Foot Drop

Leg drop glues my foot to the floor

Leg drop glues my foot to the floor

Leg drop glues my foot to the floor. You might think I am joking but I cannot lift my left leg off the ground without help. Its just like foot drop but it affects my thigh instead of my foot and the effect is just the same. Its difficult to imagine the problems until they […]

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I’m a frequent faller, its a fact of life

I’m a frequent faller, its a fact of life

I’m a frequent faller, its all because I have multiple sclerosis. My left leg is the culprit, I have drop foot and drop leg. It must have started sometime in the 1990’s, my diagnosis was in 1996. What started as an occasional trivial event now has a major impact on my life. At first the […]

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Smouldering MS its my long-term condition

Smouldering MS its my long-term condition

Smouldering MS, is my long-term condition, it is not a happy or relaxing disease. It can usually be endured with symptom management drugs and procedures. Its a complicated disease, hidden disabilities are a fact of life. A big problem is that no one has ever told me what the future would be when I was […]

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I am Patrick and I have advanced multiple sclerosis

I am Patrick and I have advanced multiple sclerosis

I am Patrick and I have advanced multiple sclerosis; A physically active life is no longer possible, balance and walking problems get in the way. Also I am not allowed to drive because of double vision, another kind gift from multiple sclerosis (MS). The beginning I am convinced my multiple sclerosis started in 1972, my […]

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Every morning I have to stretch my stiff muscles

Every morning I have to stretch my stiff muscles

Imagine getting straight out of bed and immediately walking into the bathroom, Haha those were the days and I can still remember them; must have stopped about 2012. Nowadays I have to start my day differently, I must stretch my stiff muscles. Multiple sclerosis is the culprit. What did I do in my sleep? Last […]

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Another sponsored walk

Another sponsored walk

Well it’s another year and I am starting to think about one of my annual challenges. I like to have challenges. They have to be achievable and put me outside of my comfort zone. So time for another sponsored walk. The right distance In 2015 I had tried to walk a mile with my rollator […]

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Walking is 28% Faster with an FES

Walking is 28% Faster with an FES

This is a big question. Can I walk faster with an FES or Functional Electrical Stimulator? How can an FES help me to walk faster? Will it help me? In my previous post about FES I explained how this gadget should help me with my walking. My second visit to the National Hospital for Neurology […]

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FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)

FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)

I have foot drop and it has got progressively worse over the last 10 years. FES my new walking aid Foot drop is a paralysis or muscular weakness that makes it very difficult to lift the front part of your foot and toes. It can also be called drop foot. It can cause you to drag your […]

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MuSmate a walking aid for foot drop

MuSmate a walking aid for foot drop

I have foot drop in my left leg. When the problem started to be an issue I used the MuSmate a walking aid for foot drop. It stops me dragging my toes along the ground and tripping me up. Without the mechanical elastic device called a Musmate I could fall over very easily when walking. The […]

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My orthosis, 10 weeks later

My orthosis, 10 weeks later

The first fitting for my ankle-foot orthosis was in late September 2014, here is the post. Now its mid December. As we all know receiving something is one thing but only too often further work is necessary. This proved to be no exception. I was so pleased when I first started using it, walking was so […]

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My New Orthosis

My New Orthosis

I recently visited Amersham hospital and had a new orthosis fitted, it stops foot drop. Strictly speaking its called an orthotic. By preventing foot drop my knee hyperextension will also stop. That is the theory. and even more interesting, the theory works. Better balance Yes, it makes walking easier and I am sure it does […]

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Update on my Foot Drop

Update on my Foot Drop

Sixteen months ago I wrote about the Musmate, it helps me to walk so much further because it lifts my foot off the ground. I still have MS and inevitably my walking ability has deteriorated albeit very slowly. At least the problem remains in my left leg, my right leg is still very reliable, phew! […]

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