Re: Re: Sleeping w/the P/M concern

[Guest guest]

I want to chime in here regarding sleeping in the FAB.

To me, all I need to know is that Dr. Ponsti has more than 50 years experience

using this thing; he has a 40 year follow up study proving the effectiveness of

his method, including the use of the FAB as part of his method. Added to that is

the fact FAB's were used prior to Dr. Ponseti establishing his method, and have

been used by various other doctors for various other treatment options over the

past century or so.

IF the brace was going to cause hip, knee and/or spinal problems, that fact

would have come out in the wash decades ago. There would be this whole other

sub-catagory of kids with hip/knee/spinal injury resulting from wearing their

FAB, and there just isn't (a sub-catagory.)

I also think we can't exactly compare an infant or toddlers experience to our

own adult experience. If I had to sleep like Everett in his FAB you know I'd

wake up so stiff and sore and miserable I'd be worthless...but that is my old

body, my old bones, past injuries and just the whole loss of flexibility that

comes with aging. Kids are different. They have extreme flexibility that lets

them sleep in these funky positions with out waking up feeling tortured. I mean

look at how they slump over to sleep in their car seats! Wow, hurts my neck just

to watch them bt they wake up limber as a wet noodle.

And keep in mind too if they start wearing the FAB as an infant especially,

it's all they know how to do so it's normal to them and they manage just fine

sleeping with one leg straight up in the air half the night if that's where they

find their comfort.

Just one more tidbit for consideration regarding the 16-18 hours for two

years...consider how much sleep a baby of this age requires...average 12 to 14

hours, in some cases they average 16 hours of sleep a day (night/naps).

Everett is 27 months old and he still sleeps 12 to 14 hours a day/night; it does

varry but those are the average numbers of hours a toddler spends asleep in a

typical day. My point being even a three year old will still need a solid

twelve hours a night to sleep, so the lion's share of those hours in the FAB can

be used up in the sleep, and the few hours he's awake in it won't slow him down

any, developmentally speaking.

It's really a small price to pay in the long term scheme of things so I hope you

don't let this freak you out too much and I really hope you won't become

discouraged. I know the FAB looks miserable and as a parent it can break our

hearts, but I really think once it's all put in to perspective you start to

understand it's not the worst thing the little feller might have to endure.

Best of luck,

s.

Re: Sleeping w/the P/M concern

Christee,

I don't know if I can offer much help, but I will say this. I put

's shoes on her at 6pm and then she is off to bed. She is up

at 6:30, but she takes her morning nap for two hours starting at

9am. So on the days that I keep her in the FAB until after her am

nap she has been in it for 17 hours. This does not interfere with

her playing because she is sleeping/eating for the majority of this

time. I don't know Lilee's schedule, but if she takes a morning nap

maybe you can do the same and then she would have the busiest awake

part of her day without the FAB. is not really pulling to

stand very well yet so she doesn't do much of anything but rolling

in her FAB, but I know lots of parents will tell you that their

children crawl and even walk in it. Don't be discouraged. You can do

this and Lilee doesn't know any different. is very delayed

(she just crawled for the first time yesterday at 13.75 months), but

the doc says is it is not related to the FAB and even if it was, I

don't think the delay will have any long term negative effects on

her. Did you share your concern with Dr. Ponseti? I'm sure he would

comfort you.

As for sleeping, I don't know anything about negative effects of

sleeping that way. I agree that it seems like it could cause damage

to the hips or minimally be uncomfortable. However, started

sleeping like that when she went into her FAB (with her one foot

straight up in the air), and as she has gotten bigger she has moved

to her back instead. I know I just got done saying that she is

delayed, but I don't think the foot in the air sleeping position had

anything to do with that. I'm sure you'll hear back lots of good

stuff from the other parents.

Donna

>

> Lilee is in the P/M brace for 22/24, and will go to 18/24 on

Vantines Day!

> 1st off, here is an exact copy on an email Dr. P sent to me...

> December 26, 2005

>

> It is hard to know how long Lilee will have to wear the brace.

The atypical clubfeet tend to improve greatly after the first year.

In general the brace is worn 22-23 hours for three months and then

16-18 hours for the next two years, then 12-14 for another year and

then at night until bracing is discontinued which may be up to age

5.

>

> I.V. Ponseti, M.D.

>

> The red is what I highlighted. WOW! 2 years, maybe because she

has A-Typical? How do I deal with this as she gets older? Will she

ever walk, or is she going to be seriously walk/crawl delayed?

>

>

> Ok, that part was just thrown in. Here is my possible sleep

concern.

> She likes to sleep on her side. So she will either twist her

back to get her upper body sideways. This seems like it would make

back issues! Or I prop her up. Well, then shes got that one foot in

the air. Think about this...your feet forced apart like that. Can

this cause hip/knee problems? Cause that has to put alot of pressure

on them! I have tried putting blankets/pillows between her legs, but

nothing will stay? Any suggestions?

>

>

>

> Christee

> Mother of Josh, Aspen, Dylan &

> Lilee ~ Unilateral A-Typical Club Foot w/Cavus

> & Metatarsus Adductus

>

>

> ---------------------------------

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