Update and more questions about my 2 yr old

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Hi-

I posted a couple months ago about my daughter Mia (2 yrs old,

unilateral left clubfoot) and received some really helpful replies

about what we saw as a possible relapse. Kori especially was so

helpful- and based on that, we decided to contact Dr. Ponseti after

we saw Dr. Noonan here in Wisconsin again.

What we found out, was that what we thought we were seeing (her foot

pointing inward) wasn't really what we should have been looking for-

we should have been looking for her heel to always touch down when

she walks. When we took her to see Dr. Noonan to discuss it, that

was what he said he was looking for. And he seemed more concerned

with what we were seeing than any observations he was making. He

basically said that based on our concerns, he recommended a tendon

lengthoning surgery under anesthesia at the end of this month,

followed by about six weeks of casting and then she would wear the

shoes only at night. He was going to make a mold of her foot so that

we could get the shoe because we told him that was what we

wanted to try this time (since we had SO much trouble keeping the

markell shoes on her feet when she was a baby).

SO- initially we made the appointment, but I didn't feel right about

it. I contacted Dr. Ponseti and showed him some pictures. When he

first wrote me back, he said that it looked like she was

dorsiflexing to a 5, which is usually sufficient. And that he did

NOT recommend a tendon lengthoning like Dr. Noonan wanted to do- he

said he could do a tenotomy on her with a LOCAL if her foot was

indeed reverting back.

Then yesterday I talked to his secretary about the consultation

appointment I made for Dr. P. to see her. After we got off the

phone, she wrote me that Dr. Ponseti reviewed our e-mails and

pictures again and decided that he will cast her at what was to be

our consultation appointment. She'll be recasted a week later, then

a week after that she'll have a tenotomy. Then she'll wear the cast

for 3 weeks after that.

I'm not sure what made him sure that this should be the course of

action, but we'll definitely go with what he says.

Is there anyone on the board who went through this procedure with a

2-yr old (or older?) Do you have any advice for us? We are SO

nervous about how our unbelievably active 2 yr old will deal with a

cast right when summer finally got here and she can finally go

outside and play But I do know this is all about the big picture

and not these few weeks. We can get through it, but I'm wondering if

anyone can give us advice for making it easier?? We are just really

nervous.

Also: do you think they will let me be in the room with her when she

has the tenotomy done? Because she'll be awake, I can't imagine

leaving her alone for that. I don't think I can do it.

And then the shoes: unlike Dr. Noonan who said she would wear the

shoes only at night " because walking all day stretches out the

tendon enough as it is " , is Dr. P. going to have her wear the

shoes all the time?

I know we'll find all of this out from him when we go to Iowa, but I

thought maybe some of you might be able to make this more clear for

me, and give us any advice you had...............sorry to write such

a book.....

Thanks in advance...........