Re: What's worse? Casts or DBB?

[Guest guest]

>

> My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in

today

> the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB

was

> worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

> of you who are living through it now?

>

> Thanks

I think the casts are worse. With the bar, you can give baths and

dress them in more clothing than the casts, they are lighter and not as

awkward to move around!! But on the other hand, since the bar is

removable, it is easier for you to remove it when you or your baby is

frustrated, and the more time the baby is out of the bar, the more they

resist it. When you do get the bar try your best to follow the

doctor's instructions, we were unable to keep our son in the bar

because of some other medical issues and now his feet have pulled back

in so we are back at the beginning with casts!!

Lots of luck to you!!

[Guest guest]

We are in Week #4 of the DBB and they both have their pros and cons. With the

casts, at least the babies can move their legs independently of one another and

can sleep comfortably on their side. But like someone else said, with the DBB

at least you can give them a normal bath. We never had a problem with clothing

our son while he had his cast. I have more of a problem with clothes now that

he has the DBB because most things for his age range have footsies on them so

it's been a challenge to find stuff WITH snaps all the way up and down the legs

AND with no feet. But it's fine.

Right now we are 1/3 of the way done with the 23/7 wear so we are looking

forward to reduced hours when our baby will have more freedom during the day, so

that's another good thing about the DBB. It IS removable. It just stinks that

it has to be a part of our lives for so many years.

mommy of 12/15/04 Right CF DBB 23/7

lynnekruchten mad4madison@...> wrote:

My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in today

the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB was

worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

of you who are living through it now?

Thanks

[Guest guest]

Good luck to you!!!

I think it's a trade off - casts vs. the brace.

With casts you don't have to take them off and get them back on. But

with casts, you don't get to play with your baby's little legs and

toes! Also no baths can make for a dirty baby - especially when they

get older.

The brace lets you see baby's legs and toes. You can give baby a bath

which is my daughter's favorite thing to do. No worries about getting

the brace wet, etc. The big downfall is that it can be a pain to take

on and off. And it takes a lot of patience and committment on your

part to keep it on for the amount of time you are supposed to. IMO,

it's easier to have baby in casts. Until they are old enough to only

wear the brace at night time - then it gets easier.

Best advice - come to this board for help, and come often! Parents

here give great advice on putting on the shoes and keeping them on.

Darby

Livi 3/15/04 bi cf FAB 14 hrs/day

>

> My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in

today

> the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB

was

> worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

> of you who are living through it now?

>

> Thanks

[Guest guest]

I remember seeing a picture of the DBB (you'll find that many of us here refer

to it instead as the Foot Abduction Brace, or FAB) and thinking that I never

thought I would miss the casts, but that surely they were better than this

thing. It looks sort of strange, not unlike some kind of torture device. And

it looks like a real pain to have to work around.

Add to that that I kept hearing these horror stories on the board of babies who

just hated the FAB, who got sores from it, who wouldn't keep the thing on. I

was definitely not looking forward to the day when Jonah would be put in the

FAB. In fact, I did FAB training with him while he was still in casts, taping

his casts to a ruler so that he would get used to the sensation of having to

move his legs together. I'm not recommending that you do this (seriously

though, what kind of a nut am I?) just saying that I was rather terrified at the

prospect of the FAB.

Well, my son did just fine in the FAB. No adjustment period, no sores, nothing.

He loved getting to take a bath and go in the pool. And we loved that hour each

day of getting to love on his adorable little feet.

I hope that you'll find--as we did--that the 3 months of wearing the FAB

full-time go by quicker than you expected. Today, it doesn't seem like I even

really think about it. Jonah is 22 months old and putting his " walks " (that's

what he calls the FAB) on is just part of getting him ready for bed. The other

night while his older sister was saying goodnight to him, he told her: " My walks

keep my feet straight. I love my walks. " Made me cry...

Just out of curiosity, where are you located and who is treating your son? How

many casts does your doctor think he will need? It's true that many babies do

have an adjustment period to the FAB, but that usually does not last more than a

few days. In my experience here, the two key factors to success with the FAB

are a properly corrected foot and making sure your child is wearing the FAB

correctly. You will get lots of tips and pointers from the folks here.

We are wishing you all the best!

Naomi

The Family

Naomi Hannah(02/21/01) Jonah(06/20/03, bilateral clubfoot, FAB 14/7)

lynnekruchten mad4madison@...> wrote:

My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in today

the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB was

worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

of you who are living through it now?

Thanks

[Guest guest]

Naomi,

I loved this email. The " walks " .. tears in my eyes. Thanks for sharing.

Lori

_____

From: nosurgery4clubfoot

[mailto:nosurgery4clubfoot ] On Behalf Of Naomi

Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:36 PM

To: nosurgery4clubfoot

Subject: Re: What's worse? Casts or DBB?

I remember seeing a picture of the DBB (you'll find that many of us here

refer to it instead as the Foot Abduction Brace, or FAB) and thinking that I

never thought I would miss the casts, but that surely they were better than

this thing. It looks sort of strange, not unlike some kind of torture

device. And it looks like a real pain to have to work around.

Add to that that I kept hearing these horror stories on the board of babies

who just hated the FAB, who got sores from it, who wouldn't keep the thing

on. I was definitely not looking forward to the day when Jonah would be put

in the FAB. In fact, I did FAB training with him while he was still in

casts, taping his casts to a ruler so that he would get used to the

sensation of having to move his legs together. I'm not recommending that

you do this (seriously though, what kind of a nut am I?) just saying that I

was rather terrified at the prospect of the FAB.

Well, my son did just fine in the FAB. No adjustment period, no sores,

nothing. He loved getting to take a bath and go in the pool. And we loved

that hour each day of getting to love on his adorable little feet.

I hope that you'll find--as we did--that the 3 months of wearing the FAB

full-time go by quicker than you expected. Today, it doesn't seem like I

even really think about it. Jonah is 22 months old and putting his " walks "

(that's what he calls the FAB) on is just part of getting him ready for bed.

The other night while his older sister was saying goodnight to him, he told

her: " My walks keep my feet straight. I love my walks. " Made me cry...

Just out of curiosity, where are you located and who is treating your son?

How many casts does your doctor think he will need? It's true that many

babies do have an adjustment period to the FAB, but that usually does not

last more than a few days. In my experience here, the two key factors to

success with the FAB are a properly corrected foot and making sure your

child is wearing the FAB correctly. You will get lots of tips and pointers

from the folks here.

We are wishing you all the best!

Naomi

The Family

Naomi Hannah(02/21/01) Jonah(06/20/03, bilateral clubfoot, FAB 14/7)

lynnekruchten mad4madison@...> wrote:

My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in today

the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB was

worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

of you who are living through it now?

Thanks

[Guest guest]

neither IMO. Each has it's own sense of difficulties and advantages so

it's hard to say. But with casts you've often got a newborn to deal with

which can have it's down sides coupled with casts. All in all, ease of

care for devices, hand's down it's casts because they don't require much

attention. Doing the FAB daily seems daunting but eventually you come to

realize it's become part of jammies every night and it *just happens* so

it's pretty easy in that respect. There are things with the FAB that are

extras in your life, but they soon become second nature and it isn't a

hardship much at all. All in all, after freaking out about this when first

presented with it... I've found those fears unfounded and life is about

the same as it was before having a child with CF. Somewhat different, but

very liveable and without this group, not a whole lot more interesting

actually. Other than people's comments here and there if she's out with it

on (rare after 9am) most the time it's just another part of child

care. It's a whole lot easier than cleaning up after 3 kids that's for sure!

I will have to say though, that at first with our difficulties and getting

past that with a newborn and blah, blah, blah... casts were much easier in

general because they required little thought past getting to the

appointment and having a new one applied. Most children with fully

corrected feet however don't experience any difficulties past the first few

days with the FAB so our experience was not the norm.

We're over 2y into this though, and looking back... it's gone so quickly

that I find it interesting to note that I've done the same thing to my

daughter's feet (apply the brace) for this long every night and I now just

*do it* automatically. New diaper, jammies, socks (of some sort, I often

use tights), her shoes and then nurse to sleep. The fact that her brace is

on is so much a part of her bedtime routine (routines are not my strong

point) that it often helps with bedtime rather than hindering it. Go figure...

For whatever it's worth, my daughter doesn't sleep well without her brace

(at night - naps she sleeps fine) and the past few times I haven't put it

on (for whatever reason, out late, fell asleep early, etc.) that by

midnight she's awake and kicking her feet and keeping herself awake until I

put the the thing on her and she's happy as could be. Weird if you ask me!

Kori

Darbi 3/28/03

Rt. CF - FAB 12-14hr/d

At 02:48 PM 4/21/2005, you wrote:

>My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in today

>the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB was

>worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

>of you who are living through it now?

>

>Thanks

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> At 02:48 PM 4/21/2005, you wrote:

>

>

> >My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in

today

> >the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB

was

> >worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

> >of you who are living through it now?

> >

> >Thanks

Don't assume you will have trouble.. we didn't at all. My daughter

adjusted right away; we had no sleepless nights, no blisters, no

problems. At first it's awkward, for you mostly, because you feel all

thumbs putting the shoes on.. I was afraid to take them off, because I

didn't know if I could get them back on right.. But as Kori said, once

you get into the routine, it becomes second nature, and you don't even

have to think about it any more.

An obvious advantage of the shoes over the casts is that you CAN take

them off and give the baby a real bath.

It's not very encouraging, though, for your doc to have said that.. if

his/her patients reoutinely have trouble, there might be something

wrong in how they are setting up the shoes, or even in correcting the

feet.. So if you have persistent problems adjusting, that could be a

red flag.

But don't automatically expect trouble! For many many people there's no

trouble at all.

[Guest guest]

My son had no problem adjusting to the bar. Actually, at first he cried

when he had it off. I think he felt more secure with it on. I just like

being able to give him a real bath and he loves them. He hated the sponge

bathing situation. He talks to me and laughs now when I put the boots

back on him. He has been in the 23/7 for a month and a half now.

Good luck. Every child is different!

Porter

Crystal Elementary

Resource Room

[Guest guest]

I would like to add that we too had no problems with the FAB - after

about a day and a half of being cross that he couldn't wave his

legs around aimlessly. Once he had learned to move them together, I

think that the FAB is far easier than casts. The three months period of

constant wear goes by quickly - you just have to make sure you have the

right type of clothes that can be put on and taken off without having to

go over the feet - and after that life is almost normal!

The shoes become so easy to put on after a while, when I first started

doing them I was so nervous and it took me ages of checking and

re-checking. Now I can do them bending over 's bed in the dark when

we've been out with him till late and I've carried him in from the car

straight to bed already asleep!

I agree that your doctor should be more positive about what's up ahead.

It's really not that bad if the feet are fully corrected, the shoes are

properly fitted and you're given the initial instructions on putting

them by the orthotist. That's the way the local Ponseti doctor does it

here, we only use the Markell shoes and there's yet to be a case of

blisters/pressure sores as far as I know.

and

www.clubfoot.co.za

24 Jan 2003, bilateral clubfoot, in FAB 10-12 hours

Moss

Steps Charity

www.steps.org.za

Re: What's worse? Casts or DBB?

Don't assume you will have trouble.. we didn't at all. My daughter

adjusted right away; we had no sleepless nights, no blisters, no

problems. At first it's awkward, for you mostly, because you feel all

thumbs putting the shoes on.. I was afraid to take them off, because I

didn't know if I could get them back on right.. But as Kori said, once

you get into the routine, it becomes second nature, and you don't even

have to think about it any more.

An obvious advantage of the shoes over the casts is that you CAN take

them off and give the baby a real bath.

It's not very encouraging, though, for your doc to have said that.. if

his/her patients reoutinely have trouble, there might be something

wrong in how they are setting up the shoes, or even in correcting the

feet.. So if you have persistent problems adjusting, that could be a

red flag.

But don't automatically expect trouble! For many many people there's no

trouble at all.

[Guest guest]

One thing that my doctor told us to do at first was to play games with him

by moving his feet and legs together in the same direction to get him used

to that movement. That's because he will only be able to move them

together with the boots on. Hope that makes sense. He does love to kick

them in different directions when they are off! It is hilarious to watch!

angie

Porter

Crystal Elementary

Resource Room

[Guest guest]

I agree that you shouldn't expect trouble. We had problems initially

with the FAB, and Aleksander ended up in healing casts. When he got

the shoes back on again, we were back the next day because they still

weren't quite right. They gave us new shoes at that point and it has

been smooth sailing since then. In fact, he only had one rough

night, that first night when the shoes weren't fitting properly, and

since then has been just fine.

I have to say, even with the problems we had with the FAB, I think it

is much better than the casts. I love looking at his beautiful

little feet, and everyone's favorite time of day has become bath

time. Aleksander wiggles all over the place, kicking and laughing.

It is the best stress reliever for the worst of days, and you just

don't have that with the casts.

Also, once the casting is done, you don't have to make the weekly

trips to the doctor, and you can get into a nice routine. We've

really used the FAB to help us develop a good schedule. Aleksander

goes to bed much easier now, and up until this week, has been

sleeping completely through the night. He's getting his first tooth

right now, so he's waking up a bit early.

Plus, I think it is easier to dress up the shoes. We've enlisted the

help of my mom to sew a ton of bar covers that are reversible and

match his outfits. She puts velcro on them so we can change them

without taking the bar off the shoes. Since we've dressed it up, we

get all kinds of compliments on how cute it is. It has really helped

make adults more apt to ask what the bar is for instead of just

staring. And, kids are great! The children at his daycare ask me

why he wears it, and a few have asked if they can wear it too!

> >

> >

> > >My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went

in

> today

> > >the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the

DBB

> was

> > >worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this?

Those

> > >of you who are living through it now?

> > >

> > >Thanks

>

> Don't assume you will have trouble.. we didn't at all. My daughter

> adjusted right away; we had no sleepless nights, no blisters, no

> problems. At first it's awkward, for you mostly, because you feel

all

> thumbs putting the shoes on.. I was afraid to take them off,

because I

> didn't know if I could get them back on right.. But as Kori said,

once

> you get into the routine, it becomes second nature, and you don't

even

> have to think about it any more.

>

> An obvious advantage of the shoes over the casts is that you CAN

take

> them off and give the baby a real bath.

>

> It's not very encouraging, though, for your doc to have said that..

if

> his/her patients reoutinely have trouble, there might be something

> wrong in how they are setting up the shoes, or even in correcting

the

> feet.. So if you have persistent problems adjusting, that could be

a

> red flag.

>

> But don't automatically expect trouble! For many many people

there's no

> trouble at all.

>

>

[Guest guest]

We are located in Madison, WI. My Son is being treated by Dr. Noonan

at the UW Hospital. I found out at yesterday's appt that unlike Dr.

Poseti's FAB protocol he prefers to have patients wear the FAB longer

than 3 months. He typically has them wear it full time for 7 - 8

months. That was a surprise for me.

I think my son will have the casts for 7 weeks total including the 3

weeks after the tenotomy.

Thanks for the helpful advice.

>

> My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in

today

> the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB

was

> worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this?

Those

> of you who are living through it now?

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/21/2005 5:56:57 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

mad4madison@... writes:

Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

of you who are living through it now?

the first 2 days were HELL!!! but after that he got used to them like he did

the casts. Dominick is 7 weeks old and in the DBB's 2 weeks. His foot looks

great. now as i said the first 2 days he cried and cried but i resisted

taking them off(i really wanted to punch the dr by then) but on the 3rd day he

was

his happy baby self again.

We talk to him as we are putting back on the shoes after bathtime and we

tell him well one of these day these feet will be playing for the Houston

Texans

or the NY Giants..lol he giggles sorta.

it breaks your heart to have to do it but in the end its great to see the

progress of his feet. i hope this helps Angie

[Guest guest]

I swear Everett tells time by his FAB.....he knows putting it on signals bed

time, and in the morning at 9 o'clock when it comes off - he knows! He'll start

babbling and pulling at it. But I do admit there is a little twinge in me at

times I hate putting the hardware on him.

s.

Re: What's worse? Casts or DBB?

My son had no problem adjusting to the bar. Actually, at first he cried

when he had it off. I think he felt more secure with it on. I just like

being able to give him a real bath and he loves them. He hated the sponge

bathing situation. He talks to me and laughs now when I put the boots

back on him. He has been in the 23/7 for a month and a half now.

Good luck. Every child is different!

Porter

Crystal Elementary

Resource Room

[Guest guest]

Your personal state of mind can be crucial here because your baby picks up the

vibes you send out. Think positive, think happy thoughts. I know it sounds

silly but if you have a sense of fear or dread or shame, etc., the baby will

pick up on that and act accordingly. They can be bad - and usualy that is

because there is a problem in the correction. Mostly though it just aggrivates

the baby but they adjust quickly because their concept of time and life is so

far removed from ours.

s.

Re: What's worse? Casts or DBB?

>

> My 3 week old son is on his second set of casts. When we went in

today

> the doctor told me to be prepared, that having to deal with the DBB

was

> worse than the casts. Can anyone help to prepare me for this? Those

> of you who are living through it now?

>

> Thanks

I think the casts are worse. With the bar, you can give baths and

dress them in more clothing than the casts, they are lighter and not as

awkward to move around!! But on the other hand, since the bar is

removable, it is easier for you to remove it when you or your baby is

frustrated, and the more time the baby is out of the bar, the more they

resist it. When you do get the bar try your best to follow the

doctor's instructions, we were unable to keep our son in the bar

because of some other medical issues and now his feet have pulled back

in so we are back at the beginning with casts!!

Lots of luck to you!!

[Guest guest]

I have to admit, does the same thing. He started fighting me a few weeks

back

about putting it on after having it off for most of the day, but a swift little

swat on his

padded bum took care of that and he hasn't fought since. But I actually

miss having it

on full time simply for the ease of changing diapers. Geesh, now, even though

he is so

tiny weighing only 24 pounds at 19 months, these little legs are everywhere and

I can't

seem to get a hold of them before one heel ends up in the poop!

> I swear Everett tells time by his FAB.....he knows putting it on signals bed

time, and in

the morning at 9 o'clock when it comes off - he knows! He'll start babbling and

pulling at

it. But I do admit there is a little twinge in me at times I hate putting the

hardware on him.

> s.

>

> Re: What's worse? Casts or DBB?

>

>

>

> My son had no problem adjusting to the bar. Actually, at first he cried

> when he had it off. I think he felt more secure with it on. I just like

> being able to give him a real bath and he loves them. He hated the sponge

> bathing situation. He talks to me and laughs now when I put the boots

> back on him. He has been in the 23/7 for a month and a half now.

>

> Good luck. Every child is different!

>

> Porter

> Crystal Elementary

> Resource Room

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

we had a busy weekend and grace missed her nap saturday morning... when we

finally got home it was almost 2:00.. she was actually helping me put the shoes

on so she could go to bed... handing me socks and inserts and blah blah.. and

then almost jumped out of my arms to get into her crib... poor thing...

mommy to Grace 12-03-03 BCF Dobb's Brace 16/7

number23 number23@...> wrote:

I swear Everett tells time by his FAB.....he knows putting it on signals bed

time, and in the morning at 9 o'clock when it comes off - he knows! He'll start

babbling and pulling at it. But I do admit there is a little twinge in me at

times I hate putting the hardware on him.

s.

love, lisa

before i made you in the womb, i knew you... love God.

__________________________________________________