new here with clubfoot... LONG POST

[Guest guest]

hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found out at

my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle had

clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My baby

Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well known

hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

" practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.) I

thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she was

the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I was

told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple days

before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking for

treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at Shriners

who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee. A

heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt have

a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit and

put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but she

hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and hopefully

it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to thank

you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3 month

old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah