Re: Early Diagnosis and Urgency!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim,

I just have to respond to you because our circumstances are just too similar:

My son was dx with tort at 2 months- at which time, my ped had us

see a nuero to get an MRI done- this is to rule out certain types of tort-

most is muscular, but some tort is caused by bony fusion of the spine and

neck. since it was muscular tort, we were in physical therapy by 3 months.

I urge you to get a second opinion or at least talk with your Doctor about

your concerns- you have the right to request a referral to a specialist,

period. My ped did not address the plagio, didn't even let us know this

could happen, and at his 4 month check-up, I brought the misalignment and

flatness to her attention. She said it would round out but I used this board

as my guide to figuring out what we thought the best option for us would be,

and that was the DOC band as the repositioning was virtually impossible for

us to beat (and he was in daycare by 3 months old- so we were not in direct

control of this which made us feel it was helpless). I asked for the

referral and she gave it to us even though she felt it was not necessary.

Now, she constantly tells me what a great decision it was and is forever

complimenting his head. Educate yourself on what is happening, and be the

ultimate judge of care for your son- had I listened to my Doc I might have

killed her! For both tort and plagio, the earlier you get moving on

treatment, the better the results will be. Torticollis for some can be mild,

and for others, it may take a year or more of therapy- some even require

surgery if not resolved through therapy. Check into

www.torticolliskids for more tips and info on tort. Gotta

cut this short, but please email me with any info you need! Good luck and

keep us posted!

' Mom

[Guest guest]

I had the exact same situation.

But, all my research shows that one usually tried

repositioning techniques for a couple of months and

that at 4 months it is time to look at a DOC Band. My

research shoes that 4-6 months is the optimal time to

band a baby.

Anyone hear differently?

We tried repositioning at 2 months without

success...so at 4 months we had him banded.

He was in the band 2 and 1/2 months and graduated a

month ago.

Too late and you don't get the optimal

results...however, I think that maybe too early and he

will outgrow the band too quickly. Does anyone else

think this may be correct?

Also, I think if one tried repositioning for 2 months,

one has a better chance of getting the insurance

company to pay for it. (Although I have been denied

and haven't recieved a dime). I will be posting the

reason for denial soon as I need ammunition for my

upcoming appeal battle.

Anyway, jsut my 2 cents worth.

Perhaps others have other thoughts!

Good Luck!

in Atlanta

--- jvmicali <jvmicali@...> wrote:

> My son was diagnised with plagiocephal and

> torticolis at his

> 2 month check-up. Our Pediatrician recommended that

> we encourage

> Left side gazing and other repositioning techniques.

> She wanted to

> follow-up at his 4 month check up and see if it got

> any better. Is

> this a typical course of action? I am concerned

> that she does not

> have a sense of urgency. Shouldn't we be seeing a

> specialist or a

> physical therapist or doing more? We caught this

> early I think but I

> do not want to be in the same position in two

> months? Am I being

> paranoid?

>

> Thanks for your feedback.

>

> Jim

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I think I have a lot of input to this post as my twins are opposite examples of banding early. I just came from a follow-up visit at Cranial Technologies. I started repositioning my twins sometime between 2 and 3 months. At 4 months they were referred to a specialist, and at 5 1/2 months they were banded. Sara will be done in 2 weeks (6 weeks total time) and she looks great. In fact, if we took the band off today she would probably be fine. She is a great example of starting early. She has had a few good growth spurts in the last month and her progress was obvious after only a few days in the band. Sam is also making great progress, but his plagio was a bit more severe. He will probably outgrow his band within the next 3 weeks and we might be faced with the decision of whether or not to reband. I definitely think that starting early is the way to go for optimal correction, but you should prepare yourself for the notion of more than 1 band to get the maximum correction. Our insurance denied coverage, and of course we have appealed, but we're not sure if we can win that fight in time to help us decide the re-banding issue.

, who is your insurance company? Did you hear about the US District Court ruling against Cigna a few weeks ago? Cigna is our insurance company, and the case that was argued sounded very much like our own situation. Regardless of who your insurance is, the ruling may help you with your own arguments. You can read it at the following link: http://laws.findlaw.com/4th/011705p.html

Regards,

Gail, Sara and Sam's mom in Texas

Re: Early Diagnosis and Urgency!

I had the exact same situation.But, all my research shows that one usually triedrepositioning techniques for a couple of months andthat at 4 months it is time to look at a DOC Band. Myresearch shoes that 4-6 months is the optimal time toband a baby.Anyone hear differently?We tried repositioning at 2 months withoutsuccess...so at 4 months we had him banded.He was in the band 2 and 1/2 months and graduated amonth ago.Too late and you don't get the optimalresults...however, I think that maybe too early and hewill outgrow the band too quickly. Does anyone elsethink this may be correct?Also, I think if one tried repositioning for 2 months,one has a better chance of getting the insurancecompany to pay for it. (Although I have been deniedand haven't recieved a dime). I will be posting thereason for denial soon as I need ammunition for myupcoming appeal battle.Anyway, jsut my 2 cents worth.Perhaps others have other thoughts!Good Luck! in Atlanta

[Guest guest]

Gail -

How is Sam outgrowing his band so quickly? Dane got banded at 5

months and has gained 4.5 lbs since then. He could wear his for

another 4 weeks or so. Has Sam gained more than that, or are you

going for new pressure points?

Dane's mom (DOC Band 2/14)

> I think I have a lot of input to this post as my twins are

opposite examples of banding early. I just came from a follow-up

visit at Cranial Technologies. I started repositioning my twins

sometime between 2 and 3 months. At 4 months they were referred to

a specialist, and at 5 1/2 months they were banded. Sara will be

done in 2 weeks (6 weeks total time) and she looks great. In fact,

if we took the band off today she would probably be fine. She is a

great example of starting early. She has had a few good growth

spurts in the last month and her progress was obvious after only a

few days in the band. Sam is also making great progress, but his

plagio was a bit more severe. He will probably outgrow his band

within the next 3 weeks and we might be faced with the decision of

whether or not to reband. I definitely think that starting early is

the way to go for optimal correction, but you should prepare

yourself for the notion of more than 1 band to get the maximum

correction. Our insurance denied coverage, and of course we have

appealed, but we're not sure if we can win that fight in time to

help us decide the re-banding issue.

>

> , who is your insurance company? Did you hear about the US

District Court ruling against Cigna a few weeks ago? Cigna is our

insurance company, and the case that was argued sounded very much

like our own situation. Regardless of who your insurance is, the

ruling may help you with your own arguments. You can read it at the

following link: http://laws.findlaw.com/4th/011705p.html

>

> Regards,

> Gail, Sara and Sam's mom in Texas

> Re: Early Diagnosis and Urgency!

>

>

> I had the exact same situation.

> But, all my research shows that one usually tried

> repositioning techniques for a couple of months and

> that at 4 months it is time to look at a DOC Band. My

> research shoes that 4-6 months is the optimal time to

> band a baby.

> Anyone hear differently?

> We tried repositioning at 2 months without

> success...so at 4 months we had him banded.

> He was in the band 2 and 1/2 months and graduated a

> month ago.

> Too late and you don't get the optimal

> results...however, I think that maybe too early and he

> will outgrow the band too quickly. Does anyone else

> think this may be correct?

> Also, I think if one tried repositioning for 2 months,

> one has a better chance of getting the insurance

> company to pay for it. (Although I have been denied

> and haven't recieved a dime). I will be posting the

> reason for denial soon as I need ammunition for my

> upcoming appeal battle.

> Anyway, jsut my 2 cents worth.

> Perhaps others have other thoughts!

> Good Luck!

> in Atlanta

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure how much weight he has gained, but he has gone from wearing 6 month size clothes to busting out of 12 month clothes. We may be able to get more than 3 more weeks out of his band, but that was the estimate today. I really hope he can wear it a little longer as we will probably opt for not getting another band if insurance doesn't pay. He has had enough correction that he will probably be fine and no one but the trained eye would ever notice, but I really hope that we don't have to make that decision. Keep your fingers crossed that we will win our appeal and they will pay for a second band for Sam and it won't be an issue.

Gail

Re: Early Diagnosis and Urgency!

Gail -How is Sam outgrowing his band so quickly? Dane got banded at 5 months and has gained 4.5 lbs since then. He could wear his for another 4 weeks or so. Has Sam gained more than that, or are you going for new pressure points?Dane's mom (DOC Band 2/14)

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim and welcome! Actually repositioning at 2 months old is an excellent

idea. Many people have great success with repositioning and are able to

correct the flatness without any other treatment. You should check out

www.plagiocephaly.org/support for some good repositioning tips. Also, did

your ped mention torticollis? Does your baby have tight neck muscles on one

side or limited range of motion? If so then he might have tort and physical

therapy is usually recommended to correct that.

I think that repositioning aggressively for 2 months and then going back in

for a re-check is an excellent idea. Take some good pictures of from

several angles including the top so you can track his progress over the next

two months. If you don't see improvement then other options are available.

You may have to be more persistent with your ped at that time if he/she is

not knowledgable about plagio and other forms of treatment.

Good luck and I hope that you will keep us posted.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Dear Gail,

Thank you so much for the info as I head towards my

first appeal with Principal!

--- Gail <momofivftwins@...> wrote:

> I think I have a lot of input to this post as my

> twins are opposite examples of banding early. I

> just came from a follow-up visit at Cranial

> Technologies. I started repositioning my twins

> sometime between 2 and 3 months. At 4 months they

> were referred to a specialist, and at 5 1/2 months

> they were banded. Sara will be done in 2 weeks (6

> weeks total time) and she looks great. In fact, if

> we took the band off today she would probably be

> fine. She is a great example of starting early.

> She has had a few good growth spurts in the last

> month and her progress was obvious after only a few

> days in the band. Sam is also making great

> progress, but his plagio was a bit more severe. He

> will probably outgrow his band within the next 3

> weeks and we might be faced with the decision of

> whether or not to reband. I definitely think that

> starting early is the way to go for optimal

> correction, but you should prepare yourself for the

> notion of more than 1 band to get the maximum

> correction. Our insurance denied coverage, and of

> course we have appealed, but we're not sure if we

> can win that fight in time to help us decide the

> re-banding issue.

>

> , who is your insurance company? Did you hear

> about the US District Court ruling against Cigna a

> few weeks ago? Cigna is our insurance company, and

> the case that was argued sounded very much like our

> own situation. Regardless of who your insurance is,

> the ruling may help you with your own arguments.

> You can read it at the following link:

> http://laws.findlaw.com/4th/011705p.html

>

> Regards,

> Gail, Sara and Sam's mom in Texas

> Re: Early Diagnosis and Urgency!

>

>

> I had the exact same situation.

> But, all my research shows that one usually tried

> repositioning techniques for a couple of months

> and

> that at 4 months it is time to look at a DOC Band.

> My

> research shoes that 4-6 months is the optimal time

> to

> band a baby.

> Anyone hear differently?

> We tried repositioning at 2 months without

> success...so at 4 months we had him banded.

> He was in the band 2 and 1/2 months and graduated

> a

> month ago.

> Too late and you don't get the optimal

> results...however, I think that maybe too early

> and he

> will outgrow the band too quickly. Does anyone

> else

> think this may be correct?

> Also, I think if one tried repositioning for 2

> months,

> one has a better chance of getting the insurance

> company to pay for it. (Although I have been

> denied

> and haven't recieved a dime). I will be posting

> the

> reason for denial soon as I need ammunition for my

> upcoming appeal battle.

> Anyway, jsut my 2 cents worth.

> Perhaps others have other thoughts!

> Good Luck!

> in Atlanta

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Gail, Jace is in the same situation as Sara and Sam. He was banded

just before he turned 5 months. He will only be in it another 2-3

weeks. So 6-7 in total. We are very happy and have already decided

not to go for a second band. June at CT said she wouldn't go for a

second band because he has good correction, but that it was our

choice. And yes, we have done the weekly cost of the band. But you

are right, it is soooo worth it. Regardless of the cost, I am so

glad we did this!

Good luck on your appeal!

Ana & Jace

> I'm not sure how much weight he has gained, but he has gone from

wearing 6 month size clothes to busting out of 12 month clothes. We

may be able to get more than 3 more weeks out of his band, but that

was the estimate today. I really hope he can wear it a little

longer as we will probably opt for not getting another band if

insurance doesn't pay. He has had enough correction that he will

probably be fine and no one but the trained eye would ever notice,

but I really hope that we don't have to make that decision. Keep

your fingers crossed that we will win our appeal and they will pay

for a second band for Sam and it won't be an issue.

> Gail

> Re: Early Diagnosis and Urgency!

>

>

> Gail -

> How is Sam outgrowing his band so quickly? Dane got banded at 5

> months and has gained 4.5 lbs since then. He could wear his for

> another 4 weeks or so. Has Sam gained more than that, or are

you

> going for new pressure points?

>

> Dane's mom (DOC Band 2/14)