Re: Shoes?

[Guest guest]

We do not have the 's, but alot of people on here do. I am sure they

will respond. They are general prescribed when the DBB isn't working and the

feet are fully corrected and all set up right with the DBB. Often, this happens

if your child has atypical clubfeet, which is a fairly new term that some

doctors have yet to have heard of or accept. The brace is expensive,

and if your insurance doesn't cover it, might be hard to swing, but it is worth

looking into, so you know about that option. We thought about it, but the

Markell's are working for us right now.

We are not doctors on here, but do have experience seeing corrected and

uncorrected clubfeet, as well as properly set up braces and improperly set up

ones. If you could send pictures to the clubfoot pics site, I know you would

get a lot of feedback.

As for the AFO's you posted in the previous question, I wouldn't recommend

them. We got them for , but just didn't like them. They don't allow them

to flex their ankles at all, which the DBB and (I believe) brace does.

We used them for one day, what a waste of $1,000. Their little feet are to

stiff in them. didn't need a tenotomy, but I still didn't want the

dorsiflex to decrease, and it seems that if he wasn't able to move his ankles

those muscles would either atrophy or become stiff from lack of movement.

11/19/04

Faun Try wrote:

So I am still new at this, but I am having problems with the DBB and

the Markell shoes, is there any alternative to the Markell shoes? I've

looked thru the DBB file and it seems like some parents have used

different shoes. I would like to look into that option. Thank you!

Faun

[Guest guest]

Faun,

The PM's are an option for you. However first I would like to see if

we can figure out WHY you're having these problems. It may be that

you won't need them, although I do like them a lot. The Markell

shoes are a perfectly fine shoe that works for most properly

corrected CF babies. Let's see if we can start with that and find

the root cause of this k?

Like the others said, we can help you much better if you are able to

send us some pictures of her feet and brace. If you don't have

anything already (and even if you do, these are best to be able to

see what may or may not be going on) please take this series of pictures:

1 - (2 photos) From the front AND back directly while she bears

weight and stands as naturally as she can. You will have to hold her

up and let her stand for this, have another person take a picture

directly on from her knees down. (get close to the floor)

2 - From the outside each clubfoot while she stands. (again, close

to the floor)

3 - One each (or both) of her soles

4 - One each, a profile view (from the side) with her leg straight

while you use your palm to push the toes as far up towards her head

as possible past " L " or Neutral. This is Dorsiflexion. How far past

L can the foot be pushed? (baby may push against you so give a tickle

or otherwise distract and bend the knee back and forth if there is

resistance, baby will give in eventually and let it relax).

5 - baby wearing DBB as you normally put it on (whole baby

please! Let's see that face!)

6 - Any pictures you have of baby in casts, particularly the last

cast. Did you happen to save it?

There very well may be a reason for this that we could troubleshoot

for you with any of these pictures. It may involve some things you

weren't aware were possible but I promise you, there IS a solution

and it's going to be figured out soon :~}

If you can tell us more about her treatment as well, that would also

help. Did we find out where you are and who her doctor is? There

may be other parents here who have experiences with your area and

doctors there. Insurance will be something you will want to consider

in regards to different shoes as they are more expensive than the

ones you have now. Which I will reiterate, work well for MOST

babies. Other shoes are always an option and I love them personally,

but if insurance is an issue or if you're working with Shriners there

is cost to consider as well.

ok, I'll check back later and also email you my phone number. We'll

figure this out, you're right where you need to be now :~}

Hang in there, we know how tough this is!

Kori

At 09:15 AM 3/20/2006, you wrote:

>So I am still new at this, but I am having problems with the DBB and

>the Markell shoes, is there any alternative to the Markell shoes? I've

>looked thru the DBB file and it seems like some parents have used

>different shoes. I would like to look into that option. Thank you!

>

>Faun

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[Guest guest]

Faun,

I just wanted to add to what the others have said. There are usually

three reasons that the Markell shoes do not work:

1) Incomplete correction or very atypical feet

2) User error

3) Brace set up wrong

We can help you with any/all of these.

As for the AFO's - the main problem with a traditional AFO is that

while it appears to be a better solution for a unilateral case - it is

far from it. The AFO by itself cannot hold the external rotation of

the foot. Clubfoot is a multi-dimensional deformity and can and will

relapse unless all planes of the foot are held in the brace.

Hope to see you posting photos soon so we can help you figure this

thing out!

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

> >So I am still new at this, but I am having problems with the DBB and

> >the Markell shoes, is there any alternative to the Markell shoes? I've

> >looked thru the DBB file and it seems like some parents have used

> >different shoes. I would like to look into that option. Thank you!

> >

> >Faun

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >