Pelican orthotists?

[pavulon]

My 6 yo daughter requires ankle/foot orthotics for her day to day functioning. She is doing well with her current set-up but they are stupid expensive ($2500 for over the counter braces) from the local vendor. Insurance pays the bulk of it but there is no way they are $2500 braces...even if they are carbon fiber.

Are there any independent orthotists here that may be able to swing a future deal for a fellow pelican?

Please PM if more comfortable with that.

Thanks!
Scott

[Tobra]

$2500 seems pretty high to me for an AFO. Why are they made of CF? Polypropylene is a thermoplastic that is easy to work with, easy to modify. Don't know anyone in Wisconsin, and that is the sort of thing you can't do over the phone.

anything like this in your neck of the woods?
Ride To Walk - Walk On!

[pavulon]

She has kiddieGAIT AFO braces as they were recommended and we want to do as well for her as we can. They are light. She has real limitations in her ability to dorsiflex her foot as well as limitations with hip flexion and low overall tone. So, the less weight she has to contend with, the better it works for her...but I'm sure thermoplastics are pretty light too. http://www.allardint.com/products/kiddiegait.htm

We will keep her as physically active as possible (she does well but fatigues pretty quickly) but she will eventually need a muscle biopsy and possibly EMG. Her spine and brain MRIs are normal. She is cognitively above average and is a nice little girl overall. This year is the first that she has been able to run.

I think the horse therapy thing would be great but have had several bad horse experiences that make me dislike them deeply. She however loves horses or any animal as far as that goes.

I bought her a children's KMX recumbent trike a couple weeks ago and that has been really great for her. She can ride with her siblings now and tipping over isn't very likely.