Pain management in clubfoot treatment

[Guest guest]

My daughter is just beginning treatment for a clubfoot. We had 5

castings from a local doctor but he wasn't casting properly above

the knee. This week we began castings from a pediatric orthopedic

surgeon and she was so inconsoleable that I took off the cast at 4

am. She was fine afterwards and slept the rest of the night. I

know I have to go back and begin again. My daughter is only 8 weeks

old so I don't know how painful it is. Does anyone have any

suggestions for pain management? How painful is it? Does it last

for every casting or is it only the initial cast?

[Guest guest]

When my baby was an infant, we also had pain issues with the cast. I

started giving her a dose of Tylenol before we left the house for the

appointment so it would have a little time to take effect but she was

usualyy fussy and in pain for a day or so afterwards. I would continue

giving her Tylenol and try to do what I could to keep her leg elevated.

I later learned when switching to our Ponseti Doctor that Kelsey was

having this pain because he was forcing her foot up in the dorsiflexion

(up and down movement) and her tendon was so tight that this was a very

painful movement for her so he was inflicting the pain on her and then

casting it in a painful position. At 10 months, when she started

getting her Ponseti casts, she never cried at all. Is your new Doctor

practicing the Ponseti method?

Jenni

dufault5 wrote:

>

>My daughter is just beginning treatment for a clubfoot. We had 5

>castings from a local doctor but he wasn't casting properly above

>the knee. This week we began castings from a pediatric orthopedic

>surgeon and she was so inconsoleable that I took off the cast at 4

>am. She was fine afterwards and slept the rest of the night. I

>know I have to go back and begin again. My daughter is only 8 weeks

>old so I don't know how painful it is. Does anyone have any

>suggestions for pain management? How painful is it? Does it last

>for every casting or is it only the initial cast?

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[Guest guest]

Bless your heart, I'm so glad you came here. At 8 weeks of age you have time -

that is the good news. Time to find the right doctor.....not a lot of time, but

enough.

It shouldn't be painful. A little weird maybe, a little frustrating, maybe even

a bit of initial discomfort, but pain?????? NO. I went through that with my

1st, and thought it was normal. It's not. He paid dearly for my ignorance.

Please stay on here to this group, keep reading, studying, researching and

finding a way to see a Ponseti Qualified doctor before it's too late. These

other doctors can and will mess your kid up worse than she began with. Sorry

I'm not very articulate tonight but you owe it to your baby to find the right

help before it's too late.

s.

Pain management in clubfoot treatment

My daughter is just beginning treatment for a clubfoot. We had 5

castings from a local doctor but he wasn't casting properly above

the knee. This week we began castings from a pediatric orthopedic

surgeon and she was so inconsoleable that I took off the cast at 4

am. She was fine afterwards and slept the rest of the night. I

know I have to go back and begin again. My daughter is only 8 weeks

old so I don't know how painful it is. Does anyone have any

suggestions for pain management? How painful is it? Does it last

for every casting or is it only the initial cast?

[Guest guest]

I want to add to the others, and agree .. there shouldn't be a need

for 'pain management'. Pain and inconsolable crying are a warning

sign. We went through several months of painful castings that

ultimately did not work. Once we switched doctors, the castings were

not painful AT ALL. Our daughter slept through them. The casting room

was so quiet the nurses and doctor could whisper. Before, she had

screamed herself purple during castings. That should not be...

The most would be some fussiness on the day of the casting.. but

inconsolable crying is not the norm..

Please check out Dr. Ponseti's website

http://www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/orthopaedics/clubfeet/index.html

for a list of qualified doctors and then check out the " checklist for

parents " at the following site for things to watch for to help you

make sure you are in the right place..

http://pages.ivillage.com/ponseti_links/

take care.. do your research, follow your instincts as a parent. you

have time to get on the right track if you aren't on it now..

congratulations on your little one!

and Claire

>

>

> My daughter is just beginning treatment for a clubfoot. We had 5

> castings from a local doctor but he wasn't casting properly above

> the knee. This week we began castings from a pediatric orthopedic

> surgeon and she was so inconsoleable that I took off the cast at 4

> am. She was fine afterwards and slept the rest of the night. I

> know I have to go back and begin again. My daughter is only 8

weeks

> old so I don't know how painful it is. Does anyone have any

> suggestions for pain management? How painful is it? Does it last

> for every casting or is it only the initial cast?

[Guest guest]

We started with a non Ponseti dr., and even with him there was no pain. My son

didn't really like his foot being touched each time they put the cast on, but

was fine afterward. If your daughter is is pain, they are not doing something

right. I just started posting here, but have been reading for a long time, so I

know I will not be the only person to tell you this. Everyone here will give

you great advice. I would listen to what they have to say. They helped me find

out what I should do and sort through all the information you get.

Pain management in clubfoot treatment

My daughter is just beginning treatment for a clubfoot. We had 5

castings from a local doctor but he wasn't casting properly above

the knee. This week we began castings from a pediatric orthopedic

surgeon and she was so inconsoleable that I took off the cast at 4

am. She was fine afterwards and slept the rest of the night. I

know I have to go back and begin again. My daughter is only 8 weeks

old so I don't know how painful it is. Does anyone have any

suggestions for pain management? How painful is it? Does it last

for every casting or is it only the initial cast?

[Guest guest]

A sign of pain does not necessarily mean the doctor is doing something

wrong. If the foot is severe enough and not flexible it can be very

painful for them during the casting process and a bit uncomfortable

for a day maybe even two afterwards. We went through this with our

son when he was casted by Dr. Ponseti, and he would scream and scream

for the sessions, dr. p would look at me and tell me quietly, " I am

hurting him right now. " It was very hard to go through, but once he

was done, jason would just be uncomfortable for a bit. We gave him

benedryl to help take the edge off, it made him a little drowsy. and

we gave him tyelenol and ibu off and on when needed. some castings

required it after, and some did not. But if the pain persists for

more than a few days I would check very closely for the feet to make

sure they are not slipping or that the casts are not on too tight.

but yes, sometimes it is painful even when done right. But it's

different for every child. Tylenol helps a lot!

atypical bl cf 10-09-03

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> My daughter is just beginning treatment for a clubfoot. We had 5

> castings from a local doctor but he wasn't casting properly above

> the knee. This week we began castings from a pediatric orthopedic

> surgeon and she was so inconsoleable that I took off the cast at 4

> am. She was fine afterwards and slept the rest of the night. I

> know I have to go back and begin again. My daughter is only 8 weeks

> old so I don't know how painful it is. Does anyone have any

> suggestions for pain management? How painful is it? Does it last

> for every casting or is it only the initial cast?