RE: Jayson's Checkup -- Empty Heel?

[Guest guest]

I think it's normal to have the spongy heel even after the tenotomy and it

gradually 'fills up'. What you can check after tenotomy is the

dorsiflexion.

Put your palm on the sole of his foot and push the toe section up, the heel

should be flexible so that the foot can angle to about 15 degrees up from

heel to toe - if that makes sense...maybe someone else can explain it

better.

Hope this helps

K

Jayson's Checkup -- " Empty Heel " ?

My son Jayson had his first checkup after being placed into Markell

shoes/gold bar a couple days ago. When we took the shoes off and Dr.

Ward (Children's hospital of Pittsburgh) took a gander at Jayson's

club foot, he seemed a bit concerned and ordered an X-ray. After the

X-ray came back, he informed us that Jayson's heel bone (sorry, about

the non-technical terms) is very high, thus essentially giving him an

" empty " heel.

His heel is very spongy and " empty " . You can feel the heel bone very

high on the back of the foot. Dr. Ward suggested that we let it ride

for 2 months until his next checkup, and then go from there. This is

very disconcerting to my wife and I.

I'm not sure if after his tenotomy, the final cast was not properly

placed on the foot, or if his heel tightened up after the shoes were

put on.

Is this condition a normal occurrence? Should I highly be considering

a second opinion? Dr. Ward is not Ponsetti approved, but practices the

procedure. Unfortunately there is no Ponsetti Dr. very close to

Pittsburgh, from what I can tell. Should I take pictures and send them

to Dr. Ponsetti? Should I attempt to obtain the digital copy of

Jayson's X-ray to forward along?

I'm very worried. Hope somebody can offer some advice or confirm that

this is a common occurrence.

Thanks a ton!

-BJ

[Guest guest]

I think it's normal to have the spongy heel even after the tenotomy and it

gradually 'fills up'. What you can check after tenotomy is the

dorsiflexion.

Put your palm on the sole of his foot and push the toe section up, the heel

should be flexible so that the foot can angle to about 15 degrees up from

heel to toe - if that makes sense...maybe someone else can explain it

better.

Hope this helps

K

Jayson's Checkup -- " Empty Heel " ?

My son Jayson had his first checkup after being placed into Markell

shoes/gold bar a couple days ago. When we took the shoes off and Dr.

Ward (Children's hospital of Pittsburgh) took a gander at Jayson's

club foot, he seemed a bit concerned and ordered an X-ray. After the

X-ray came back, he informed us that Jayson's heel bone (sorry, about

the non-technical terms) is very high, thus essentially giving him an

" empty " heel.

His heel is very spongy and " empty " . You can feel the heel bone very

high on the back of the foot. Dr. Ward suggested that we let it ride

for 2 months until his next checkup, and then go from there. This is

very disconcerting to my wife and I.

I'm not sure if after his tenotomy, the final cast was not properly

placed on the foot, or if his heel tightened up after the shoes were

put on.

Is this condition a normal occurrence? Should I highly be considering

a second opinion? Dr. Ward is not Ponsetti approved, but practices the

procedure. Unfortunately there is no Ponsetti Dr. very close to

Pittsburgh, from what I can tell. Should I take pictures and send them

to Dr. Ponsetti? Should I attempt to obtain the digital copy of

Jayson's X-ray to forward along?

I'm very worried. Hope somebody can offer some advice or confirm that

this is a common occurrence.

Thanks a ton!

-BJ

[Guest guest]

I do not know much about the empty heel but there is a

Ponseti certified doctor in Cleveland.

His info is

G. Armstrong, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedics

Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

11100 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44106

Tel:

Perhaps this may be a doable trip for you to get a 2nd

opinion.

Good luck.

Jenni

--- pahunter21 wrote:

> My son Jayson had his first checkup after being

> placed into Markell

> shoes/gold bar a couple days ago. When we took the

> shoes off and Dr.

> Ward (Children's hospital of Pittsburgh) took a

> gander at Jayson's

> club foot, he seemed a bit concerned and ordered an

> X-ray. After the

> X-ray came back, he informed us that Jayson's heel

> bone (sorry, about

> the non-technical terms) is very high, thus

> essentially giving him an

> " empty " heel.

>

> His heel is very spongy and " empty " . You can feel

> the heel bone very

> high on the back of the foot. Dr. Ward suggested

> that we let it ride

> for 2 months until his next checkup, and then go

> from there. This is

> very disconcerting to my wife and I.

>

> I'm not sure if after his tenotomy, the final cast

> was not properly

> placed on the foot, or if his heel tightened up

> after the shoes were

> put on.

>

> Is this condition a normal occurrence? Should I

> highly be considering

> a second opinion? Dr. Ward is not Ponsetti approved,

> but practices the

> procedure. Unfortunately there is no Ponsetti Dr.

> very close to

> Pittsburgh, from what I can tell. Should I take

> pictures and send them

> to Dr. Ponsetti? Should I attempt to obtain the

> digital copy of

> Jayson's X-ray to forward along?

>

> I'm very worried. Hope somebody can offer some

> advice or confirm that

> this is a common occurrence.

>

> Thanks a ton!

> -BJ

>

>

>

Jenni-

Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB nights only for

left clubfoot.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I do not know much about the empty heel but there is a

Ponseti certified doctor in Cleveland.

His info is

G. Armstrong, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedics

Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

11100 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44106

Tel:

Perhaps this may be a doable trip for you to get a 2nd

opinion.

Good luck.

Jenni

--- pahunter21 wrote:

> My son Jayson had his first checkup after being

> placed into Markell

> shoes/gold bar a couple days ago. When we took the

> shoes off and Dr.

> Ward (Children's hospital of Pittsburgh) took a

> gander at Jayson's

> club foot, he seemed a bit concerned and ordered an

> X-ray. After the

> X-ray came back, he informed us that Jayson's heel

> bone (sorry, about

> the non-technical terms) is very high, thus

> essentially giving him an

> " empty " heel.

>

> His heel is very spongy and " empty " . You can feel

> the heel bone very

> high on the back of the foot. Dr. Ward suggested

> that we let it ride

> for 2 months until his next checkup, and then go

> from there. This is

> very disconcerting to my wife and I.

>

> I'm not sure if after his tenotomy, the final cast

> was not properly

> placed on the foot, or if his heel tightened up

> after the shoes were

> put on.

>

> Is this condition a normal occurrence? Should I

> highly be considering

> a second opinion? Dr. Ward is not Ponsetti approved,

> but practices the

> procedure. Unfortunately there is no Ponsetti Dr.

> very close to

> Pittsburgh, from what I can tell. Should I take

> pictures and send them

> to Dr. Ponsetti? Should I attempt to obtain the

> digital copy of

> Jayson's X-ray to forward along?

>

> I'm very worried. Hope somebody can offer some

> advice or confirm that

> this is a common occurrence.

>

> Thanks a ton!

> -BJ

>

>

>

Jenni-

Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB nights only for

left clubfoot.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I do not know much about the empty heel but there is a

Ponseti certified doctor in Cleveland.

His info is

G. Armstrong, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedics

Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

11100 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44106

Tel:

Perhaps this may be a doable trip for you to get a 2nd

opinion.

Good luck.

Jenni

--- pahunter21 wrote:

> My son Jayson had his first checkup after being

> placed into Markell

> shoes/gold bar a couple days ago. When we took the

> shoes off and Dr.

> Ward (Children's hospital of Pittsburgh) took a

> gander at Jayson's

> club foot, he seemed a bit concerned and ordered an

> X-ray. After the

> X-ray came back, he informed us that Jayson's heel

> bone (sorry, about

> the non-technical terms) is very high, thus

> essentially giving him an

> " empty " heel.

>

> His heel is very spongy and " empty " . You can feel

> the heel bone very

> high on the back of the foot. Dr. Ward suggested

> that we let it ride

> for 2 months until his next checkup, and then go

> from there. This is

> very disconcerting to my wife and I.

>

> I'm not sure if after his tenotomy, the final cast

> was not properly

> placed on the foot, or if his heel tightened up

> after the shoes were

> put on.

>

> Is this condition a normal occurrence? Should I

> highly be considering

> a second opinion? Dr. Ward is not Ponsetti approved,

> but practices the

> procedure. Unfortunately there is no Ponsetti Dr.

> very close to

> Pittsburgh, from what I can tell. Should I take

> pictures and send them

> to Dr. Ponsetti? Should I attempt to obtain the

> digital copy of

> Jayson's X-ray to forward along?

>

> I'm very worried. Hope somebody can offer some

> advice or confirm that

> this is a common occurrence.

>

> Thanks a ton!

> -BJ

>

>

>

Jenni-

Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB nights only for

left clubfoot.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I do not know much about the empty heel but there is a

Ponseti certified doctor in Cleveland.

His info is

G. Armstrong, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedics

Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

11100 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44106

Tel:

Perhaps this may be a doable trip for you to get a 2nd

opinion.

Good luck.

Jenni

--- pahunter21 wrote:

> My son Jayson had his first checkup after being

> placed into Markell

> shoes/gold bar a couple days ago. When we took the

> shoes off and Dr.

> Ward (Children's hospital of Pittsburgh) took a

> gander at Jayson's

> club foot, he seemed a bit concerned and ordered an

> X-ray. After the

> X-ray came back, he informed us that Jayson's heel

> bone (sorry, about

> the non-technical terms) is very high, thus

> essentially giving him an

> " empty " heel.

>

> His heel is very spongy and " empty " . You can feel

> the heel bone very

> high on the back of the foot. Dr. Ward suggested

> that we let it ride

> for 2 months until his next checkup, and then go

> from there. This is

> very disconcerting to my wife and I.

>

> I'm not sure if after his tenotomy, the final cast

> was not properly

> placed on the foot, or if his heel tightened up

> after the shoes were

> put on.

>

> Is this condition a normal occurrence? Should I

> highly be considering

> a second opinion? Dr. Ward is not Ponsetti approved,

> but practices the

> procedure. Unfortunately there is no Ponsetti Dr.

> very close to

> Pittsburgh, from what I can tell. Should I take

> pictures and send them

> to Dr. Ponsetti? Should I attempt to obtain the

> digital copy of

> Jayson's X-ray to forward along?

>

> I'm very worried. Hope somebody can offer some

> advice or confirm that

> this is a common occurrence.

>

> Thanks a ton!

> -BJ

>

>

>

Jenni-

Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB nights only for

left clubfoot.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

BJ-

Ditto what everyone else posted on the empty heel comments.

Along the lines of what posted to you- I'd suggest that you

select a doctor (or two) that you would be able/willing to take Jayson

to. Then contact that doctor and tell him/her about Jayson's

treatment thus far and ask if they would be willing to review his

medical records and pictures to see if you should bring him there for

a second opinion. Then just sign the medical release forms at CHOP

(in the records dept) to have a copy of all of Jayson's records and x-

rays sent to that doctor- and send your own photos via email.

It's always good to get a second opinion when you have that " parental

instinct " nagging you telling you that something isn't quite right.

Then you can have peace of mind once you have one or two other doctors

review your son's foot.

Keep us posted!!!!

& (3-16-00, left clubfoot)

[Guest guest]

BJ-

Ditto what everyone else posted on the empty heel comments.

Along the lines of what posted to you- I'd suggest that you

select a doctor (or two) that you would be able/willing to take Jayson

to. Then contact that doctor and tell him/her about Jayson's

treatment thus far and ask if they would be willing to review his

medical records and pictures to see if you should bring him there for

a second opinion. Then just sign the medical release forms at CHOP

(in the records dept) to have a copy of all of Jayson's records and x-

rays sent to that doctor- and send your own photos via email.

It's always good to get a second opinion when you have that " parental

instinct " nagging you telling you that something isn't quite right.

Then you can have peace of mind once you have one or two other doctors

review your son's foot.

Keep us posted!!!!

& (3-16-00, left clubfoot)

[Guest guest]

BJ-

Ditto what everyone else posted on the empty heel comments.

Along the lines of what posted to you- I'd suggest that you

select a doctor (or two) that you would be able/willing to take Jayson

to. Then contact that doctor and tell him/her about Jayson's

treatment thus far and ask if they would be willing to review his

medical records and pictures to see if you should bring him there for

a second opinion. Then just sign the medical release forms at CHOP

(in the records dept) to have a copy of all of Jayson's records and x-

rays sent to that doctor- and send your own photos via email.

It's always good to get a second opinion when you have that " parental

instinct " nagging you telling you that something isn't quite right.

Then you can have peace of mind once you have one or two other doctors

review your son's foot.

Keep us posted!!!!

& (3-16-00, left clubfoot)

[Guest guest]

BJ-

Ditto what everyone else posted on the empty heel comments.

Along the lines of what posted to you- I'd suggest that you

select a doctor (or two) that you would be able/willing to take Jayson

to. Then contact that doctor and tell him/her about Jayson's

treatment thus far and ask if they would be willing to review his

medical records and pictures to see if you should bring him there for

a second opinion. Then just sign the medical release forms at CHOP

(in the records dept) to have a copy of all of Jayson's records and x-

rays sent to that doctor- and send your own photos via email.

It's always good to get a second opinion when you have that " parental

instinct " nagging you telling you that something isn't quite right.

Then you can have peace of mind once you have one or two other doctors

review your son's foot.

Keep us posted!!!!

& (3-16-00, left clubfoot)

[Guest guest]

Thank you all for chiming in regarding Jayson's foot. Some of you

asked about the dorsiflexion of his foot, which i must say is awesome.

That foot has what seems to be more flexibility then his non-club

foot. Its very comforting to hear that the spongy heel is normal. His

foot looks great and his feet are staying in the shoes pretty well.

Every once in a while his foot will slide out about 1cm, or so. We

have never had the shoe come completely off. This usually happens when

we try a different type of sock. I must say he has adjusted to the

shoes very well. He isn't even crying that much when we put them on

anymore. After all your comments, I think I'm going to wait a bit for

a second opinion. If I do decide to get another opinion, I will be

sure to look up the Doctors that you all have suggested.

Again, thank you very much. I say it time and time again, this group

is great!

-BJ

> > My son Jayson had his first checkup after being placed into Markell

> > shoes/gold bar a couple days ago. When we took the shoes off and Dr.

> > Ward (Children's hospital of Pittsburgh) took

a gander at Jayson's

> > club foot, he seemed a bit concerned and ordered an X-ray. After the

> > X-ray came back, he informed us that Jayson's heel bone (sorry,

> about

> > the non-technical terms) is very high, thus essentially giving him

> an

> > " empty " heel.

> >

> > His heel is very spongy and " empty " . You can feel the heel bone very

> > high on the back of the foot. Dr. Ward suggested that we let it ride

> > for 2 months until his next checkup, and then go from there. This is

> > very disconcerting to my wife and I.

> >

> > I'm not sure if after his tenotomy, the final cast was not properly

> > placed on the foot, or if his heel tightened up after the shoes were

> > put on.

> >

> > Is this condition a normal occurrence? Should I highly be

> considering

> > a second opinion? Dr. Ward is not Ponsetti approved, but practices

> the

> > procedure. Unfortunately there is no Ponsetti Dr. very close to

> > Pittsburgh, from what I can tell. Should I take pictures and send

> them

> > to Dr. Ponsetti? Should I attempt to obtain the digital copy of

> > Jayson's X-ray to forward along?

> >

> > I'm very worried. Hope somebody can offer some advice or confirm

> that

> > this is a common occurrence.

> >

> > Thanks a ton!

> > -BJ

[Guest guest]

Thank you all for chiming in regarding Jayson's foot. Some of you

asked about the dorsiflexion of his foot, which i must say is awesome.

That foot has what seems to be more flexibility then his non-club

foot. Its very comforting to hear that the spongy heel is normal. His

foot looks great and his feet are staying in the shoes pretty well.

Every once in a while his foot will slide out about 1cm, or so. We

have never had the shoe come completely off. This usually happens when

we try a different type of sock. I must say he has adjusted to the

shoes very well. He isn't even crying that much when we put them on

anymore. After all your comments, I think I'm going to wait a bit for

a second opinion. If I do decide to get another opinion, I will be

sure to look up the Doctors that you all have suggested.

Again, thank you very much. I say it time and time again, this group

is great!

-BJ

> > My son Jayson had his first checkup after being placed into Markell

> > shoes/gold bar a couple days ago. When we took the shoes off and Dr.

> > Ward (Children's hospital of Pittsburgh) took

a gander at Jayson's

> > club foot, he seemed a bit concerned and ordered an X-ray. After the

> > X-ray came back, he informed us that Jayson's heel bone (sorry,

> about

> > the non-technical terms) is very high, thus essentially giving him

> an

> > " empty " heel.

> >

> > His heel is very spongy and " empty " . You can feel the heel bone very

> > high on the back of the foot. Dr. Ward suggested that we let it ride

> > for 2 months until his next checkup, and then go from there. This is

> > very disconcerting to my wife and I.

> >

> > I'm not sure if after his tenotomy, the final cast was not properly

> > placed on the foot, or if his heel tightened up after the shoes were

> > put on.

> >

> > Is this condition a normal occurrence? Should I highly be

> considering

> > a second opinion? Dr. Ward is not Ponsetti approved, but practices

> the

> > procedure. Unfortunately there is no Ponsetti Dr. very close to

> > Pittsburgh, from what I can tell. Should I take pictures and send

> them

> > to Dr. Ponsetti? Should I attempt to obtain the digital copy of

> > Jayson's X-ray to forward along?

> >

> > I'm very worried. Hope somebody can offer some advice or confirm

> that

> > this is a common occurrence.

> >

> > Thanks a ton!

> > -BJ