Re: What's the best way to contact Dr. P?

[Guest guest]

Jenn, sorry for all you're going through. I think the best way to

contact Dr. Ponseti is by phone. The emails take a little longer.

His phone number is:

(319)356-3469

This is off his website at:

www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/orthopaedics/clubfeet/contact.html

>

> Hey everyone! I need to contact Dr. Ponseti, but I'm unsure which

is

> better- do I call or email? We just got back from Lucas'

appointment

> and I'm so mad I could cry. I can see that his left foot doesn't

> look right- he's been without casts or the brace (he kept kicking

> out of it) since the 22nd of Nov. Today his ortho said that there

> was a big difference between now and last month, but that he

didn't

> feel it needed to be recasted. He said for me to just keep

> stretching his feet, get him up on his feet as much as possible

and

> if it gets worse in the next 2-3 weeks to come back. Like I said,

> I'm so pissed right now.

> I believe Dr. P is closer to me than Dr. Dobbs and if I could get

in

> an appt with him on a Mon, then I could drive home right after

that

> and be able to be back in class that Tues. I have a little problem-

> I'm in a radiology school and we only get 24 hrs of leave a year,

> most of which has gone to his appointments. I do have some other

> options though, like working a weekend for a weekday. Hopefully

> they'll work with me. I'm out of options here, I no longer trust

his

> doc and I'm scared I've screwed him up big time by not researching

> all this out before.

> Oh, and when I told his doc that I still haven't gotten him in the

> DBB because he keeps kicking out, he referred me back to the

> orthotist. He also told me that we didn't need him to be

> dorsiflexed, that it will come once he gets up and walking. His

ped

> at his wellbaby check yesterday said if the orthopedic didn't

> recommend physical therapy to call her because he should be

cruising

> by now and she wants to get him in for early intervention. What

does

> everyone think about that? I mean, he's been in casts forever, of

> course he's not going to just stand up and walk!

> Sorry for the vent, I'm just so frustrated. Thanks for all your

help.

>

> Jenn

>

[Guest guest]

Jenn,

The best way to contact Dr. P is to call between 2:30-3 pm central

time on M, W, or F. (319)356-3469 If you know you want to see him,

though, which it really sounds like you do...you can call his office

any time and they'll make the appointment for you. What I usually

do was to drive there on Sunday for a Monday morning appointment,

then drive back Monday. Where are you at? Do you know how far of a

drive it is?

The contact info is on his website

http://www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/orthopaedics/clubfeet/index.html

I'm so sorry about your current doctor. I can imagine how

frustrated you are. I realize this is probably little consolation,

but you are definitely not the first parent to tell this story on

our board! Here's a hug for you!!!!!

Depending on when you make the appointment in Iowa, you might want

to also try to get a copy of Lucas' medical records to bring with

you for Dr. P's benefit.

Please keep us posted!

& (3-16-00, left clubfoot)

[Guest guest]

Jenn,

I emailed Dr. Ponseti late Friday night, and got a response really

early Monday from Joyce, his secretary. I think that she is only in

office twice a week, though, (maybe Monday and Friday) so to get

Lucas in Monday you might want to call. We had a VERY similar

experience this week, and are switching doctors to one three and a

half hours away, but at least this is a " Ponseti approved " guy that

we will see next. This site has been great for info, hasn't it? I

wish that I had found it and done better research before I did,

also. But, I know that I thought that the doctors were doing the

best by , as did you with Lucas. You figured that of course

they were looking after his better interests...All that you can do

now is go with your gut to switch doctors. As said to me, You

have got to keep looking forward and don't look back. It's so

true! As much as it stinks,we can't change what we didn't know then.

I'm sorry that you are having so much difficulty with the

appoitments coinciding with time off from school. Good luck with

everything, and let me know if you were able to get in, and what he

says about Lucas!

-

>

> Hey everyone! I need to contact Dr. Ponseti, but I'm unsure which

is

> better- do I call or email? We just got back from Lucas'

appointment

> and I'm so mad I could cry. I can see that his left foot doesn't

> look right- he's been without casts or the brace (he kept kicking

> out of it) since the 22nd of Nov. Today his ortho said that there

> was a big difference between now and last month, but that he

didn't

> feel it needed to be recasted. He said for me to just keep

> stretching his feet, get him up on his feet as much as possible

and

> if it gets worse in the next 2-3 weeks to come back. Like I said,

> I'm so pissed right now.

> I believe Dr. P is closer to me than Dr. Dobbs and if I could get

in

> an appt with him on a Mon, then I could drive home right after

that

> and be able to be back in class that Tues. I have a little problem-

> I'm in a radiology school and we only get 24 hrs of leave a year,

> most of which has gone to his appointments. I do have some other

> options though, like working a weekend for a weekday. Hopefully

> they'll work with me. I'm out of options here, I no longer trust

his

> doc and I'm scared I've screwed him up big time by not researching

> all this out before.

> Oh, and when I told his doc that I still haven't gotten him in the

> DBB because he keeps kicking out, he referred me back to the

> orthotist. He also told me that we didn't need him to be

> dorsiflexed, that it will come once he gets up and walking. His

ped

> at his wellbaby check yesterday said if the orthopedic didn't

> recommend physical therapy to call her because he should be

cruising

> by now and she wants to get him in for early intervention. What

does

> everyone think about that? I mean, he's been in casts forever, of

> course he's not going to just stand up and walk!

> Sorry for the vent, I'm just so frustrated. Thanks for all your

help.

>

> Jenn

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone. I just called and they said he'd call me tomorrow,

most likely after he sees his babies in the morning. She said

sometimes he calls earlier depending on when he shows up, but that he

would call. You're right- just gotta keep looking forward. I'm just

having a crappy day. I had an appt today and found out I have a

cystocele & a rectocele, so I'm being referred to another dr and I may

need surgery. Then his doc and his carefree attitude. It all just

really hit today.

I will go and love on my little man. He had his shots yesterday and is

grumpy so he's letting me love on him today!!!!

Jenn

[Guest guest]

Jen,

I understand you are in school and that is important but I wonder also if there

isn't some way you could take a leave of absence and make it up later.

I say that because even if you do go see Dr. P, there's a good chance he'll want

to re-cast your boy once if not twice or three times, kwim? So it won't just be

a one-day trip one time, it'll be a trip a few different times all real close

together (week apart).

Sounds like you're already on the " wrong track " with your current doctor so

basically you have this one last chance to get on the right track but if you

can't travel to get it done it won't get done.

Between a rock and a hard place and it sucks, huh. I'm sorry.

I do agree with you this current doc is way off base right now. Stretching

doesn't maintain correction over the long-term and already you think he has

regression. Stretching won't un-do that regression and I doubt any physical

therapy would, either. True, walking does help but a kid can't really walk if

his feet aren't fixed....another rock and hard place. EI has other useful

purposes though but myself, if EI is going to cost money or too much time or

make your life chaos in the process I don't think the benefits will out weigh

the gain because what your boy needs is his feet fixed by a qualified doctor,

not a band-aid (physical therapy). My son went through PT for a year and a half

with no results to speak of pre-Ponseti. The kid just couldn't learn to walk on

crooked feet, kwim? The PT wasn't fixing the problem, it was trying to teach

him how to live with the problem and to me that's a big difference between

fixing something or just learning to live with something.

Are you going to try the FAB after this?

I'm no help to you, I'm sorry.

s.

What's the best way to contact Dr. P?

Hey everyone! I need to contact Dr. Ponseti, but I'm unsure which is

better- do I call or email? We just got back from Lucas' appointment

and I'm so mad I could cry. I can see that his left foot doesn't

look right- he's been without casts or the brace (he kept kicking

out of it) since the 22nd of Nov. Today his ortho said that there

was a big difference between now and last month, but that he didn't

feel it needed to be recasted. He said for me to just keep

stretching his feet, get him up on his feet as much as possible and

if it gets worse in the next 2-3 weeks to come back. Like I said,

I'm so pissed right now.

I believe Dr. P is closer to me than Dr. Dobbs and if I could get in

an appt with him on a Mon, then I could drive home right after that

and be able to be back in class that Tues. I have a little problem-

I'm in a radiology school and we only get 24 hrs of leave a year,

most of which has gone to his appointments. I do have some other

options though, like working a weekend for a weekday. Hopefully

they'll work with me. I'm out of options here, I no longer trust his

doc and I'm scared I've screwed him up big time by not researching

all this out before.

Oh, and when I told his doc that I still haven't gotten him in the

DBB because he keeps kicking out, he referred me back to the

orthotist. He also told me that we didn't need him to be

dorsiflexed, that it will come once he gets up and walking. His ped

at his wellbaby check yesterday said if the orthopedic didn't

recommend physical therapy to call her because he should be cruising

by now and she wants to get him in for early intervention. What does

everyone think about that? I mean, he's been in casts forever, of

course he's not going to just stand up and walk!

Sorry for the vent, I'm just so frustrated. Thanks for all your help.

Jenn

[Guest guest]

I've thought about the school thing...if I take a leave of absence,

I can't get back in for at least a year. It's a program and we all

go together... But I do realize it won't be just one appointment. I

have the option of working a weekend for a weekday (twice a year),

plus I think I have one full day of leave left. I know for Lucas'

surgery they let me take sick leave. I'm going to talk to them and

see what can be done. They pretty much try to work with people to

prevent them from having to quit.

As for the brace....I'll have to see what is recommended.

Right now I really don't know if I'm coming or going. All I know is

I need to see another doc!

And you've been a big help to me! If it wasn't for you, I'd have

never found this board. Thanks so much!

Jenn

>

> Jen,

> I understand you are in school and that is important but I wonder

also if there isn't some way you could take a leave of absence and

make it up later.

>

> I say that because even if you do go see Dr. P, there's a good

chance he'll want to re-cast your boy once if not twice or three

times, kwim? So it won't just be a one-day trip one time, it'll be

a trip a few different times all real close together (week apart).

>

> Sounds like you're already on the " wrong track " with your current

doctor so basically you have this one last chance to get on the

right track but if you can't travel to get it done it won't get

done.

>

> Between a rock and a hard place and it sucks, huh. I'm sorry.

>

> I do agree with you this current doc is way off base right now.

Stretching doesn't maintain correction over the long-term and

already you think he has regression. Stretching won't un-do that

regression and I doubt any physical therapy would, either. True,

walking does help but a kid can't really walk if his feet aren't

fixed....another rock and hard place. EI has other useful purposes

though but myself, if EI is going to cost money or too much time or

make your life chaos in the process I don't think the benefits will

out weigh the gain because what your boy needs is his feet fixed by

a qualified doctor, not a band-aid (physical therapy). My son went

through PT for a year and a half with no results to speak of pre-

Ponseti. The kid just couldn't learn to walk on crooked feet,

kwim? The PT wasn't fixing the problem, it was trying to teach him

how to live with the problem and to me that's a big difference

between fixing something or just learning to live with something.

>

> Are you going to try the FAB after this?

>

> I'm no help to you, I'm sorry.

> s.

> What's the best way to contact Dr.

P?

>

>

> Hey everyone! I need to contact Dr. Ponseti, but I'm unsure

which is

> better- do I call or email? We just got back from Lucas'

appointment

> and I'm so mad I could cry. I can see that his left foot doesn't

> look right- he's been without casts or the brace (he kept

kicking

> out of it) since the 22nd of Nov. Today his ortho said that

there

> was a big difference between now and last month, but that he

didn't

> feel it needed to be recasted. He said for me to just keep

> stretching his feet, get him up on his feet as much as possible

and

> if it gets worse in the next 2-3 weeks to come back. Like I

said,

> I'm so pissed right now.

> I believe Dr. P is closer to me than Dr. Dobbs and if I could

get in

> an appt with him on a Mon, then I could drive home right after

that

> and be able to be back in class that Tues. I have a little

problem-

> I'm in a radiology school and we only get 24 hrs of leave a

year,

> most of which has gone to his appointments. I do have some other

> options though, like working a weekend for a weekday. Hopefully

> they'll work with me. I'm out of options here, I no longer trust

his

> doc and I'm scared I've screwed him up big time by not

researching

> all this out before.

> Oh, and when I told his doc that I still haven't gotten him in

the

> DBB because he keeps kicking out, he referred me back to the

> orthotist. He also told me that we didn't need him to be

> dorsiflexed, that it will come once he gets up and walking. His

ped

> at his wellbaby check yesterday said if the orthopedic didn't

> recommend physical therapy to call her because he should be

cruising

> by now and she wants to get him in for early intervention. What

does

> everyone think about that? I mean, he's been in casts forever,

of

> course he's not going to just stand up and walk!

> Sorry for the vent, I'm just so frustrated. Thanks for all your

help.

>

> Jenn

>

>

>

>

>

>