Relapse in older children

[Guest guest]

Hello my name is , I've been a lurker for a few months and I

have to say this group is absolutely wonderful and an amazing place

for information. Here is my situation/questions. My son, Noah,

just turned 4 in March. He was born with bilateral clubfoot and

treated using the Ponseti method by Dr. in Tucson, Az when he

was a baby. He wore the DBB until he was about 2 years old, we had

problems keeping it on him, he'd take it off himself in the middle of

the night. We moved from AZ to OH last year and my husband

switched jobs and during a period of time we did not have insurance

and this is when Noah's feet, mainly is right foot started to signs of

it relapsing. I searched ALL over for a doctor in Ohio that does that

Ponseti method. We live in n, Ohio and I found out there are

really only a couple, on in Cleveland and one in Cincinnati. So we

chose the one in Cincinnati @ the Children's hospital. I thought he'd

be seeing Dr. Von Stein but he is seeing a Dr. Tamai. He's started

with serial casting again, he is on his 2nd set right now. Here is my

concern/question.

What is the outcome usually like when an older child is treated using

serial casting for a relapse? What step is next? Dr. Tamai has said

a few different things but has not been very clear on what exactly it

will be. Is the ATTT or tendon lengthing absolutely necessary in a

relapse case? Is it more difficult on a child my son's age? I've

heard that it can complicate things and actually make his foot worse.

Please help.. I just want some advice/stories etc, I want to make sure

I'm making the right choice when it comes to his treatment. Noah's

right foot was slightly turning in and is kind of tight but he never

has had any problems with walking/running/etc and his flexibility

seems decent. It's better in his left foot though.

Has anyone else dealt with Cincinnati Children's? And Dr. Tamai? It's

almost a 3 hour drive each way for us each week and I want to make

sure we are going the right course and not wasting time/money and most

of all possibly not doing what is best for Noah.

Has anyone out there had a child my son's age have a relapse and be

corrected WITHOUT any type of surgery needed?

Thank you in advance. I truly appreciate this group. It's so nice to

have somewhere to vent/talk about this where someone actually

understands and knows what I'm going thru!

Noah - 03/21/02 bilateral clubfoot

Krystina - 08/10/98