b'Life with MSAdapting to Adaptive EquipmentBy Matt CavalloMany of us living with MS need adaptive would say hurtful things to my boys if theyequipment to accomplish the tasks of every- saw me in these braces. I also didnt want today living. After my 2016 relapse, my knee wear them around friends or family. I waswas buckling, and I was experiencing drop sad that this was becoming my life.foot when I tried to walk. To compensate, I Prior to my 2016 relapse, I was known forbegan limping and dragging my right leg overcomingtheserelapsesandbouncingunsteadily behind me. I struggled walking backtonormal.Postmy2016relapse,Imy dog while trying to safely manage curbs. found that I was experiencing a new normal.I also gave up trying to walk up stairs to put My quality of life was deteriorating and nowthe kids to bed. Being unsteady on my feet I was going to have to wear balance braces towas scary, so I began to wonder if maybe I walk normally again. I was also going to havecould nd some shoes that would help me to overcome some of the mental stigma thatbalance better? comes with being dierent. Mostly, I felt likeI made an appointment with a podiatrist, MS was starting to win the battle.whichisadoctorwhospecializesinfoot I was also realizing that my days of shoppingproblems. I talked to him about my balance for regular shoes was over. When I rst attendedissues and weakness in my leg and ankle. patient advocacy events, some of the womenWhile I was there for special shoes to help me living with MS that I met would talk aboutbalance,mypodiatristrecommendedan their sadness of no longer being able to wearAFO. An AFO, or ankle-foot orthosis, is a support heels. I never understood what they meantbrace for your ankle that helps position and until now. Even though I was going to have tocontrolthemotionofthefootandankle. overcome my mental hang-ups, I decided toWhile it is an ankle brace, it also supports the move forward with an AFO. Even though thelimbssointheoryit wouldhelpkeepmy right side was the problem, I was required toknee from buckling.have both legs in the braces for safety, stability,I am a little ashamed that my thoughts and so one side didnt become stronger thanwent straight to how the braces would look the other.versus the functionality. I live in Arizona and With the braces, the change was instant. Iwear shorts and ip ops the majority of time was able to walk and manage curbs safely. Iand now I was being tted for braces that could even do the stairs. While they are notlooked to be the size of cowboy boots. There discreet, they are functional and allow me towas no waytowearflipflopsandthey be independent with walking. In the end,would be completely visible with shorts on.independence means more to me than whatAll I could think of was the scene from peoplemaythink.This2016relapsehasForest Gump where he was being picked on taught me that the key to living with MS isfor his leg braces. I wish that I didnt think being able to adapt, even if that means learningthis way, but I was concerned that other kids to use adaptive equipment.msfocusmagazine.org 48'