Re: Re: Bars

February 9, 2006

When Dr. Alvarez put Hayden in the boots and bar way back when, the bar was

very short (maybe 6 inches heel to heel when the shoes were attached), but we

were instructed to only set it at 45 degrees. I think it was still

uncomfortable as Hayden is obviously much wider than that (he measures 10

inches from shoulder to shoulder) as is na. Also his feet weren't

corrected at the time. When Hayden went into the Markells a few weeks ago, we

had one bad night - the first one. Since then he has been A-OK with the shoes.

I can't tell you what a relief that is! I'm so looking forward to hearing what

Dr. Pirani has to say about na's feet.

P.S. I am still laughing about the Botox Queen of Canada....!!!

wrote:

> Alvarez? The botox queen of Canada?

Yep, that's her Kori.

If you remember, is waiting to get na in to see Dr.

Pirani so he can finally fix her feet. He is away - Uganda I believe

(I didn't think to ask when I called his asst. to find out why

had to wait so long, when she said he was away for a month, I

just assumed it was for the Ugandan project).

, How are you doing? How is na, are you still putting her

in the brace? I would be suprised if she could tolerate it since her

feet haven't been properly/fully corrected. Have you noticed that

they are turning back in a bit? PLEASE don't worry if you have and

don't try putting her in the brace...it is much better to let the

feet relapse a bit and then be corrected by a Qualified doctor than

trying to put her in the brace when her feet aren't ready for it.

I don't know, maybe you have the outward rotation of the shoes set

much less than 70 degrees and she has been ok with it, I would just

worry that with her feet not being ready for the shoes, well, you

don't want to get any blisters or sores or anything like that. Dr.

Pirani is going to recast her anyway, he WILL fix her feet and

probably with only a couple of casts =)

After *bad* or improper casting, many Ponseti certified docs are now

saying that it is better to let the foot regress a bit before re-

starting casting, so I guess what I am trying to say with all this

rambling is try not to worry and don't put her in the shoes if

she is really uncomfy in them.

Can't wait until you go for your first appt...pls remind me the date

again?

Big hugs to you and hang in there! You and na have been through

a lot, just KNOW that her feet WILL be fine!! Dr. Pirani will have

them all straightened out in no time I promise!!

Smiles,

& Grace

>

> At 10:48 PM 2/8/2006, you wrote:

> >I know its probably different for everyone but how long should the

bar

> >on the Dennis Browne Boots and Bars be for a 7 1/2 month old 21

lbs 27

> >inches????????

> >If anyone even has any idea that would be great-I looked at the

one Dr

> >Alvarez gave for na and it is 10 "

> >

> >Thanks

> >

February 9, 2006

I havent been putting na in the boots and bars-just the AFO's to not

lose any dorsiflexion. I dont believe that Dr. Pirani will have to do a

tenotomy as na has had one and her dorsiflexion still is great.

However her feet are starting to turn inwards again so I was thinking about

using the boots. But I think I will just leave and keep her using her AFO's

just so we dont lose the dorsiflexion. thanks for the support. Its getting

really hard to deal with-especially with not very much support. I am also

very worried about na not sleeping once she does get some sort of

corrective shoes after seeing Dr. Pirani-as on a good day right now, na

only sleeps 3 hrs straight before she wakes up and wants to eat again-its

very exshausting

>

>Reply-To: nosurgery4clubfoot

>To: nosurgery4clubfoot

>Subject: Re: Re: Bars

>Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 11:08:39 -0500 (EST)

>

>When Dr. Alvarez put Hayden in the boots and bar way back when, the bar

>was very short (maybe 6 inches heel to heel when the shoes were attached),

>but we were instructed to only set it at 45 degrees. I think it was still

>uncomfortable as Hayden is obviously much wider than that (he measures 10

>inches from shoulder to shoulder) as is na. Also his feet weren't

>corrected at the time. When Hayden went into the Markells a few weeks

>ago, we had one bad night - the first one. Since then he has been A-OK

>with the shoes. I can't tell you what a relief that is! I'm so looking

>forward to hearing what Dr. Pirani has to say about na's feet.

>

> P.S. I am still laughing about the Botox Queen of Canada....!!!

>

> wrote:

> > Alvarez? The botox queen of Canada?

>

> Yep, that's her Kori.

>

> If you remember, is waiting to get na in to see Dr.

> Pirani so he can finally fix her feet. He is away - Uganda I believe

> (I didn't think to ask when I called his asst. to find out why

> had to wait so long, when she said he was away for a month, I

> just assumed it was for the Ugandan project).

>

> , How are you doing? How is na, are you still putting her

> in the brace? I would be suprised if she could tolerate it since her

> feet haven't been properly/fully corrected. Have you noticed that

> they are turning back in a bit? PLEASE don't worry if you have and

> don't try putting her in the brace...it is much better to let the

> feet relapse a bit and then be corrected by a Qualified doctor than

> trying to put her in the brace when her feet aren't ready for it.

>

> I don't know, maybe you have the outward rotation of the shoes set

> much less than 70 degrees and she has been ok with it, I would just

> worry that with her feet not being ready for the shoes, well, you

> don't want to get any blisters or sores or anything like that. Dr.

> Pirani is going to recast her anyway, he WILL fix her feet and

> probably with only a couple of casts =)

>

> After *bad* or improper casting, many Ponseti certified docs are now

> saying that it is better to let the foot regress a bit before re-

> starting casting, so I guess what I am trying to say with all this

> rambling is try not to worry and don't put her in the shoes if

> she is really uncomfy in them.

>

> Can't wait until you go for your first appt...pls remind me the date

> again?

>

> Big hugs to you and hang in there! You and na have been through

> a lot, just KNOW that her feet WILL be fine!! Dr. Pirani will have

> them all straightened out in no time I promise!!

>

> Smiles,

>

> & Grace

> >

>

> > At 10:48 PM 2/8/2006, you wrote:

> > >I know its probably different for everyone but how long should the

> bar

> > >on the Dennis Browne Boots and Bars be for a 7 1/2 month old 21

> lbs 27

> > >inches????????

> > >If anyone even has any idea that would be great-I looked at the

> one Dr

> > >Alvarez gave for na and it is 10 "

> > >

> > >Thanks

> > >

February 9, 2006

At 03:39 PM 2/9/2006, you wrote:

>I havent been putting na in the boots and bars-just the AFO's to not

>lose any dorsiflexion. I dont believe that Dr. Pirani will have to do a

>tenotomy as na has had one and her dorsiflexion still is great.

>However her feet are starting to turn inwards again so I was thinking about

>using the boots.

no, don't bother. Turned in feet don't do well

in the boots and bar anyway, it would be a bad

experience for her. just wait, they can't

correct or even help maintain correction on a

foot that is not fully corrected so there's no reason to even try.

> But I think I will just leave and keep her using her AFO's

>just so we dont lose the dorsiflexion. thanks for the support. Its getting

>really hard to deal with-especially with not very much support. I am also

>very worried about na not sleeping once she does get some sort of

>corrective shoes after seeing Dr. Pirani

any issues really should clear up within a

week. Once they're used to them they sleep like

they did before for most kids. actually, sleep

changes over time with babies... so don't get

used to anything yet! you got a few years of

surprises ahead of you. It seems like once you

get the hang of something with babies they decide

they are going to change on you. sleep times,

durations, pooping, eating, etc. fun though.

>-as on a good day right now, na

>only sleeps 3 hrs straight before she wakes up and wants to eat again-its

>very exshausting

sounds normal to me. I think actually that's a

long time to sleep. I remember mine sleeping for

15 min, nursing for 45 and then asleep again for

15... nursing... on and on... if I could get 3

hours out of them at night it was like a time for celebrating.

Have you tried co-sleeping? If getting up is

hard on you, maybe you both can just sleep

through the feed? I did it this way and I swear

(you're going to want to smack me...) I never

felt sleep deprived with any of my three

children. Who did wake up all night long, so it

wasn't that they slept. I just rarely had to

wake more than just a bit to latch and then back to sleep. pure bliss!

hang in there, don't worry about the

relapsing. It is happening, yes. That's

ok. Just let it go. It's good, in case Dr.

Alvarez did anything weird while correcting, now

you will be sure it's done right. I think it's a

good idea to maintain dorsiflexion as best you

can so you don't risk having another tenotomy.

hope to hear good news soon. It's really too bad

Dr. Pirani is not in town right now. He doesn't

have any colleagues there or what?

Kori

> >

> >Reply-To: nosurgery4clubfoot

> >To: nosurgery4clubfoot

> >Subject: Re: Re: Bars

> >Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 11:08:39 -0500 (EST)

> >

> >When Dr. Alvarez put Hayden in the boots and bar way back when, the bar

> >was very short (maybe 6 inches heel to heel when the shoes were attached),

> >but we were instructed to only set it at 45 degrees. I think it was still

> >uncomfortable as Hayden is obviously much wider than that (he measures 10

> >inches from shoulder to shoulder) as is na. Also his feet weren't

> >corrected at the time. When Hayden went into the Markells a few weeks

> >ago, we had one bad night - the first one. Since then he has been A-OK

> >with the shoes. I can't tell you what a relief that is! I'm so looking

> >forward to hearing what Dr. Pirani has to say about na's feet.

> >

> > P.S. I am still laughing about the Botox Queen of Canada....!!!

> >

> > wrote:

> > > Alvarez? The botox queen of Canada?

> >

> > Yep, that's her Kori.

> >

> > If you remember, is waiting to get na in to see Dr.

> > Pirani so he can finally fix her feet. He is away - Uganda I believe

> > (I didn't think to ask when I called his asst. to find out why

> > had to wait so long, when she said he was away for a month, I

> > just assumed it was for the Ugandan project).

> >

> > , How are you doing? How is na, are you still putting her

> > in the brace? I would be suprised if she could tolerate it since her

> > feet haven't been properly/fully corrected. Have you noticed that

> > they are turning back in a bit? PLEASE don't worry if you have and

> > don't try putting her in the brace...it is much better to let the

> > feet relapse a bit and then be corrected by a Qualified doctor than

> > trying to put her in the brace when her feet aren't ready for it.

> >

> > I don't know, maybe you have the outward rotation of the shoes set

> > much less than 70 degrees and she has been ok with it, I would just

> > worry that with her feet not being ready for the shoes, well, you

> > don't want to get any blisters or sores or anything like that. Dr.

> > Pirani is going to recast her anyway, he WILL fix her feet and

> > probably with only a couple of casts =)

> >

> > After *bad* or improper casting, many Ponseti certified docs are now

> > saying that it is better to let the foot regress a bit before re-

> > starting casting, so I guess what I am trying to say with all this

> > rambling is try not to worry and don't put her in the shoes if

> > she is really uncomfy in them.

> >

> > Can't wait until you go for your first appt...pls remind me the date

> > again?

> >

> > Big hugs to you and hang in there! You and na have been through

> > a lot, just KNOW that her feet WILL be fine!! Dr. Pirani will have

> > them all straightened out in no time I promise!!

> >

> > Smiles,

> >

> > & Grace

> > >

> >

> > > At 10:48 PM 2/8/2006, you wrote:

> > > >I know its probably different for everyone but how long should the

> > bar

> > > >on the Dennis Browne Boots and Bars be for a 7 1/2 month old 21

> > lbs 27

> > > >inches????????

> > > >If anyone even has any idea that would be great-I looked at the

> > one Dr

> > > >Alvarez gave for na and it is 10 "

> > > >

> > > >Thanks

> > > >

February 9, 2006

Just a couple more weeks to hang in there! Trust me, as long as the shoes are

fitting well and she has proper correction, she will get accustomed to them and

hopefully sleep longer. Although my first kid was a big one and nursed

constantly, so who can say!! Is she on solids yet?

Huston wrote: I havent been putting na

in the boots and bars-just the AFO's to not