brace/doctors

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I'm new to this site and am wondering if anyone can give me any

input. Its been comforting to read other posts and find so many

people who have been dealing with the same frustrations as we have!

Here is a quick version of our story--Our daughter Sophie was born in

July 05 with bilateral clubfeet. She saw Dr Ballock at the Cleveland

Clinic who is not on the Ponseti List but who introduced us to the

method and seemed very knowledgeable. We've also been in contact with

the Ponseti institute from time to time. Her feet were corrected in 4

casts but Ballock recommended heel-cord release be performed, after

our planned move to South Carolina. We moved shortly thereafter when

she was 6 wks old (whew, its been quite a year)and began seeing Dr

Gross in ton. He performed the heel cord release, recasted,

moved her into the Markell shoes, which slipped off constantly day

and night. At the next appt he recasted her bc her feet had started

to revert, and in the meantime we ordered and received the AFO from

. At todays appt, Gross removed the casts and we began

using the new shoes and brace which seem much more comfortable and do

not slip off, at least so far. However, her heels do not seem to fit

down in the shoes completely. We've tried dorsiflexing them as much

as possible but she is still able to pull up her heels so they dont

sit flat.

My question is to anyone with experience with this brace, any tips to

get the feet dorsiflexed properly? Ive read Kori's tips in the files

section which are great; would people recommend I try to get pads for

the sole, and if so where does one find them?

We also wonder if maybe her feet are not fully corrected enough, and

that is why they will not sit flat in the shoes.We want to get a

second opinion as Gross seems a very nice man and well respected in

other areas but not fully up to date on Ponseti. I have family in

Baltimore and was thinking of trying to see Herzenberg at Sinai. If

for some reason we cant get in, has anyone had good experiences with

any doctor in the Savannah/ton area? (I know none are listed

on Ponseti's list, and I believe Gross is the only pediatric

orthopedist in ton, but am not sure)

Sorry this turned out to be a bit more long-winded than I meant it to

be. Any advice or comments anyone has would be welcome!

Thanks,

Zoe

mom of Sophie 7/16/05 bilateral CF, 7/3/02