Re: 4 year old, bilateral regression, casting again!

[Guest guest]

The good news is your doc is consulting with Dr. Ponseti. A four year old in

full leg casts though, that's going to be a challenge! Not as bad as you'd

imagine though, it's nuts what these kids learn to do with their lets casted

up...crawl, cruise, climb. Don't panic, OK? We'll be here to support you when

every you need us.

s.

4 year old, bilateral regression, casting again!

Hello-

We just found out yesterday that my son's feet have regressed back

and now require additional casting as well as a high probability of

needing surgery to move the ligament that is attached at the arch to

the outside of his foot. My current Dr (that knows we need

something more serious than straight last shoes) is consulting with

Dr Ponsetti and I will learn the details early next week. We did the

casting when my son was a baby but weren't pushed into using the

bar, but more of a series of foot exercises and straight last shoes.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? I haven't read through

all of the archives, but am curious as to how I am going to keep a 4

year occupied with casts! I am interested in what happens after the

surgery, how long before my son will get to walk? I should wait for

the exact diagnosis, but it is hard.

Thanks

Leigh Anne

Will 7/22/01

Sydney 03/23/04

[Guest guest]

The good news is your doc is consulting with Dr. Ponseti. A four year old in

full leg casts though, that's going to be a challenge! Not as bad as you'd

imagine though, it's nuts what these kids learn to do with their lets casted

up...crawl, cruise, climb. Don't panic, OK? We'll be here to support you when

every you need us.

s.

4 year old, bilateral regression, casting again!

Hello-

We just found out yesterday that my son's feet have regressed back

and now require additional casting as well as a high probability of

needing surgery to move the ligament that is attached at the arch to

the outside of his foot. My current Dr (that knows we need

something more serious than straight last shoes) is consulting with

Dr Ponsetti and I will learn the details early next week. We did the

casting when my son was a baby but weren't pushed into using the

bar, but more of a series of foot exercises and straight last shoes.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? I haven't read through

all of the archives, but am curious as to how I am going to keep a 4

year occupied with casts! I am interested in what happens after the

surgery, how long before my son will get to walk? I should wait for

the exact diagnosis, but it is hard.

Thanks

Leigh Anne

Will 7/22/01

Sydney 03/23/04

[Guest guest]

I sort of responded to this in a hurry earlier today but Leigh Anne I wanted to

add here my oldest son had what I believe is the same surgery you are headed in

to, known commonly as the ATTT. He wore post-op casts 6 weeks (he was 2 yo at

the time), but he started to walk with in ten days of their removal and hasn't

slowed down since (he is 7 now).

Just a side note, he wasn't treated by the Ponseti Method until he was 2 and it

was too late by then to do the regular method on him. Anyway, I *think* I

helped him along by taking him to a sandy beach several times a week at a local

lake once the surgery-casts came off. Walking barefooted in the sand and

shallow water seemed to help him regain his leg muscles. There may be ways to

mimic this at home by walking on a soft bed pillows, etc. I dunno, even a sand

box or back yard pool if you had one but winter is coming, not sure what your

climate is like.

They'll tell you to keep her off her feet for several weeks post op too (in the

cast), and that was hard to do! He was used to walking tippy toed in his casts

prior to this and was no longer allowed to. A kid-size wheel chair was really

helpful. Your child ought to be old enough to move one around himself a lot.

Um I'm sorry you have a son, not a daughter, sorry to call him a she...at age 4

simple computer games might be a consideration to burn the hours some what.

Puzzles and board games. Time will fly though. My son busted out the heels

and knees of his casts crawling on them so much. I bought fiberglass cast

material from our local vet to patch these soft spots as needed. Cutting them

off later was a hoot they were so thick by then! LOL! If we can answer any more

questions please don't hesitate to write, OK?

I hope all goes well with you,

s.

wrote:

> Hello-

>

> We just found out yesterday that my son's feet have regressed back

> and now require additional casting as well as a high probability

of

> needing surgery to move the ligament that is attached at the arch

to

> the outside of his foot. My current Dr (that knows we need

> something more serious than straight last shoes) is consulting

with

> Dr Ponsetti and I will learn the details early next week. We did

the

> casting when my son was a baby but weren't pushed into using the

> bar, but more of a series of foot exercises and straight last

shoes.

> Has anyone else had a similar experience? I haven't read through

> all of the archives, but am curious as to how I am going to keep a

4

> year occupied with casts! I am interested in what happens after

the

> surgery, how long before my son will get to walk? I should wait

for

> the exact diagnosis, but it is hard.

>

> Thanks

> Leigh Anne

>

> Will 7/22/01

> Sydney 03/23/04

[Guest guest]

Dear Leigh Anne,

I'm so glad your doc is consulting with Ponseti. My daughter has

been casted since August 16th when we when we came out here for our

first appointment and she's 3.5 years old. She does great!!! When

she got her first casts put on my goal was to show her all the

things she could do. She crawls, climbs up and down from furniture,

and basically does almost everything she used to just a little

differently. Everyone is amazed at how great she does and I'm sure

your son will amaze everyone as well. Kids are great! She doesn't

seem to complain and goes with the flow. Good luck to you and your

son.

Joyce &

> Hello-

>

> We just found out yesterday that my son's feet have regressed back

> and now require additional casting as well as a high probability

of

> needing surgery to move the ligament that is attached at the arch

to

> the outside of his foot. My current Dr (that knows we need

> something more serious than straight last shoes) is consulting

with

> Dr Ponsetti and I will learn the details early next week. We did

the

> casting when my son was a baby but weren't pushed into using the

> bar, but more of a series of foot exercises and straight last

shoes.

> Has anyone else had a similar experience? I haven't read through

> all of the archives, but am curious as to how I am going to keep a

4

> year occupied with casts! I am interested in what happens after

the

> surgery, how long before my son will get to walk? I should wait

for

> the exact diagnosis, but it is hard.

>

> Thanks

> Leigh Anne

>

> Will 7/22/01

> Sydney 03/23/04

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your pointers and ideas, I am anxious to get started!

> > Hello-

> >

> > We just found out yesterday that my son's feet have regressed

back

> > and now require additional casting as well as a high probability

> of

> > needing surgery to move the ligament that is attached at the arch

> to

> > the outside of his foot. My current Dr (that knows we need

> > something more serious than straight last shoes) is consulting

> with

> > Dr Ponsetti and I will learn the details early next week. We did

> the

> > casting when my son was a baby but weren't pushed into using the

> > bar, but more of a series of foot exercises and straight last

> shoes.

> > Has anyone else had a similar experience? I haven't read through

> > all of the archives, but am curious as to how I am going to keep

a

> 4

> > year occupied with casts! I am interested in what happens after

> the

> > surgery, how long before my son will get to walk? I should wait

> for

> > the exact diagnosis, but it is hard.

> >

> > Thanks

> > Leigh Anne

> >

> > Will 7/22/01

> > Sydney 03/23/04

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Leigh Anne,

So is your Dr. going to progress with the treatment or are you

switching to a Ponseti certified doctor? Where are you located? Is

your son walking on the sides of his feet or are the toes turning

in? Good luck, I know it's hard when your in that not knowing what's

going to happen stage. My son is also four and I understand how you

must feel in facing casts again! Let us know what they decide to do.

Pam

>

> Hello-

>

> We just found out yesterday that my son's feet have regressed back

> and now require additional casting as well as a high probability of

> needing surgery to move the ligament that is attached at the arch

to

> the outside of his foot. My current Dr (that knows we need

> something more serious than straight last shoes) is consulting with

> Dr Ponsetti and I will learn the details early next week. We did

the

> casting when my son was a baby but weren't pushed into using the

> bar, but more of a series of foot exercises and straight last

shoes.

> Has anyone else had a similar experience? I haven't read through

> all of the archives, but am curious as to how I am going to keep a

4

> year occupied with casts! I am interested in what happens after

the

> surgery, how long before my son will get to walk? I should wait

for

> the exact diagnosis, but it is hard.

>

> Thanks

> Leigh Anne

>

> Will 7/22/01

> Sydney 03/23/04

>