Hi, I am new to this forum. I didnt know how to do a thread search so am unsure whether this has been discussed before.

I am in Australia and have just found out about FES (the monthly MS Society newsletter has an article in it). Does anyone know about it?

I have foot drop (I am lucky and that really is my only symptom other than maybe getting fatigued sometimes). I was diagnosed in 1992 so am VERY lucky actually. However, it would be nice to get some help with this foot drop and the waste of muscles/soreness of lower back and hip etc.

Thanks in anticipation

Welcome Sha, nice to meet you. My Friend, with MS, has an electric stimulator type thingy that she does therapy and it seems to help build strength in those lazy muscles.

There are many new products to help people walk well with dropfoot. There is a very expensive little electronic, light brace, you wear, between the ankle and the knee, that causes your drop foot to lift and go.

I forget the name of it, but someone will come along and tell you. If you are pretty mobile, except for the drop foot, I understand, this devise is just short of miraculous.

Again Welcome to NeuroTalk. I hope you like it here..

Here's some info on it-
http://www.sci-therapies.info/FES.htm

I use a EMS{electronic muscle stimulator} for my upper back, shoulder and arm muscles when I need to.
It's an inexpensive little thing, but it helps to work the muscles or relax them depending on the strength of the settings.

IF {Interferential} stim is better than the EMS stim- more power can be used without the slight stinging at the pad placement areas.

There are also many other types if electronic simulators, I don't know if a specific type is used for the FES.

The Foot Drop devices are the WalkAid: http://www.walkaid.net/
and the Ness L300 from Bioness: http://www.bioness.com/

Hi sha aus, and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I'm not sure just which stimulator you're talking about, so I just had a look in the last newsletter and I didn't see it in there. Maybe if I knew what one it was discussed in, I could check it out for you and advise you better.

Hi Sally and others, thanks for the answers

The MS Society monthly newsletter was the Australian MS Society issue that has just been published. It has a whole page on "Foot Drop and Functional Electrical Stimulation". I found this to be hugely hopeful as when I search it on the internet, there are a number of requirements and I fit them all.

It is interesting that my neurologist (located in the MS Clinic of a major hospital here) hadnt heard anything about it. But the article does say to talk to a physiotherapist about it so that's my next step. In the meantime I have sent my neuro lots of links for him to take a look at.

From what I can gather, this treatment seems to have been in the UK/USA for several years and I was hoping to get more info on it. The Walkaide is stated as costing $3000 and the Bioness $8,000 here. I realise these are large amounts, but will have to weight up pros and cons before making any decision regarding it.

The best pro will be that 'normal' shoes can be worn again! That's after being able to work 'properly'.

Once again, thanks for all your replies

Sharon

hello down there !WalkAide ( which I have)can be used barefooted ! bionessl300 which I tried for 3 months uses a piece in the shoe.I had a stroke in 02 ,have drop foot +
Jim