New Mom, Son has clubbed feet

[Guest guest]

I am looking for some support. My son is 3.5 months old and we've

been through the casting, then moved onto the bar, which we didn't

use. SO, back to casts for one week, and tonight is our first night

doing the bar. He has screamed for literally 5 hours straight without

stopping no matter what we do. He's got blisters on he backs of his

heels from trying to get out of the bar. It's 4 hours past his

bedtime and the poor baby can't sleep.

Someone just tell me it does get better. Anyone have a child who was

hysterical every time the bar was on in the beginning? When do they

learn to accept it?

This is just breaking my heart.

Thank you for any information/support. We're having such a rough time.

[Guest guest]

My son just turned 2. When we put him in the braces for the first

time after the casts we thought we were prepared. His screamed and

cried for 3 days. I literally walked him, talked to him, cuddled

him, and just listened to him - and yes it did break my heart. But

I knew that it would pass and that it had to happen in order for him

to live a normal life. Keep your goal in mind. After the 2nd or

3rd day he finally took a nap in our swing. After a week he finally

mellowed out to start sleeping at night. It was a bad week - at

least for us. If your baby is like ours was try to find someone you

trust and let them watch the baby so you can take a nap and " rest

up " . As for the blisters, how bad are they? You've been using

socks that fit well and don't bunch up? Have you tried the socks

with the little grippers on the bottom? And try to make sure that

the heel is ALL the way in the back of the shoe as you can (which

can be VERY difficult). I tried tying the laces from the top down

too.

Also, I just joined this group and received " Kori's Tips for putting

the FAB on a wiggly baby. . . " That is a really good source to

look at. I wish I'd had it when Myles was born. It would have made

things so much better for me.

>

> I am looking for some support. My son is 3.5 months old and we've

> been through the casting, then moved onto the bar, which we didn't

> use. SO, back to casts for one week, and tonight is our first

night

> doing the bar. He has screamed for literally 5 hours straight

without

> stopping no matter what we do. He's got blisters on he backs of

his

> heels from trying to get out of the bar. It's 4 hours past his

> bedtime and the poor baby can't sleep.

>

> Someone just tell me it does get better. Anyone have a child who

was

> hysterical every time the bar was on in the beginning? When do

they

> learn to accept it?

>

> This is just breaking my heart.

>

> Thank you for any information/support. We're having such a rough

time.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi there - our first night in the brace was very difficult. Our son slept about

20 minutes at a time and cried when he wasn't sleeping. I knew it was not a

pain cry, so we persisted until the morning. The next day he seemed to accept

his fate and was fine with it after that. Good luck!

mom2jackmilo wrote: I

am looking for some support. My son is 3.5 months old and we've

been through the casting, then moved onto the bar, which we didn't

use. SO, back to casts for one week, and tonight is our first night

doing the bar. He has screamed for literally 5 hours straight without

stopping no matter what we do. He's got blisters on he backs of his

heels from trying to get out of the bar. It's 4 hours past his

bedtime and the poor baby can't sleep.

Someone just tell me it does get better. Anyone have a child who was

hysterical every time the bar was on in the beginning? When do they

learn to accept it?

This is just breaking my heart.

Thank you for any information/support. We're having such a rough time.

---------------------------------

The best gets better. See why everyone is raving about the All-new Yahoo! Mail.

[Guest guest]

Ah, so you learned the hard way at the FAB is a very necessary part of the

treatment...I'm sorry. It's so much harder on an older baby than an infant to

adjust to wearing it.

I have a few suggestions but mostly everyone else already covered the

bases...check out Kori's Tip sheet of course.

Be sure the FAB is set up correctly -feet shoulder width apart, etc. If you're

not sure on all that write back for more details.

Be sure his feet are ready for the FAB. If they are not corrected properly no

amount of time or tips will help him wear the FAB,it will hurt.

Get the blisters healed, even if it means a healing cast, those can generate in

to horrible infections so quick, been there done that.

Consider getting the FAB instead of the Markell FAB.

The FAB is 80% of your correction. The doctor can fix the feet but with out the

FAB there is no way they will stay fixed, as you know now. It's hard sometimes

but keep your eyes on the prize. It will get better.

ee

Mother of 3 Clubfooted Sons:

- Bilateral Club Feet April 1998

Everett - Bilateral Club Feet September 2003

Garrison - Bilateral Club Feet March 2006

Visit us on the Web!

www.WildlifeRevivalTaxidermy.com

New Mom, Son has clubbed feet

I am looking for some support. My son is 3.5 months old and we've

been through the casting, then moved onto the bar, which we didn't

use. SO, back to casts for one week, and tonight is our first night

doing the bar. He has screamed for literally 5 hours straight without

stopping no matter what we do. He's got blisters on he backs of his

heels from trying to get out of the bar. It's 4 hours past his

bedtime and the poor baby can't sleep.

Someone just tell me it does get better. Anyone have a child who was

hysterical every time the bar was on in the beginning? When do they

learn to accept it?

This is just breaking my heart.

Thank you for any information/support. We're having such a rough time.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/389 - Release Date: 7/14/2006

[Guest guest]

Hi,

It does get better but it could take a few days with every day getting a

little easier. Make sure that the shoes are on very tight. Often, shoes that

are on even a little too loosely can cause blisters because they allow the

foot to move. It doesn't take much motion to cause the blistering.

In order to make it a little easier on our daughter we treated the DBB as a

toy, banging it on the floor and making noise with it which went a long way.

That was a suggestion that Dr. Ponseti gave us based on his experience with

many babies. Within a short time she learned to kick with both legs an

amused herself.

Hang in there because it will be well worth it. There are files on this

board that may offer more help.

Dan

[Guest guest]

You've already received some good tips. I just wanted to echo that it

WILL get better. It's so hard, 23/7 - but really, before you know it,

your little one will only be wearing it at nights/naps - and that's

REALLY no biggy. My oldest was born with clubfoot. He is almost four

(this month) and I'm not lying when I say this is just a part of our

nightly routine, and he NEVER asks NOT to wear it. He doesn't even

question it. I swear he thinks all people wear shoes to bed. Once you

get everything ironed out (feet are fully corrected, DBB is set

correctly, and then allow for adjustment time) this stage of your

journey WILL feel like a distant memory - it really will!

Hugs to you!

Holly

Zachary

Treated by Dr. Ponseti

DBB Nights Only

>

> Ah, so you learned the hard way at the FAB is a very necessary part

of the treatment...I'm sorry. It's so much harder on an older baby

than an infant to adjust to wearing it.

>

> I have a few suggestions but mostly everyone else already covered

the bases...check out Kori's Tip sheet of course.

>

> Be sure the FAB is set up correctly -feet shoulder width apart, etc.

If you're not sure on all that write back for more details.

>

> Be sure his feet are ready for the FAB. If they are not corrected

properly no amount of time or tips will help him wear the FAB,it will

hurt.

>

> Get the blisters healed, even if it means a healing cast, those can

generate in to horrible infections so quick, been there done that.

>

> Consider getting the FAB instead of the Markell FAB.

>

> The FAB is 80% of your correction. The doctor can fix the feet but

with out the FAB there is no way they will stay fixed, as you know

now. It's hard sometimes but keep your eyes on the prize. It will

get better.

>

>

> ee

> Mother of 3 Clubfooted Sons:

> - Bilateral Club Feet April 1998

> Everett - Bilateral Club Feet September 2003

> Garrison - Bilateral Club Feet March 2006

>

> Visit us on the Web!

> www.WildlifeRevivalTaxidermy.com

> New Mom, Son has clubbed feet

>

>

> I am looking for some support. My son is 3.5 months old and we've

> been through the casting, then moved onto the bar, which we didn't

> use. SO, back to casts for one week, and tonight is our first night

> doing the bar. He has screamed for literally 5 hours straight without

> stopping no matter what we do. He's got blisters on he backs of his

> heels from trying to get out of the bar. It's 4 hours past his

> bedtime and the poor baby can't sleep.

>

> Someone just tell me it does get better. Anyone have a child who was

> hysterical every time the bar was on in the beginning? When do they

> learn to accept it?

>

> This is just breaking my heart.

>

> Thank you for any information/support. We're having such a rough time.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/389 - Release Date:

7/14/2006

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am SO sorry your little one is having such a difficult time. I know

how hard it is for him and heartbreaking for you.

You already got some good info, and I second it all.. it does get

easier!

I do want add a caveat, though, and say that being 'persistently

miserable' is NOT normal, or part of the deal and something " to be

expected. " It's not. Yes, babies often have an adjustment period (a

day or two or a week or so), but even that isn't a given. guess what

I'm trying to say is the brace is NOT a torture device that you have

to subject your child to. IF the feet have been fully corrected

AND the bar has been set up right, the adjustment should come along

soon. Extreme difficulty adjusting, though, can be a sign that a

baby's feet weren't completely corrected in the first place, or that

the brace is not correctly sized or fitted to the baby.

Did his feet look corrected to you when the last cast came off

before? How about after this most recent one? Do you have any doubts?

May we ask where and by which doc your son is being treated?

I'm not saying this is the case with your baby, but in my years here,

many times a baby has been put through the wringer trying to wear the

brace when the feet weren't fully corrected.. and it's such a shame.

I hope we might hear from you soon saying that he's adjusted and

doing much better! (that happens a lot too!)

but if not, we're here to help and hope we can help you resolve this

soon,

with concern,

and Claire

>

> I am looking for some support. My son is 3.5 months old and we've

> been through the casting, then moved onto the bar, which we didn't

> use. SO, back to casts for one week, and tonight is our first

night

> doing the bar. He has screamed for literally 5 hours straight

without

> stopping no matter what we do. He's got blisters on he backs of

his

> heels from trying to get out of the bar. It's 4 hours past his

> bedtime and the poor baby can't sleep.

>

> Someone just tell me it does get better. Anyone have a child who

was

> hysterical every time the bar was on in the beginning? When do

they

> learn to accept it?

>

> This is just breaking my heart.

>

> Thank you for any information/support. We're having such a rough

time.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Mason had a hard time with his shoes too. He didn't really mind

them during the day, but at night it was a huge ordeal. I have a few

tips for you, put 2 pairs of socks on your little one, at least for

the first few days. The sock that is against his skin should be a

thin tight fitting sock and the outer one should be thicker terry

cloth. This will protect his feet and help them heal. Also, I used

neosporin on Mason's feet when they first came out of the casts and

that seemed to provide some relief. And, my absolute best advice

(which I still use this now when Mason is cranky and fights his

shoes)....take the shoes off and get your little guy to sleep. Once

he is asleep and in bed, gently put the shoes on without waking him.

Chances are he'll sleep a few hours before he even realizes he's

wearing them which means you'll get a few hours of sleep too. Keep in

mind that the first few times you try this he may awaken. Be patient,

I know that can be hard when you are exhausted. Mason is so used to

me putting his shoes on while he is asleep that he actually helps and

pushes his own feet in without ever waking up! Some nights that is a

godsend!

>

> I am looking for some support. My son is 3.5 months old and we've

> been through the casting, then moved onto the bar, which we didn't

> use. SO, back to casts for one week, and tonight is our first

night

> doing the bar. He has screamed for literally 5 hours straight

without

> stopping no matter what we do. He's got blisters on he backs of

his

> heels from trying to get out of the bar. It's 4 hours past his

> bedtime and the poor baby can't sleep.

>

> Someone just tell me it does get better. Anyone have a child who

was

> hysterical every time the bar was on in the beginning? When do

they

> learn to accept it?

>

> This is just breaking my heart.

>

> Thank you for any information/support. We're having such a rough

time.

>