo, baby, that looks super neat. I like it and it's lightweight too.

I don't know anyone who has it, but they are on sale here:
http://www.braceshop.com/productcart...92.htm#details

[NurseNancy]

does it come in red plaid maybe?????

all kidding aside cindy. i'm sorry you're needing this but hope it helps.

[AfterMyNap]

Originally Posted by lady_express_44

I don't know anything about it, but just wanted to ask if they have MRI'd the knee?

I have the same issue, Cindy, and I think it was my very first clear symptom (my knee's buckled and I went down regularly). There hasn't been any pain YET, but I can imagine that after a while of doing this a person could cause additional damage.

Perhaps it is just a MS-strength issue at this point, but it might be worth checking if there is something "fixable" going on too.

Cherie

It's just the years of constant, unintentional stretching of the same muscles, a little farther, a little farther, a little farther... Like any muscle, every time it snaps back, it stretches a bit more. Since my leg is essentially dead weight now, I can't control it and it's to the point where it's practically bending backwards. The PT recognized it right away, he suggested the cage to me. I just wondered if anyone has tried one and whether it helps.

Sal, if we decide to go with one, they'll custom make it per a prescription. I think I'd be too chicken to just put anything on there without some guidance.

[lady_express_44]

Originally Posted by AfterMyNap

It's just the years of constant, unintentional stretching of the same muscles, a little farther, a little farther, a little farther... Like any muscle, every time it snaps back, it stretches a bit more. Since my leg is essentially dead weight now, I can't control it and it's to the point where it's practically bending backwards. The PT recognized it right away, he suggested the cage to me. I just wondered if anyone has tried one and whether it helps.

Sal, if we decide to go with one, they'll custom make it per a prescription. I think I'd be too chicken to just put anything on there without some guidance.

Yeah, that's what I thought. Just wishful thinking on my part, since I have the same issue to a lesser degree still.

Let us know how it goes.

Cherie

[PolarExpress]

A Swedish Cage? Sounds sexy..Or like a new form of torture..Saw the picture (thanks Sally!), and it looks like it could work, though I hate metal parts.
When I was first dx'd with MS, I had asked my Dr about that very problem. Loved to go for walks, but the distances were getting shorter & shorter as my knee would snap back & I had trouble taking any more steps forward (couldn't lift my right leg). I thought is was hyperextension, but found out it was MS.
I hope if you decide to go with this brace that it works wonders for you..It's a frustrating thing to deal with!

[azoyizes]

I think that whatever will help you stay up on your feet and keep you walking (and not falling) is worth a try.

My right leg does that, but not all the time, and it has caused me to fall sometimes.

I got a titanium brace for foot-drop about a year ago, but it mostly sits in my closet now. Things I wear have become an irritant to me, like the velcro part of the brace that goes around my leg and the bar that runs up the back of my leg.

I've also given up pajamas and nightgowns, bras, shirts and blouses with collars, and I don't know what else off-hand.

Sorry, didn't mean to babble.

AMN, I hope the Sweedish Cage works for you if you decide to give it a try.

[weegot5kiz]

Cindy if you get one i will be interested in knowing how well it supports, from what I have heard they work, last visit to Jim and Sandy's, Jim and I talked about these, my knee and leg keeps doing the hippie dippie dance, and next visit am going to talk to Nero the Neuro about this, hope you get one and it helps