Dear NeuroTalk friends,

As some of you will remember, I have profound PN in my legs and feet. It developed slowly over the years leading up to 2010, and stabilized. But the atrophy of my legs continued to worsen.

I had bought one of the nice walkers late last year (I had flunked PT earlier last year) because just going even 20 yards was exhausting. I had to walk along the walls in buildings and move from furniture to walls in the house.

Finally I thought of braces, investigated and found some that revolutionized my life.

And I asked for PT to maximize my results. I have been in PT twice weekly for the past two months, and once a week in April. I am almost through.

I have learned so much and the work has been grueling. And I haven't done my 'homework' as seriously as I should have. For that I have my reasons, of course, but part of it is laziness.

The biggest part is that I am old, and was so far 'gone' and had adapted to my disability so long by bending my body over, sticking out my rear end, looking at my feet and the ground, that adapting to the braces to get the maximum results is unlikely.

I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER BRACES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE if you have PN that alters your gait or with foot drop.

I didn't understand that I should have started them as soon as I had the diagnosis in 2010. In the period leading up to having profound loss, I had so many other problems that I honestly didn't understand what was happening until I was already 'adapted to disability'.

I am still happy that I have 'my legs' back, and can do housework, for example vacuuming and mopping the floors.

But my therapist agrees that starting as early as possible is key to maximum success.

Hugs, ElaineD