Update on /Dr. Frick

[Guest guest]

had her check-up today with Dr. Frick. She just turned 2. Yikes, where

did the time go. Anyway, as many of you know, we saw Dr. Herzenberg, but we

just moved to Charlotte, NC. Dr. H recommended us to Dr. Frick. I guess they

are writing a paper together on patients who start with a bad doctor (like many

of us) who then switch to a qualified doc in the method. I didn't ask for more

details on the paper. I am just getting to know him at this point.

Anyhoo, he said 's feet look great. Her dorsiflexion is excellent, 15-20

(I think). He said he wished all of his clubfoot patients feet look as good. I

found that interesting because Dr. H said the same thing at her last check-up

with him 6 months ago. I also mentioned how strict we are with the brace, etc.

etc.

Here is where I have an issue. He said he tells his patients they must wear

the brace until at least 2. At that point, he will evaluate and determine if

they need to wear them longer. Okay, HELLO! Is he not with the program? Isn't

he writing a paper with Dr. H? At the very least, he should be telling patients

definitely 3 years. At age 3, evaluate and determine if continued FAB wear is

necessary. Which many of us agree, probably. Better safe than sorry. I told

him, we will continue the FAB until at least 4. At that point, I (not Dr. Frick

apparently) will decide if she needs to wear the FAB longer. I may even go to

Dr. H. at that point to see when he thinks she can be released.

Okay, it gets more interesting....................After my appointment, there

were 2 moms in the waiting room with newborn clubfoot babies. So, nosey me,

went on over and started chatting. Both of them are in the casting stage. They

were both very curious about the s. Neither of them knew what was

coming next in the treatment process as far as the FAB goes. Well, they know

they get the brace, but have never seen either the Markells and certainly not

the s. Anyway, I wanted to know about each of their treatments thus

far. (I am sooooo nosey)!! The one mom told me her sons feet were diagnosed as

very severe. Dr. Frick told her that at 2 years her son may need surgery anyway

because of the severity. My eyes lit up like the Rockerfeller Center Xmas tree.

So he is assuming his own treatment will be a failure? I didn't want to burst

her bubble because I am no doctor and I have already butt in her business.

Then, she continued to tell me that he said the FAB

wear will be nights and naps only. I said after the first 3 months of 23/7.

She said, he never mentioned the 23/7 FAB wear. Now, I truly have to believe

(hoping anyway) that she just misheard him describing the treatment process.

You know, doctors tend to babble and your mind starts to wonder, then all you

hear is the end part. The other mother also said Dr. Frick told her 2 years in

the FAB. I said, I wouldn't count on it, but I am no doctor. I don't know

these people. They probably walked into their appointment saying, this lady in

the waiting room said blah, blah, blah..............Ugh!!!!

I am not here to bash Dr. Frick. I also have to think he is relatively

conpetent if he is working with Dr. Herzenberg. In addition, he is on Ponseti's

list of qualified docs. I also think he would be able to identify a regression

or something wrong. I will continue our check-ups with him, but I question the

treatment process for the newbies.

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