Re: STACEE - Clarification on shoes, please?

[Guest guest]

ee--

Thank you so much for going to the effort of explaining all of those! You

didn't confuse

me at all!

I cannot wait until Jan 6th to see Dr P!! I only wish we had gone there to

begin with! I just

didn't research as well as I thought I had. Hindsight, ya know!

I take back to the current ortho on the 22nd, so I'm VERY anxious to see

what he

has to say. My hope is that he'll plan on removing the cast on Jan 2nd and

we'll be into a

DBB then for only 4 days when we see Dr P. I just hope against hope that he

doesn't think

we need to start from scratch! (OK, let's be honest.. I hope we don't need to

recast at all...

LOVED his 2 real baths, and so did I!!!) :-)

I'm just curious to see what the ortho prescribes for continuing treatment--the

DBB with

markells or the KAFOs. I will certainly let you all know when I know!

Stacee

>

> All Right Stacee - a quick lesson in all this brace stuff you asked.

>

> FAB: Foot Abduction Brace...

>

> DBB: Dennis Brown Bar

>

> The FAB and DBB are the same thing(s) called by different names.

>

> MITCHELL: " invented " a new style of FAB (DBB) a couple years

ago. It is

still shoes on a bar, and works under the same principal as the old styles, but

yes, more

comfortable for certain children and seems to be having great results.

>

> The MITCHELLs are sometimes called the P/M, for Ponseti/;

sometimes they're called sandals, cuz they look like summer shoes.

>

> MARKELL: Sold by Jay Markell. Not sure how long these have been around bt it

seems

like forever. These are the white open-toe boots on a bar.

>

> There has been a few new varieties of the MARKELL lately too, such as

the

infant size with an open heel area; new padding options, etc.

>

>

> Both the MITCHELL and the MARKELL require a bar. However, the bar is NOT

interchangable between the two styles of shoes. For a Markell, you need

Markell's bar (try

to get the red adjustable bar so you can keep it the right size as yoru baby

grows more

easily and probably only need to purchase one through out treatment) - for

's you

need 's bar (it is adjustable and you'll probably only need to buy one

through the

course of treatment).

>

> DOBBS: This is a new FAB system developed by Dr. Dobbs. Same principal as

the

Markell and s but the bar is different - it is actually made to bend in

the middle (I

have not seen one myself but a few folks here have it). This is a another

shoe/bar

combination that has to work with Dobbs parts - the parts are not interchangable

with the

other systems (ex. can't put a Markell shoe on a Dobbs bar far as I know, etc.)

>

> In short, which ever system you go with, you can't mix and match shoes and

bars

between systems.

>

> As others said, tons of people have had excellent results with all three

styles of shoe/

FAB/DBB, but it does appear each system has their own customer base - s'

are

geared more towards " trouble " feet. s cost considerably more also - but

if you kid

can't tolerate the MARKELL shoe then the money is worth it to avoid relapse.

The Dobbs

isn't widely used yet and is only available through Dr. Dobbs I think...I don't

know much

about it.

>

> When it comes to see Dr. Ponseti, all I can say is ask the old man anything

you want.

Don't worry if it sounds stupid, he's a very generous and caring man who'll take

as much

time as it takes with you and your child. He's 91 years old - he's not in any

hurry! haha

>

> He can explain to you why he believes the FAB is better than an AFO for

example.

Remember too that even though Ponseti is your 2nd opinion (key word: Opinion)

the

University of Iowa has been the home to club foot research for over half a

century and

does boast a 95% success rate because they have mastered the technique and

administer

it in a pure fashion (i.e., no modifications). There's just very few other

clinics or doctors

who are achieving this same success because there are so many other clinics and

doctors

who don't perform the method purely....they change it up to some degree which

deminishes their success rate.

>

> I'll add here (long winded, I know) that the purpose of the FAB rather than

the AFO is

that the bar on the FAB holds the feet at the 70 degree (over corrected) angle

and keeps

the toes tilted up at 10 degrees to maintin the stretch in the heels. As a

primary source of

maintainence the AFO (KAFO, etc.) just can't hold it, so the foot eventually

relapses.

>

> With all that said, Let me confuse you with one more minor detail:

MITCHELL has

started calling his FAB by the term AFO. UGH! We wish he wouldn't but alas

who are we

to tell the guy what to call his invention? If you hear the FAB

referred to as

the AFO it's really the FAB (sandles on a bar).

>

> I hope this helps you figure out which brace system will be best for your

child. If you do

decide to go with a FAB system, rest assured the bar does NOT hinder your

child's

development at all. They will reach all their mile stones on target - roll,

sit, crawl, walk,

etc - provided there isn't another issue working against them.

> s.

>

> Clarification on shoes, please?

>

>

> I posted earlier about the Markell vs shoes... I think I

understand the

difference

> after looking at the website http://www.mdorthopaedics.com/index.htm, but

I'm not

> positive...

>

> If the doctor prescribes the Denis Brown Bar, can it be used with any of the

following:

> AFO/KAFO, Markell Shoe, or Shoe? Which is recommended by the

Ponseti

> Method? Which does everyone here have experiences with?

>

> From what I saw online, it appears that the shoe is a million times

comfier (is

that

> a word?!?) than the Markell shoe, so why would anyone not use it instead of

the

Markell?

> Does the Markell offer better end results than the ?

>

> I'm trying to get as many questions lined up, answered, and ready for my f/u

to the

ortho

> on the 22nd. I just found out that our insurance covers some

braces/shoes/DBB but at

a

> very limited dollar amount, so I'm trying to get the ball rolling before

this calendar year

is

> over to take full advantage of the 2005 benefit. I need to have all my

ammunition

ready

> when I see the ortho again so I can make requests, if need be.

>

> On that topic, I have set up an appt with Ponseti on Jan 6th, which is

hopefully right

after

> ds will be out of his casts, so I'm anxious to see what he says about our

story. What

would

> all of you do in our shoes? Would you make specific requests for treatment

(e.g. the

> mitchell shoes vs the markell) of the current doc or not? I don't want to

second guess

him,

> but at the same time if there are better options available to us, I'd like

to use them!! I

> couldn't get Dr Lemke's asst to answer ANY questions about my son without an

eval,

which

> of course we can't do until he's out of the cast... All I really wanted to

know is what

course

> she usually uses--the markell, AFO/KAFO, or mitchell, or other method of

bracing, but

> they wouldn't answer me. Makes me leery of going to see her. I just don't

understand

> why a doc would choose one method over another if the other is proven...

Does that

make

> sense? Keep in mind that I am fully aware that each case is different, but

overall the

> treatments are very similar...

>

> Thanks for listening!

> Stacee

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh hey you are very welcome, I know how confusing it can all become at first

with all the terms and abbreviations, etc. I'm thrilled you're going to Iowa,

it seems every parent who see's Dr. Ponseti comes away different. He has a way

of touching you in your heart that tends to make you feel fuzzy and misty-eyed

after wards. We often say he is an angel for the comfort we so often feel in

his presence. Not to get on a religious conversation but I firmly walk away

feeling like I was very nearly in the presence of God working His love through

this man.

I'll leave it at that. If you have other questions, ask away. I think there is

actually a document in the files about Questions to Ask Your Doctor.

s.

Clarification on shoes, please?

>

>

> I posted earlier about the Markell vs shoes... I think I

understand the

difference

> after looking at the website http://www.mdorthopaedics.com/index.htm, but

I'm not

> positive...

>

> If the doctor prescribes the Denis Brown Bar, can it be used with any of

the following:

> AFO/KAFO, Markell Shoe, or Shoe? Which is recommended by the

Ponseti

> Method? Which does everyone here have experiences with?

>

> From what I saw online, it appears that the shoe is a million

times comfier (is

that

> a word?!?) than the Markell shoe, so why would anyone not use it instead

of the

Markell?

> Does the Markell offer better end results than the ?

>

> I'm trying to get as many questions lined up, answered, and ready for my

f/u to the

ortho

> on the 22nd. I just found out that our insurance covers some

braces/shoes/DBB but at

a

> very limited dollar amount, so I'm trying to get the ball rolling before

this calendar year

is

> over to take full advantage of the 2005 benefit. I need to have all my

ammunition

ready

> when I see the ortho again so I can make requests, if need be.

>

> On that topic, I have set up an appt with Ponseti on Jan 6th, which is

hopefully right

after

> ds will be out of his casts, so I'm anxious to see what he says about our

story. What

would

> all of you do in our shoes? Would you make specific requests for

treatment (e.g. the

> mitchell shoes vs the markell) of the current doc or not? I don't want to

second guess

him,

> but at the same time if there are better options available to us, I'd like

to use them!! I

> couldn't get Dr Lemke's asst to answer ANY questions about my son without

an eval,

which

> of course we can't do until he's out of the cast... All I really wanted

to know is what

course

> she usually uses--the markell, AFO/KAFO, or mitchell, or other method of

bracing, but

> they wouldn't answer me. Makes me leery of going to see her. I just

don't understand

> why a doc would choose one method over another if the other is proven...

Does that

make

> sense? Keep in mind that I am fully aware that each case is different,

but overall the

> treatments are very similar...

>

> Thanks for listening!

> Stacee

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have to agree with the comment about Dr. Ponseti, I have only had one phone

conversation with him, but really felt like he was my son's guardian angel. He

let us know he was there for us if we got into any trouble with his treatment.

His warmth radiated through the telephone wire!

number23 wrote: Oh hey you are very welcome, I know how

confusing it can all become at first with all the terms and abbreviations, etc.

I'm thrilled you're going to Iowa, it seems every parent who see's Dr. Ponseti

comes away different. He has a way of touching you in your heart that tends to

make you feel fuzzy and misty-eyed after wards. We often say he is an angel for

the comfort we so often feel in his presence. Not to get on a religious

conversation but I firmly walk away feeling like I was very nearly in the

presence of God working His love through this man.

I'll leave it at that. If you have other questions, ask away. I think there is

actually a document in the files about Questions to Ask Your Doctor.

s.

Clarification on shoes, please?

>

>

> I posted earlier about the Markell vs shoes... I think I

understand the

difference

> after looking at the website http://www.mdorthopaedics.com/index.htm, but

I'm not

> positive...

>

> If the doctor prescribes the Denis Brown Bar, can it be used with any of

the following:

> AFO/KAFO, Markell Shoe, or Shoe? Which is recommended by the

Ponseti

> Method? Which does everyone here have experiences with?

>

> From what I saw online, it appears that the shoe is a million

times comfier (is

that

> a word?!?) than the Markell shoe, so why would anyone not use it instead

of the

Markell?

> Does the Markell offer better end results than the ?

>

> I'm trying to get as many questions lined up, answered, and ready for my

f/u to the

ortho

> on the 22nd. I just found out that our insurance covers some

braces/shoes/DBB but at

a

> very limited dollar amount, so I'm trying to get the ball rolling before

this calendar year

is

> over to take full advantage of the 2005 benefit. I need to have all my

ammunition

ready

> when I see the ortho again so I can make requests, if need be.

>

> On that topic, I have set up an appt with Ponseti on Jan 6th, which is

hopefully right

after

> ds will be out of his casts, so I'm anxious to see what he says about our

story. What

would

> all of you do in our shoes? Would you make specific requests for

treatment (e.g. the

> mitchell shoes vs the markell) of the current doc or not? I don't want to

second guess

him,

> but at the same time if there are better options available to us, I'd like

to use them!! I

> couldn't get Dr Lemke's asst to answer ANY questions about my son without

an eval,

which

> of course we can't do until he's out of the cast... All I really wanted

to know is what

course

> she usually uses--the markell, AFO/KAFO, or mitchell, or other method of

bracing, but

> they wouldn't answer me. Makes me leery of going to see her. I just

don't understand

> why a doc would choose one method over another if the other is proven...

Does that

make

> sense? Keep in mind that I am fully aware that each case is different,

but overall the

> treatments are very similar...

>

> Thanks for listening!

> Stacee

>

>

>

>

>

>

>