Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 It took my daughter about 2 weeks to fully adjust to her brace. She was 13 months old when she got hers and was very unhappy about it. Hopefully things will settle in for you soon. Jenni mmg174 wrote: My son is 12 weeks old and we just got the brace last friday. He's been wearing it for 5 days, and he just HATES it. He was so happy and smiley before and now he's become very fussy and clingy. I know it's the brace because when I take it off, he goes back to normal. He screams bloody murder every time I put it on him, and it breaks my heart. I've been checking his feet, but I don't see anything that can be causing him pain. I've been back to the orthapedist and to the orthodics place where we got the brace and they both say he just has to get used to it. When exactly will that happen? Jenni- Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in FAB nights only for left clubfoot. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 First of all, welcome to the group! We're glad you found your way over here. I can't tell you *exactly* when your little one will adjust to the DBB/FAB, but hopefully I can give you some help that will start moving things in that direction. It's not unusual for a baby new to the FAB to be uncomfortable and unhappy for the first few days, if it keeps being a source of constant crying though, there's usually something not quite right with either the brace set-up or the correction of the feet. The easiest problem to solve (and one of the most common issues) is that the bar on the FAB is too short. Most babies are most comfortable when the heels of the shoes are about the same distance as the width of their shoulders. When your son is not wearing his FAB, try to lie him down between the shoes; if his shoulders fit, your FAB is set up correctly. It sounds like he is not getting any sores or blisters on his feet--that's a good sign! It means that more likely than not his feet are well-corrected and you are getting the shoes on correctly and that's most of the battle right there. Can you tell us a little about your son's treatment and who the treating physician is? Here is a link to an FAB " Tips and Tricks " document that might help you troubleshoot any problem areas: http://members.tripod.com/ponseti_links-ivil/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles\ /fab_tips_10_05_05.pdf You are doing a wonderful thing for your son by being so diligent about having him wear the FAB even though it is heartbreaking. Believe me when I tell you that you are not the first one who has wanted to chuck the whole darn contraption out the window... Please let us know if there are other questions you have or other things we can help you with. We wish you much success. Naomi The Family, North Coast of California Naomi Hannah(2/21/1) Jonah(6/20/3, corrected BCF, FAB 12-14/7) mmg174 wrote: My son is 12 weeks old and we just got the brace last friday. He's been wearing it for 5 days, and he just HATES it. He was so happy and smiley before and now he's become very fussy and clingy. I know it's the brace because when I take it off, he goes back to normal. He screams bloody murder every time I put it on him, and it breaks my heart. I've been checking his feet, but I don't see anything that can be causing him pain. I've been back to the orthapedist and to the orthodics place where we got the brace and they both say he just has to get used to it. When exactly will that happen? __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Hi there, hey it's very possible the brace is not set up properly. No.1 on the list is bar width - are his heels shoulder width apart? His actual heels, not the heel of the shoe. no.2, were his feet set out to 70 degrees in his last cast and now at 70 degrees in the brace? (should be) no. 3, wouldn't be the brace at all, it mgiht be set perfectly but his feet were not perfect before going in the brace. any of that help? hope so! s. DBB My son is 12 weeks old and we just got the brace last friday. He's been wearing it for 5 days, and he just HATES it. He was so happy and smiley before and now he's become very fussy and clingy. I know it's the brace because when I take it off, he goes back to normal. He screams bloody murder every time I put it on him, and it breaks my heart. I've been checking his feet, but I don't see anything that can be causing him pain. I've been back to the orthapedist and to the orthodics place where we got the brace and they both say he just has to get used to it. When exactly will that happen? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.4/363 - Release Date: 6/13/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 We had the same problem with these shoes the first time he was in these shoes was 8 days then the second time was 3 weeks. I decided to get a second opinion, now we go to Shriners in St. Louis to see Dr. Dobbs, been there 3 times, my son was in and out of cast until March this year he was 8 months. If you got any question you can email me at bltarver@.... When we did get second opinion the bar was two short and the shoe wasn't set at 70 degree, Dobbs casted him for two weeks then we went back and got his new brace. The doctor was using the soft cast that I can take off my self almost like a ace bandage but Dobbs put on plaster cast. Email with any question Larissa and 7-15-05 mmg174 wrote: My son is 12 weeks old and we just got the brace last friday. He's been wearing it for 5 days, and he just HATES it. He was so happy and smiley before and now he's become very fussy and clingy. I know it's the brace because when I take it off, he goes back to normal. He screams bloody murder every time I put it on him, and it breaks my heart. I've been checking his feet, but I don't see anything that can be causing him pain. I've been back to the orthapedist and to the orthodics place where we got the brace and they both say he just has to get used to it. When exactly will that happen? __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 I second what Naomi said here. While it is certainly possible that he is just trying to adjust to the brace and will calm down in a few days, I see 5 days with true unhappiness virtually all the time in the brace as a sign that something is wrong. Naomi is absolutely right about the bar length -- that is the 1st thing that should always be checked in a situation like this. There are lots of orthotists who just don't really have the knowledge about how the brace should be set up, where we as parents have been there done that and believe me, the tried and true works, heels shoulder width apart. And if the bar is not the adjustable type, you'll want to contact your orthotist to get a longer one. And if one setting is just a little too narrow, and the next is just a bit wider than the shoulders? Wider is better. Please keep us posted if you have more questions or if this does not seem to be the issue. Let us know how we can help! Mom to Jenna (4/7/01) & Sammy (9/25/04, RCF, Dobbs brace 12-14hrs/day) My son is 12 weeks old and we just got the brace last friday. He's > been wearing it for 5 days, and he just HATES it. He was so happy and > smiley before and now he's become very fussy and clingy. I know it's > the brace because when I take it off, he goes back to normal. He > screams bloody murder every time I put it on him, and it breaks my > heart. > I've been checking his feet, but I don't see anything that can be > causing him pain. I've been back to the orthapedist and to the > orthodics place where we got the brace and they both say he just has > to get used to it. > When exactly will that happen? > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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