[cyclelops]

I just want to alert people to keep an eye out on developments in the field of orthotics. With the number of amputees resulting from the war, new developments are occurring on the fronts of both orthotics and prosthetics, and some of those developments can benefit neuropathics with mobility and functional issues.

For me thumb splints have proven fairly effective in relieving hand pain while tasking. Granted, I can not do some things while the splints are on, however, they have helped me on the computer, and they keep my hands from going numb for a while when biking. An occupational therapist fitted those for me, they are custom and made of a hard substance like a thick plastic.

I don't know how the AFOs will work for the legs, but I know my spine splint, alto bulky did help relieve some pain. I hope the new one, will be much more effective at giving me more mobility. Many of the new splints are carbon fiber and very light. They do need professional fitting and some need to be custom. You can not buy them online and expect good results.

PN in your feet can cause you to lose proprioception and you may not realize it, but your feet can slowly get deformed. Orthotics and AFOs can prevent some of this disability or at least minimize some of it. Some orthotics can allow very unstable people to gain some mobility with proper fit and training. It is worth exploring to see if it works for you.

Watching your skin for signs of wear is essential, but properly fitted orthotics should not hurt your skin, or be padded properly as not to cause injury.

You can check with your doc for referrals and orders as needed, and check your insurance policies to see what is paid for.

They won't work in all circumstances but for any one with functional impairments or at risk of functional impairments, it is worth at least an eval.