Re: brachy and assymetry untreatable? I don't like that & Picture feedback ple

[Guest guest]

Are they saying that the bossing on the forehead isn't treatable? I know that my

son has a tiny bit of bossing, and the helmet ( Starband ) was designed to

address that issue as well. It pushes a bit and provides light pressure on the

bossed part. I am not sure if it has worked yet, and I can understand that it

might be slower than the back, but they did address it in the best way they

could.

I also wanted to say that you are your son's mother, and you are looking out for

him better than anyone else. Don't feel like you are at all overreacting. Don't

worry about what the Dr's and OT's think. It doesn't matter if it is mild, it is

your child and you are doing your best to help him and to learn about the

plagiocephaly and brachiocephaly. Keep up with the learning and the questions!

>

> I wanted to write about our third visit (which is really our second with the

helmet).

> I was late and we actually got a different person so the measuring styles I'm

sure differ because the numbers pretty much stayed the same or got worse on

paper although visually his plagio is better, I'm happy to say. I'll recap the

measurements

>

> 2/5/09: plastic surgeon measures cranial vault index of 8 mm

>

> orthotist

> 2/5/09: circumference=45.8 cm, width=13.4, length=13.9, right front to left

back=14.5, left front to right back=14

> (cranial vault index of 5 mm, cephalic ratio 96.5%)

>

> orthotist

> 2/18/09: circ.=45.8, width=13.5, length=13.9, right front to left=14.6, left

front to right=14

> (cranial vault index of 4 mm, CI 95.8%)

>

> different orthotist

> 3/4/09

> circ 45.5 cm

> M/L 13.4

> A/P 14.1

> R>L 14.6

> L>R 14.1

>

> cvi of 7mm? this is due to measurement error obviously...

>

>

> Every single person we met has been fantastic and patient and has answered all

our questions at Boston NOPCO butt this is my problem: I don't like what I'm

hearing. During the appointment we got our Boston Band the orthotist hollowed

out the part that covered the side plagio flat spot which seemed to make sense.

Since then a million questions have popped into my head which I asked during

this week's adjustment. In my opinion there are three things wrong

> 1. the plagio. Flatness on the right back

> 2. brachy. severe 96% flatness on the back of the head

> 3. asymmetry in his face which can be seen from above where the right side of

his forehead and entire face sticks out more than his left. Looking right at him

you can't tell because it's a depth thing.

>

> Well it seems that they can really address #1 and maybe #2 and it's done

serially. First the asymmetry is addressed and then the orthotist said that she

could hollow out the back in general to address the brachy if I really wanted.

Well, YES that is what I want. I had assumed all along that, we are doing this.

The really disappointing part is supposedly they can't address #3 because I was

told the front forehead bones are much more rigid and they can't be altered. I

really don't believe this and I would like some opinions on this especially

since there are tons of posts on evening out assymetric ears etc..

>

> Then I was also told that heads are really flat in the back and they don't

protrude out as much as we think they should but I pointed out that the area

between the top of his head and the top of the spinal neck bone (I don't know

the name) is slightly concave and I don't believe that is normal. I even asked

the orthotist what she thought and she said that it's not flat at all. I

disagree.

>

> It's my impression from reading the posts that the ortho places use the terms

brachy and plagio etc but I feel like my orthotist does not really. I understand

that yes it's relative, and every time we are at NOPCO there are young teens in

wheel chairs but fundamentally I want to give my child the best and make him the

best he can be esthetically and otherwise and I can't feel bad as a mother for

that.

>

> But I do feel like they think the case is so mild that it's probably overkill

and not necessary and he'll grow into it. But the plastic surgeon did explain

that the head will grow in concentric circles (obviously) and that the overall

shape/asymmetry will just get better but not completely dissappear. I also find

this hard to accept.

>

> So along with your thoughts on the 'un-treatability' of #3 I posted some pics

of Octavian V's first scan and some pictures of his head and I would love

feedback from you. It's under Our Plagio Babies O - P.

>

> Thanks!

> Ana-

>