Re: Out of post - tenotomy cast, into FAB

[Guest guest]

I know it's so hard to watch them struggle, but hang in there Momma. He will

have lots of struggles in his little baby life that have nothing to do with his

club feet that you'll have to stand back and let him work out for himself. In

the end, you're doing him a big favor because as he learnes more independence

(in and out of the FAB) he'll gain confidence and happiness.

s.

Out of post - tenotomy cast, into FAB

Not having a great day here. Got the cast off. The foot looks

great. Stitches out. Heel has healed nicely.

Asked for Markell's with the open heel, but they didn't have any in

the size he needed. Got a gold bar with the 3 adjustments(6,8,10).

Isaac is on the 6 " setting, 45 degree for the normal foot, 70 degree

for the clubfoot.

He is horribly cranky and frustrated. His leg is stiff, his heel

tender, and he is hating the confinement of the shoes. He had just

started to crawl, pull his upper body up, sit unassisted for a few

minutes. He is having no problem moving the feet together. He is

so mad that only took a few minutes. I showed him how to roll, and

it killed me, but I let him struggle the next time just so he would

know he could do it w/o my help. That sounds so mean typed out.

*sigh*

He has managed to get out of both shoes 4 times so far. He has

untied the strings countless times, and unscrewed one of the screws

on the bottom!! I even have a hard time with those.

I gave him some Tylenol, nursed him, and waited till he fell asleep

to put them on again. I think I got them tighter this time.

This is going to be a long night and a long few months. *crying and

feeling very sorry for myself right now*

Oh, Isaac is 6.5 months old. We were told 18-20 hr per day instead

of the 23 hours, bc of his age and wanting to give him time out bc

of other milestones like sitting upright?? Anyone else start at 20

hr, and not regress?

Next checkup in 6 wks. Said we will go down to 14-16 hr, then just

at night 6 wks after that.

Any quick hints while I try to find the help file again?

Kailee 7-00

Ean 6-03

Isaac 7-12-05(right unilateral clubfoot)

[Guest guest]

thanks everyone who responded here and by personal email.

here is a quick update.

i'll address some of the other questions this afternoon.

My night from h*** -

He screamed and cried for hours upon hours, flailng, whimpering,

kicking, trying to cricket his feet, even jabbering in the most

pitiful voice.

I feel like the suckiest mom on the planet.

He was inconsolable with rocking, walking, etc. Wanted to nurse all

night, but kept spitting it out.

We checked his feet, the shoes, the bar, repositioned him, put

pillows under his legs. Nothing worked.

He fnally cried himself out at 4am on my chest, only to stir at

4:30am, and he had kicked them off again. *sigh crying*

They are on again at the moment. I know things could be worse, but

this totally bites. I am so freaking tired. though Dave did take

night duty for the first time ever w. isaac alternating w. me bc he

knew I was about to snap.

please say a prayer that he will adjust and learn how to sleep in

them, and that we can find a way to keep them on. I just read the

faq file.

I must have done a better job at putting them on this morning. He

hasn't slipped out at all. He has been a little fussy, but overall

so much better this a.m.

His last cast was almost pointing backward to about 75-80 degree, by

viewing, didn't measure.

I measured him from shoulder to shoulder where the arm seam is, and

he is just under 8 " . I measured the bar. From the center of the 6

slot to the center of the other 6 is 8 " , from center of 8 to 8 is

10 " , and the center of the 10 to 10 is 12 " . So now I am REALLY

confused. So the 6 slot should be perfect by my measurements. oh,

wait, you are suppose to measure from heel to heel not the bar. is

that true for unilateral too? off to measure again.

>

> I know it's so hard to watch them struggle, but hang in there

Momma. He will have lots of struggles in his little baby life that

have nothing to do with his club feet that you'll have to stand back

and let him work out for himself. In the end, you're doing him a

big favor because as he learnes more independence (in and out of the

FAB) he'll gain confidence and happiness.

>

> s.

> Out of post - tenotomy cast, into

FAB

>

>

> Not having a great day here. Got the cast off. The foot looks

> great. Stitches out. Heel has healed nicely.

>

> Asked for Markell's with the open heel, but they didn't have any

in

> the size he needed. Got a gold bar with the 3 adjustments

(6,8,10).

> Isaac is on the 6 " setting, 45 degree for the normal foot, 70

degree

> for the clubfoot.

>

> He is horribly cranky and frustrated. His leg is stiff, his

heel

> tender, and he is hating the confinement of the shoes. He had

just

> started to crawl, pull his upper body up, sit unassisted for a

few

> minutes. He is having no problem moving the feet together. He

is

> so mad that only took a few minutes. I showed him how to roll,

and

> it killed me, but I let him struggle the next time just so he

would

> know he could do it w/o my help. That sounds so mean typed out.

> *sigh*

>

> He has managed to get out of both shoes 4 times so far. He has

> untied the strings countless times, and unscrewed one of the

screws

> on the bottom!! I even have a hard time with those.

> I gave him some Tylenol, nursed him, and waited till he fell

asleep

> to put them on again. I think I got them tighter this time.

> This is going to be a long night and a long few months. *crying

and

> feeling very sorry for myself right now*

>

> Oh, Isaac is 6.5 months old. We were told 18-20 hr per day

instead

> of the 23 hours, bc of his age and wanting to give him time out

bc

> of other milestones like sitting upright?? Anyone else start at

20

> hr, and not regress?

>

> Next checkup in 6 wks. Said we will go down to 14-16 hr, then

just

> at night 6 wks after that.

>

> Any quick hints while I try to find the help file again?

>

>

>

> Kailee 7-00

> Ean 6-03

> Isaac 7-12-05(right unilateral clubfoot)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Just wait until you take them off. Hold the bar with the shoes on it

up to his back. If his shoulders fit between the heels of the shoes

you are probably okay.

Please don't feel like you are a bad mommy - many of us have been

where you are and we just do our best. You would be a bad mommy if

you didn't care enough about this to figure it out and make him

comfortable.

I'm glad to hear his last cast was fully abducted, that's a good sign.

Does he have good dorsiflexion?, about 10-15 degrees is desirable.

Try to get some rest, I found the best way during the first couple

days was sleeping with my son lying on my chest, he was very comforted

by holding my hand too. Hope things get better for you, and keep

checking his feet too to be sure he isn't getting blisters or sores.

Keep in touch and we will try to help you through this!

Best wishes,

Mom to Jenna (4/7/01) & Sammy (9/25/04, RCF, Dobbs' brace, 14hrs/day)

> >

> > I know it's so hard to watch them struggle, but hang in there

> Momma. He will have lots of struggles in his little baby life that

> have nothing to do with his club feet that you'll have to stand back

> and let him work out for himself. In the end, you're doing him a

> big favor because as he learnes more independence (in and out of the

> FAB) he'll gain confidence and happiness.

> >

> > s.

> > Out of post - tenotomy cast, into

> FAB

> >

> >

> > Not having a great day here. Got the cast off. The foot looks

> > great. Stitches out. Heel has healed nicely.

> >

> > Asked for Markell's with the open heel, but they didn't have any

> in

> > the size he needed. Got a gold bar with the 3 adjustments

> (6,8,10).

> > Isaac is on the 6 " setting, 45 degree for the normal foot, 70

> degree

> > for the clubfoot.

> >

> > He is horribly cranky and frustrated. His leg is stiff, his

> heel

> > tender, and he is hating the confinement of the shoes. He had

> just

> > started to crawl, pull his upper body up, sit unassisted for a

> few

> > minutes. He is having no problem moving the feet together. He

> is

> > so mad that only took a few minutes. I showed him how to roll,

> and

> > it killed me, but I let him struggle the next time just so he

> would

> > know he could do it w/o my help. That sounds so mean typed out.

> > *sigh*

> >

> > He has managed to get out of both shoes 4 times so far. He has

> > untied the strings countless times, and unscrewed one of the

> screws

> > on the bottom!! I even have a hard time with those.

> > I gave him some Tylenol, nursed him, and waited till he fell

> asleep

> > to put them on again. I think I got them tighter this time.

> > This is going to be a long night and a long few months. *crying

> and

> > feeling very sorry for myself right now*

> >

> > Oh, Isaac is 6.5 months old. We were told 18-20 hr per day

> instead

> > of the 23 hours, bc of his age and wanting to give him time out

> bc

> > of other milestones like sitting upright?? Anyone else start at

> 20

> > hr, and not regress?

> >

> > Next checkup in 6 wks. Said we will go down to 14-16 hr, then

> just

> > at night 6 wks after that.

> >

> > Any quick hints while I try to find the help file again?

> >

> >

> >

> > Kailee 7-00

> > Ean 6-03

> > Isaac 7-12-05(right unilateral clubfoot)

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I forgot to answer another question that asked.

The incision site/scar, not looking at it right now, but from

memory, about half the size of a dime. It is really small. It

looked like he had 2 stitches. I only saw him out of cast for a

minute, before the assistant got the stitches out.

> > > >

> > > > Not having a great day here. Got the cast off. The foot

looks

> > > > great. Stitches out. Heel has healed nicely.

> > > >

> > > > Asked for Markell's with the open heel, but they didn't have

any

> > > in

> > > > the size he needed. Got a gold bar with the 3 adjustments

> > (6,8,10).

> > > > Isaac is on the 6 " setting, 45 degree for the normal foot,

70

> > > degree

> > > > for the clubfoot.

> > > >

> > > > He is horribly cranky and frustrated. His leg is stiff, his

> > heel

> > > > tender, and he is hating the confinement of the shoes. He

had

> > > just

> > > > started to crawl, pull his upper body up, sit unassisted for

a

> > few

> > > > minutes. He is having no problem moving the feet together.

He

> > is

> > > > so mad that only took a few minutes. I showed him how to

roll,

> > > and

> > > > it killed me, but I let him struggle the next time just so

he

> > > would

> > > > know he could do it w/o my help. That sounds so mean typed

out.

> > > > *sigh*

> > > >

> > > > He has managed to get out of both shoes 4 times so far. He

has

> > > > untied the strings countless times, and unscrewed one of the

> > > screws

> > > > on the bottom!! I even have a hard time with those.

> > > > I gave him some Tylenol, nursed him, and waited till he fell

> > > asleep

> > > > to put them on again. I think I got them tighter this

time.

> > > > This is going to be a long night and a long few months.

*crying

> > > and

> > > > feeling very sorry for myself right now*

> > > >

> > > > Oh, Isaac is 6.5 months old. We were told 18-20 hr per day

> > > instead

> > > > of the 23 hours, bc of his age and wanting to give him time

out

> > bc

> > > > of other milestones like sitting upright?? Anyone else

start at

> > > 20

> > > > hr, and not regress?

> > > >

> > > > Next checkup in 6 wks. Said we will go down to 14-16 hr,

then

> > > just

> > > > at night 6 wks after that.

> > > >

> > > > Any quick hints while I try to find the help file again?

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Kailee 7-00

> > > > Ean 6-03

> > > > Isaac 7-12-05(right unilateral clubfoot)

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Oh, , I think this is fine, probably even wonderful. Some

babies have a bigger scar than that without stitches. Usually it is

smaller, but it also just depends on the type of scalpel used, the

technique of the surgeon, so many things could effect the size of the

cut. It may be he was just being cautious to use the stitches.

There's no way he could have done the other procedure I was talking

about (the achilles tendon lengthening) with that tiny of a cut.

Mom to Jenna (4/7/01) & Sammy (9/25/04, RCF, Dobbs' brace, 14hrs/day)

> > > > >

> > > > > Not having a great day here. Got the cast off. The foot

> looks

> > > > > great. Stitches out. Heel has healed nicely.

> > > > >

> > > > > Asked for Markell's with the open heel, but they didn't have

> any

> > > > in

> > > > > the size he needed. Got a gold bar with the 3 adjustments

> > > (6,8,10).

> > > > > Isaac is on the 6 " setting, 45 degree for the normal foot,

> 70

> > > > degree

> > > > > for the clubfoot.

> > > > >

> > > > > He is horribly cranky and frustrated. His leg is stiff, his

> > > heel

> > > > > tender, and he is hating the confinement of the shoes. He

> had

> > > > just

> > > > > started to crawl, pull his upper body up, sit unassisted for

> a

> > > few

> > > > > minutes. He is having no problem moving the feet together.

> He

> > > is

> > > > > so mad that only took a few minutes. I showed him how to

> roll,

> > > > and

> > > > > it killed me, but I let him struggle the next time just so

> he

> > > > would

> > > > > know he could do it w/o my help. That sounds so mean typed

> out.

> > > > > *sigh*

> > > > >

> > > > > He has managed to get out of both shoes 4 times so far. He

> has

> > > > > untied the strings countless times, and unscrewed one of the

> > > > screws

> > > > > on the bottom!! I even have a hard time with those.

> > > > > I gave him some Tylenol, nursed him, and waited till he fell

> > > > asleep

> > > > > to put them on again. I think I got them tighter this

> time.

> > > > > This is going to be a long night and a long few months.

> *crying

> > > > and

> > > > > feeling very sorry for myself right now*

> > > > >

> > > > > Oh, Isaac is 6.5 months old. We were told 18-20 hr per day

> > > > instead

> > > > > of the 23 hours, bc of his age and wanting to give him time

> out

> > > bc

> > > > > of other milestones like sitting upright?? Anyone else

> start at

> > > > 20

> > > > > hr, and not regress?

> > > > >

> > > > > Next checkup in 6 wks. Said we will go down to 14-16 hr,

> then

> > > > just

> > > > > at night 6 wks after that.

> > > > >

> > > > > Any quick hints while I try to find the help file again?

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Kailee 7-00

> > > > > Ean 6-03

> > > > > Isaac 7-12-05(right unilateral clubfoot)

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>