This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hello all

Can anyone tell me if they use the Walk Aide?

I do and I would not go out of the house with out it. Best thing I have ever owned to help with an MS symptom...aka footdrop.

Can I ask as I too have the Walk Aide, two in fact. Do you ever find you have to adjust the placement of the electrodes, literally from one day to another, to hit that essential nerve? Or do you find you have to increase the stim some days?

Well, hmmm lol

If you need to adjust it daily I would go back to the tech and have them redo the electrodes. If the black one is a little off you don't get the right stim, if the red one is too far forward you get to little of one, it really is edgy.

I have the new cuff with the snap lock. This is nice because you can really tighten that bugger down on your Peraneal Nerve so you can keep the juice down. I find my electrodes last up too three months. When they are new they are good for a setting of 4-5. As they wear, and as I am now, I have the thing on 10. If I tried that when the electrodes were new I would meet God and maybe his Son too if he isn't busy that moment.

Once you go to that tech, literally outline the electrodes on the cuff with a permanent marker and until you are used to it, mark your leg even with the mark on the newer cuff, or mark the older cuff and your leg to line it up right. This will need to be done for probably 6 months until your body gets used to it. I don't know if this is possible or not, but it almost seems like the nerve just ends up being in the same spot after a while - like the body moves it lol. Now that I have been wearing mine for 4 years, I can put it on with my eyes closed and tell from the way it is on my leg, without the unit even being on, if it is going to work right or not. When I miss my spot it is by maybe a half and inch at the most. It gets easier with time.

Good Luck!!

Cheers for your reply. I've had the walkaide(s) for 2 years now and for the most part get on just fine with them. But the other day the damnedest thing happened...the placement of the electrode had to be moved about an inch to the right for the stim to work, it was like the nerve moved overnight!

I have the circles inside the cuff - have done from the beginning. It wasn't that, rather it was the nerves sudden decision to move out and relocate overnight that had me surprised.

Also I don't know if it's because I sit on my knees a lot or what but I have to change electrodes every couple of days ... I don't know how you get away with months lol. Either the gel goes all gooey or the damn thing dried out..

Shave your leg where the electrodes go

Can anybody pm me with purchasing details?

chrishasms wrote:Shave your leg where the electrodes go

Nothing to do with gorilla legs

1eye wrote:Can anybody pm me with purchasing details?

Check your pm box

I'm currently in the process of a one week evaluation of the Walk-aide. My conslusion is that it is not nearly as effective as the AFO I've been wearing for the past few years. The issues I have with it are:
-Not always consistent. Occasionally doesn't lift foot high enough or not at all.
-Very touchy about placement. If its off position it won't fire at the right time. Also as others have noted it doesn't hit the nerve properly.
-Getting that little zap with every step gets annoying. And sometimes it zaps me when I'm just leaning, not walking.
Tried to go for a walk yesterday but only made it to the end of the drive. My foot was dragging sometimes and it just felt very inconsistent. Took the Walk Aide off and put my foot brace on and walked over 1/2 mile.

So for me its not going to work. I would strongly suggest that you get a trial period of a week or so before you buy one. Same would be true for the Bioness.

Good point David, I would strong agree.