I spent many years (19) in plastic. I got phat type made of carbon fiber in 2007. I would NOT and Will NOT accept anything else now. Quality of life, finding shoes, less hip pain, less pressure sores, less skin irritation, and the list goes on and on.
My current ones are cracked but have held up three years verses I only got about a year out of the plastic ones. I told the Hanger rep that I would not accept anything less than carbon fiber. She was going to try but I threatened to go somewhere else if she could not make a "phat" type brace. My new ones will come from the company called "phatbraces". (phatbraces.com)
We will see if they hold up as well as the ones that I got from a smaller brace fabricator in Asheville NC?
I am very active, as in I put mine on about 7:00am, work all day (a lot of walking), do some type of yard work every evening or play with my dog and finally take them off about 9-10pm. I have not had the first pressure sore or heat rash like with the old plastic ones.
Mine were made by the Phat Brace company. It took about 3 weeks but the wait was so worth it! I will never wear anything else.
Also wanted to add.... If you are active meaning you use AFO's daily, you really need carbon fiber. I have had the carbon composite, a nice way to say a "type of plastic" and they chip to the point it is dangerous for someone without feeling to wear. I have foot drop in both feet and have limited function/sensation from the waste down. My hamstrings power my walking as my knees work but below them, I have no function at all. I never used a wheelchair but I ordered my first one last month 26 years after my accident.
New people who are just considering braces. Please don't settle for plastic. Your quality of life will be so much better. However, watch your feet for irritation. Be diligent. My braces are like Jeff's in that they have the carbon fiber going down the back but the footplate is made of an expandable plastic material that gives so it alleviates pressure sores better than other material. I am trying to find my pictures and will post if I can.
Acrobatinmydreams.
My right leg is 1" shorter due to the leg being broken a couple of times and the surgeries to follow. They couldn't build it up enough so I am going to try wearing the shoe with a lift and see how that helps.
I will get some more pictures of the the entire brace so you and others can see how mine are.
If I'm not mistaken Medicare will cover your Phatbraces. My insurance through work wasn't so accommodating. After they gave me a huge run around I wrote an email to the President of United Healthcare and I was reimbursed everything above my deductible. Both braces was about $4,600.00 but so worth it. You just can't put a price tag on it in my opinion.
Hey kilg0retr0ut or jeff1967, do these Phatbraces have to be made for you like AFO's or are they straight off the shelf?
Butiki,
These have to be made and are not straight off the shelf. They will cast you just like the old plastic ones.
As I have said they are pricey if you don't have insurance or if like mine the insurance wasn't going to cover them. It was a pain trying to explain to customer service why I needed a brace for each leg. Compassion is definitely not a requirement for them.
My right leg is 1" shorter due to the leg being broken a couple of times and the surgeries to follow. They couldn't build it up enough so I am going to try wearing the shoe with a lift and see how that helps.
I will get some more pictures of the the entire brace so you and others can see how mine are.
If I'm not mistaken Medicare will cover your Phatbraces. My insurance through work wasn't so accommodating. After they gave me a huge run around I wrote an email to the President of United Healthcare and I was reimbursed everything above my deductible. Both braces was about $4,600.00 but so worth it. You just can't put a price tag on it in my opinion.
Such good information to know. That is the company my new ones are coming from too. I understand the run around too. They tried but I didn't budge. I am active too. I worked 17 years but retired now but I still wear mine all day until 10 or so at night. Like you I am outside with the dog and gardening in flower beds.
Good for you on retirement Acrobatinmydreams!!! I have some shoe inserts on the way and will see if they help my limp any at all. If so I will update here with a new video. I hope you will do one for everyone to see once you get yours. If I could afford it I would tour the country and show people just how amazing these things are.
Since my Phat Braces come up much higher in the back than my plastic ones did, I tried an experiment one day. I put the plastic ones on to see how they felt after wearing the new ones for a few months. WOW!! I don't know how I walked in those things for 18 years. No wonder I had so much hip pain. I just knew I was going to have to have hip replacement soon! Not anymore.
Post by kilg0retr0ut on Apr 20, 2015 11:11:31 GMT -8
I've had them on 45 min., the pinch in the lower part is gone. Some rubbing on ankles but from what I understand the lower part is most important because the upper can be flared out easily. Hard to wait to put them on again.
I've had them on 45 min., the pinch in the lower part is gone. Some rubbing on ankles but from what I understand the lower part is most important because the upper can be flared out easily. Hard to wait to put them on again.
I am so excited for you to finally find a solution that will make life (especially outdoors) fun again!
Wavewolf, I do have one pair of shoes with a lift on the right shoe. I didn't know and inch looked so BIG! LOL. My wife tells me it is all in my head but I just don't like the look of it. I guess I need to quit worrying about it if it will make me more comfortable and ease the pain. I had no idea it could ease the neuro pain so i may have to give it another try.
My urologist prescribed me Flomax a few months ago because I was having a horrible time with UTI's. The last one got so bad I ended up in the emergency room. Thankfully I have not had any bladder issues since I started the flomax and that was this past October. I haven't used a cath in years and I am now emptying my bladder very well. Just a thought.
Kilg0retr0ut, Thank you! I have the bike lowered and with the center of gravity lower my balance is better sitting on the bike than standing up. As I have gotten older and the legs are weaker I am not as comfortable when riding with the wife. So, instead of leaving her behind I am selling the bike and retiring from riding. We bought us a new travel trailer so me, her and the two fur babies can go together in comfort.
Looks are nothing compared to function!!! My lift was about the same, and it saves your spine so you can walk with less pain for longer, and not twist up spine and other body parts while trying to compensate for uneven leg lengths. I was amazingly able to give up lift after wearing it for 23 years, because the imbalance was actually the way my body was meant to be. Chiropractor adjusted me so that not wearing the lift did not do damage, and I still do "corrective" exercise when twisting wants to intrude. This solution is not possible for everyone, but was great for me--happened before paralysis.
BTW, Flomax is for men only. Not sure why exactly, but that is what the drug label says. So glad this issue resolved for you, as UTIs and bladder problems are the pits.
Big kudos to you for putting your family above toys!!!! Not many guys are man enough to do this, and I salute you! Enjoy the adventures, and fond memories of riding!
I've had them on 45 min., the pinch in the lower part is gone. Some rubbing on ankles but from what I understand the lower part is most important because the upper can be flared out easily. Hard to wait to put them on again.
I am so excited for you to finally find a solution that will make life (especially outdoors) fun again!
I've had them on 45 min., the pinch in the lower part is gone. Some rubbing on ankles but from what I understand the lower part is most important because the upper can be flared out easily. Hard to wait to put them on again.
When I first got mine I had a slight rub on the right ankle. The Orthotist (sp?) came to my house, I never had to make a office visit. He had a neat little trick. He put a little bit of lipstick on the ankle, strapped the brace on and it marked the spot. He heated up the problem area and reformed it by hand and BAM, no rubbing. So if for some odd reason it ever rubs I know how to eliminate the problem.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you! I would cross my toes but that hasn't been possible for 19 years LOL
I've had them on 45 min., the pinch in the lower part is gone. Some rubbing on ankles but from what I understand the lower part is most important because the upper can be flared out easily. Hard to wait to put them on again.
When I first got mine I had a slight rub on the right ankle. The Orthotist (sp?) came to my house, I never had to make a office visit. He had a neat little trick. He put a little bit of lipstick on the ankle, strapped the brace on and it marked the spot. He heated up the problem area and reformed it by hand and BAM, no rubbing. So if for some odd reason it ever rubs I know how to eliminate the problem.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you! I would cross my toes but that hasn't been possible for 19 years LOL
Thanks Jeff, I live about 800 mi. from these guys so this first adjustment was by mail. I may be able mark the spots for them with the lipstick, thanks again. My cold white legs make it easy to see the red spot's so I've taken some photo's. These things can change your quality of life.