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Post by deejay on Feb 4, 2019 22:32:59 GMT
Hey, great. The feeling of the finished one when you put it on for the first time is something to really look forward to. I wonder if you will get the chance to walk around with it on whilst you are in the shop? I dont know about you, but somehow it felt much more like I was getting a necessary ‘medical’ fitting than I had expected.
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Post by gasman on Feb 5, 2019 16:32:59 GMT
Hey, great. The feeling of the finished one when you put it on for the first time is something to really look forward to. I wonder if you will get the chance to walk around with it on whilst you are in the shop? I dont know about you, but somehow it felt much more like I was getting a necessary ‘medical’ fitting than I had expected. Hi, I hope I’ll get some practice as I’ve all ready thought of my return to VB to pick the Kafo up,I normally go down in the Campervan and spend a couple of nights normally the appointments are midday Saturday/Monday so will keep them midday but this time will travel from the northeast to London by coach and I’ll get the 22.15 pm coach home so that’s giving me Around 8/9 hours hobbling around London with my left leg fully encased in a metal and leather Kafo and my right leg in a below knee metal and leather Afo a then 5/6 hours return journey on the coach in total 15 or more hours of total pleasure or a trip to accident and emergency must remember my walking stick, ref the fitting yes it was totally professional it just felt right , embarrassment did creep in when Robert called in the technician to show him some modifications required to the Kafo but the technician was again so professional,then penny came in again a bit embarrassed will have to apologise next time I see her but really can’t wait roll on the finished item
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2019 16:45:41 GMT
I have a made up left leg KAFO but it’s rather tight I wore it the nec Campervan show last August for nearly 9 hours and when I took it off my leg was numb and bruised there is no comparison really with this brace but the temp one seemed that it was meant to be there .will update Really impressed that you wore your temp KAFO to the NEC. I would love to do that kind of outing but I think my temp one is too bulky and, due to its poor fit, allows me very little knee bend when unlocked - bit of a nightmare if I used it in public and tried to sit down. Although I've modified mine a fair amount and fitted new longer straps, I still have to be very careful not to cause numbness in my lower leg and foot. There is a fine line between getting it tight enough so it doesn't slop about when walking and cutting off the circulation! I haven't yet decided to make an appointment with VB - I'm still pretty apprehensive about it - but the state of my leg after wearing my ill-fitting KAFO for 5+ hours at home (ie lumps, bumps, etc not normally there) means I probably ought not to put it off for too much longer. Please do keep us up to date with your experiences of wearing your new brace. I guess, apart from not being able to bend your knee, you won't know it's there. Is your new one weight-bearing at all?
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Post by gasman on Feb 27, 2019 22:33:25 GMT
Hi, just spent a long weekend away(Campervan) with whilst wearing my made up Kafo Left Leg (a bit tight)Afo Right Leg,I wore it from leaving home to getting home apart from sleeping,I was at the Campervan show NEC Birmingham two days (mobility scooter assisted), my thinking is as I’m a full time 24/7 double metal/leather Afo wearer with a well laid out cover story going back 20 yrs or so,I wanted to go full time Kafo wearer so before I ordered my Kafo from VB first fitting was last December (nearly finished awaiting boots to have backstop sockets fitted) I’d been dropping hints to family/friends ,neighbours saying things like looks like I’m getting a new calliper but this one is going on my thigh as well,and on my second fitting 4th feb on my return again put feelers out saying wow didn’t expect it to be that big and cumbersome doubt I’ll be wearing that much unless really necessary, and I’m really glad I’d mentioned it as the last weekend practice was really really hard mentally and physically, whilst in my Kafo I endured numbness & cramping but no bruising, fortunately the cramp didn’t last long and the numbness kept coming &going in fact it seemed to give a sense of reality to the experience, I know it doesn’t fit correctly and the one I’m getting is measured for me and more than likely a totally different experience but either way my bases are covered. But apart from awkwardness of the Kafo in the confines of the Campervan the experience was okay ish,the driving was at first a bit hairy but ten minutes in and no problems fortunately the van’s seating is quite high and the cab is quite open so no real obstacles doubt I’ll cope in the car so looking forward for the fitted Kafo to come will update soon hopefully.
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Post by castmenow on Mar 7, 2019 9:15:19 GMT
Sounds like overall things went well and I look forward to hearing how things go with your new KAFO. I do not get any issues with loss of feeling or cramping in my braces, perhaps you are getting part of the brace pressing on a nerve as it is not measured for you.
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Post by gasman on Mar 14, 2019 15:57:40 GMT
Hi,well good news my Kafo and boots are ready for collection on Monday the 18th so I’ve just put my collection plans into operation ,I’ve just purchased my return bus tickets from the northeast to London, leaving at 23.45pm Sunday arriving 6.15am Monday kill some time until collection midday then then hobble around London with my left leg encased in a metal & leather Kafo right leg metal & leather Afo for a return journey leaving London 23.30 pm the same day ,arriving home 6.00 am so in total I’ll be braced up around 17 hours ,hope it’s not overkill ,when booking the tickets with national express I booked a seat for a disability and then explained my situation about my callipers no problem we’ll take good care of you we will arrange assistance at the start and finish of your journeys really looking forward to it will update about experience
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2019 9:12:39 GMT
Good luck for Monday, Gasman.
You're a brave man to plan 17 hours straight off wearing brand new braces! I find my KAFO needs slight adjustment after the first hour or so of wearing each time and it depends a lot on whether I'm mostly moving around or sitting down. But then mine is not made to measure yet.
Looking forward to hearing how you get on.
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Post by busboy on Mar 16, 2019 19:51:24 GMT
Good luck from me as well. I will be most interested to hear how you get on. I am hoping to collect my finished kafo in a week or two but I don't think I will b brave enough to wear if straight from the shop.
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Post by deejay on Mar 17, 2019 22:30:33 GMT
Yes. Good luck also. A real exciting challenge to wear the braces immediately like that. Presumably once you leave the shop you will have little option other to carry on with it......I like that. I wish I had had the nerve to do that when I collected mine but firstly, I was driving and secondly, I would have had to get from the car to the house when I got back and that would not have been a possibility. I did consider staying somewhere overnight but it was all a bit too complicated. Perhaps one day I will go away and be braced for a day or two when I work up the courage. Anyway, will look forward to your next post.
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Post by gasman on Mar 18, 2019 21:37:17 GMT
Hi ,well I’m well into my bracethon and up to now no problems whatsoever nearly 6 hrs so far possibly 11/12 to go,it started late Saturday night wearing my metal & leather below knee Afo’s I arrived at the bus station 11.30 pm for the 11.45 bus to London Victoria ,passenger wise there about 10 people waiting no bus employees about and when the bus arrived and on presentation of my ticket the driver as promised on booking my ticket introduced himself and asked if I needed any assistance just ask then showed me to a seat which he said had a little more room , the journey took 6.5 hrs and was uneventful.arrived London and I can’t praise the driver and company more highly, hope the return is as good, meandered aroundlondon and finally end up at VB at 12 noon,Robert was again so professional putting me at ease and fitted me with my Kafo & boots and walked around showing the workings of the brace etc and emphasising its only for recreational use only and I should build up the wearing time, this is where I told a white lie (sorry Robert) he asked if I was in the Campervan and I said yes. but before I left the shop I ordered a matching right leg Afo brace , I left the shop with the Kafo in my hands but went to a nearby pub and done my superman switch and put on my Kafo in the toilet ,the Kafo really fits me perfectly it feels so natural , no chafing numbness or anything I’ve only once nearly went #rse over tit and that was going down hill a difficult manoeuvre, I have a stick which helps stairs are another difficult manoeuvre but taking extra time helps , but in London time is against you everyone seems to be in a hurry , the instant locks on the braces take a bit of getting used to but have been practicing quite a lot ,I was in a pub in the centre of London when I was approached by a female asking I’ve noticed you keep going to your knees what’s that all about,I thought that’s straight to the point so told her which then brought her to another blunt question I suppose being a gimp you won’t get much action do you want some ,yes she was a prostitute I declined and left now waiting around the bus station for the 22.15 pm bus home ( hope it’s not the same driver) and another 6.5 hour journey, in all honesty I’m loving the experience but I’ve been flagging the last 3 or 4 hours not with the Kafo I’m loving that bit but at 69 it’s the actual time it’s been a really long day and I can’t sleep whilst on the move will update later.
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Post by deejay on Mar 18, 2019 23:00:57 GMT
Good to hear that all is going well. Am quite envious. Are you able to walk with them unlocked?
Am wondering if, at any point so far you have wanted to take the braces off (obviously you can't while you are still out).
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Post by castmenow on Mar 19, 2019 8:55:07 GMT
Thanks for taking the time to write an update whilst out and about. Your new KAFO sounds much better fit as you do not report any numbness or cramping. It sounds like you have spring loaded locks, my braces have these and if you are used to not having them, but manual locks then its rigid leg only walking unless you adopt a very strange gait. When I read about your lady friend I had a good laugh. Best wishes on your future relationship with your new leg brace.
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Post by gasman on Mar 20, 2019 21:56:00 GMT
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Hi,well I finally completed my bracethon and in total I spent nearly 18 hours wrapped up in my Kafo , the journey home was a totaly different experience firstly the coach was nearly full but the driver still made himself know saying any assistance just let him know ,I must admit getting onto the coach a was very difficult task aided by the driver,the journey was eventful and the same degree of difficulty in getting off the coach, once home I was amazed how comfortable the whole experience was and on removal of the Kafo the lack of marks abrasions on my legs /skin, in fact nothing I’m totally amazed the difference I suppose it’s the made to measure fit but I wasn’t really expecting it to be so comfortable for something that looks so cumbersome,I can really see the transition of a full time Kafo legbrace wearer becoming a real reality Im already putting it on first thing in the morning and wearing it all day till going to bed in fact I have it on now writing this, ive got tomorrow sorted of down town for clothes shopping (trousers in particular) the Kafo fit nicely under the jeans I have and the outline of the thigh band and when the Kafo is open looks full on,I’ve had a drive in the Campervan and found it okay no problems except the knee cap pad is as stiff as a board hopefully it will become more supple over time/use, I’ve also tried the car but that’s not safe as yet but will persevere, deejay yes you can walk with the Kafo in the unlocked position but you have to be very careful that’s how I nearly become a cropper ,but having said that if you do that your defeating the purpose of wearing the Kafo I like the confines the locked Kafo gives you ,( the dog doesn’t) I can’t upload pictures of my Kafo files to big apparently will update
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Post by deejay on Mar 20, 2019 23:10:05 GMT
Really good that it fits so well and you can wear it for so long. Thats much longer than I have managed so far. Mine is just as comfortable and I have worn it for hours at a time but as friends or neighbours often call in and they know I am here because of the car, I have to choose my times.
I quite like walking around with mine unlocked for a time (its still a different experience and restricts rotation of the foot etc) but then I will just choose to lock it when I want and feel the real restriction. I think I see it a little differently to some here. I dont want, necessarily, to be seen as disabled, I like to deal with the different experience of wearing the brace, almost to look and feel 'normal' wearing it. I know its there but I dont 'need' others to know.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2019 16:44:35 GMT
Yes, Deejay, it's the 'different' experience of wearing a brace and the restriction that I crave. You describe the feeling very well. I also would rather not wear it overtly - well, not any more than is necessary.
Problem for me since buying a real KAFO is that would like to wear it all the time which makes me wish I had a good reason. But, similar to you, I want to wear it for the comfort it gives me, definitely not to 'look' disabled.
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