New here - intro and ????s

[Guest guest]

My daughter, Emilie, turned 5 months old yesterday. She was diagnosed

with tort at her 4 month check up and started physical therapy a wk

later. I think there is lots of improvement with the tort already.

Emilie was also premature and slept on her back, so the combination of

the three (i.e., premature, back sleeping and tort) led to a

positional plagio diagnosis at 5 months. The pedi sent us for an xray

of her skull yesterday to rule out that cranio problem (can't think of

name right now). She says if xray is ok, then she will send us to get

helmet at a place in Burbank (california). I did my own research and

discovered that the place in Burbank is Cranial Technologies (DOC

band) and that the band will cost approx. $3,700. Our insurance (from

a brief phone call) indicated that we will have to pay the deductable

of $300 and then 20% of the remaining cost of the band. They will pay

80%. I have a lot of questions for you great people, but here are

just the first few:

1) Is getting this amount from my insurance good, or should I expect more?

2) How are some people on this board getting bands for much lower

(like $900 total)?

3) Should I insist that Emilie see a neurosurgeon or craniofacial

plastic surgeon before getting a helmet? I trust the pedi but wonder

if Emilie's case is mild enough to not need the helmet . . . But, I

also don't want to wait to much longer to start the helmet since she

is already 5 months old. Getting in to see a specialist could take wks.

4) Emilie really does not have any problems with her face (yet??).

The back right side of her head is clearly flat (her tort is on the

left neck muscle) but the pedi said that she had a mild to moderate

case of plagio. I guess I should admit that her right eye does seem

to be showing signs of a problem and her right ear is ever so slightly

ahead of her left (but you would have to measure to find this out).

So, what I am getting at is, does she need the helmet? She is already

rolling over and almost sitting -- doesn't this physical activity lend

itself to fixing the plagio b/c the child is not on her back as much?

5) How much do positional changes help? She has a mind of her own and

with the tort, it is impossible to get her to sleep at night in a

different position. But, during the day (very recently) I hardly ever

put her on her back and her naps are on her side (with a " bumper " to

prevent rolling).

6) If we were only to have her wear a helmet at night (and during the

day when we are at home), how much longer would she have to wear the

helmet in the long term vs. if she wore it all the time? I know you

guys can't say for sure, but I would appreciate guesses!

Sorry this is soooo long and from a stranger too! But, I really need

help soon since we should find out on Monday if the helmet is a go

ahead (and then make an appointment). Any answers would be very much

appreciated.

Has anyone else been to this place in Burbank??

Thanks!!! a million time over.