Re: Need Plagio Advice

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Yes, I would pursue treatment. I know it is expensive, but spending

the money now is much better than regretting it for years. Perhaps,

there is someone else on this list who can give you advice on treating

in Hawaii.

-Kathy, mom to 22.5 months, treated for plagio since 12 months

and 5.5 years with untreated very mild plagio

hibrg1 wrote:

New to this group and in much need of help/advice.

My 5 month old son (born 11/8/09), has plagiocephaly/torticollis.

Wife and I learned of his ailment while performing Internet research on

his unusual head shape at 2 1/2 months old. At which time, We

immediately started stretching exercises and repositioning.

Pediatrician with the urging from us diagnosed the plagiocephaly and

torticollis at his 3 month check up. The doctor was not concern about

plagiocephaly and instructed us to continue with repositioning.

Physical therapy was prescribed for torticollis. Thanks to PT

(stretching, strengthening exercises as prescribed by therapist), the

torticollis is basically resolved. Son has full neck motion and has met

all physical development milestones. However, I see only a little

improvement with plagiocephaly. Ear, forehead, and check are still

pushed forward on his right side.

I'm currently stuck in a dilemma. I see his plagiocephaly as possible

being moderate and in need of band/helmet intervention, but do not know

for sure as they are no cranial clinics or specialists locally (in

Hawaii) to assist with a diagnosis. Additionally, the pediatric

community in Hawaii is highly against helmet treatment weather the

plagiocephaly is mild, moderate or severe, so obtain a prescription

locally appears impossible. The nearest area where treatment/prescription

are available is Southern California. Before wife and I start the

expensive band therapy journey (insurance will not cover any of the

costs), I wish for member to take a look at son's photos (list in

photos folder ) and let me know what you believe his condition to

be and would they pursue band treatment. Please add any other advice or

questions you have.

Thanks and Aloha,

[Guest guest]

What I see is a pretty significant plagio, but no brachy. In my opinion, if you can afford to band, you should.

, mom to , 2.5 years

STARband grad May 2009

Chiro and CSt

land

Need Plagio Advice

New to this group and in much need of help/advice.My 5 month old son (born 11/8/09), has plagiocephaly/torticollis. Wife and I learned of his ailment while performing Internet research on his unusual head shape at 2 1/2 months old. At which time, We immediately started stretching exercises and repositioning. Pediatrician with the urging from us diagnosed the plagiocephaly and torticollis at his 3 month check up. The doctor was not concern about plagiocephaly and instructed us to continue with repositioning. Physical therapy was prescribed for torticollis. Thanks to PT (stretching, strengthening exercises as prescribed by therapist), the torticollis is basically resolved. Son has full neck motion and has met all physical development milestones. However, I see only a little improvement with plagiocephaly. Ear, forehead, and check are still pushed forward on his right side. I'm currently stuck in a dilemma. I see his plagiocephaly as possible being moderate and in need of band/helmet intervention, but do not know for sure as they are no cranial clinics or specialists locally (in Hawaii) to assist with a diagnosis. Additionally, the pediatric community in Hawaii is highly against helmet treatment weather the plagiocephaly is mild, moderate or severe, so obtain a prescription locally appears impossible. The nearest area where treatment/prescription are available is Southern California. Before wife and I start the expensive band therapy journey (insurance will not cover any of the costs), I wish for member to take a look at son's photos (list in photos folder ) and let me know what you believe his condition to be and would they pursue band treatment. Please add any other advice or questions you have.Thanks and Aloha,

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'll add that I talked with a dad at 's gym class.  He always comes

wearing a baseball hat.  Turns out he has plagio.  He told me he hated

it and glasses never fit properly with his unbalanced ears.  He showed

me his head and it looked about moderate.  His hair was thinning and I

could really see it.  His left eye is smaller than his right, just like

my older son's eyes. 

Best,

Kathy, mom to 22 months, and 5.5 months both now with very

mild plagio

wrote:

 

What  I see is a pretty significant plagio, but no brachy. In my

opinion, if you can afford to band, you should.

 

, mom to , 2.5 years

STARband grad May 2009

Chiro and CSt

land

 

Need Plagio Advice

 

New to this group and in much need of help/advice.

My 5 month old son (born 11/8/09), has plagiocephaly/torticollis.

Wife and I learned of his ailment while performing Internet research on

his unusual head shape at 2 1/2 months old. At which time, We

immediately started stretching exercises and repositioning.

Pediatrician with the urging from us diagnosed the plagiocephaly and

torticollis at his 3 month check up. The doctor was not concern about

plagiocephaly and instructed us to continue with repositioning.

Physical therapy was prescribed for torticollis. Thanks to PT

(stretching, strengthening exercises as prescribed by therapist), the

torticollis is basically resolved. Son has full neck motion and has met

all physical development milestones. However, I see only a little

improvement with plagiocephaly. Ear, forehead, and check are still

pushed forward on his right side.

I'm currently stuck in a dilemma. I see his plagiocephaly as possible

being moderate and in need of band/helmet intervention, but do not know

for sure as they are no cranial clinics or specialists locally (in

Hawaii) to assist with a diagnosis. Additionally, the pediatric

community in Hawaii is highly against helmet treatment weather the

plagiocephaly is mild, moderate or severe, so obtain a prescription

locally appears impossible. The nearest area where treatment/prescription

are available is Southern California. Before wife and I start the

expensive band therapy journey (insurance will not cover any of the

costs), I wish for member to take a look at son's photos (list in

photos folder ) and let me know what you believe his condition to

be and would they pursue band treatment. Please add any other advice or

questions you have.

Thanks and Aloha,

[Guest guest]

I agree with your assessment, moderate plagiocephaly, and would

proceed with expensive travel, even out of paradise. Kudos to you

for doing the research; this is a good time to be initiating

treatment. My Clara had a similar shape at that age, and we are

disappointed with the limited improvement we obtained with later

treatment at 16 months, though it was still worthwhile. (There's a

good DIY assessment tool at Cranial Technologies' website,

incidentally, if you haven't already pored over it.)

But you know, regarding the plagio expertise available in a given

place, " specialists " are neither alpha nor omega: have you inquired

at regular Orthotics and Prosthetics offices? Wheelchair stores? I

wouldn't put it past a pediatrician to lie about the availability of

an orthotist. Mine did. Is there no chance of a decent STARband

orthotist being there, who can refer you to a better pediatrician?

Repositioning... yeah, right! What are we expected to do, put a

football tee in the crib? Attach it to the occipital prominence with

super glue? You could indeed make an effort to do something like

that with a ring-shaped head support, and we have a company out East

here that makes cranial *cups* for newborns. But none of that's

going to do jack after 12 weeks or so, when a baby's head turns back

and forth as it pleases. As for us, we got up at night and flipped

Clara's head as best we could. I devised a fancy head roll: a

crocheted baby blanket rolled high on one side, folded double on the

other, single-ply under the prominence. Total waste of effort,

relative to the helmet. Possibly even had an adverse effect, by

placing a fulcrum under one of the coronal sutures.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara age 2 years, STARband grad

On Apr 17, 2010, at 4:25 PM, hibrg1 wrote:

> New to this group and in much need of help/advice.

>

> My 5 month old son (born 11/8/09), has plagiocephaly/torticollis.

> Wife and I learned of his ailment while performing Internet

> research on his unusual head shape at 2 1/2 months old. At which

> time, We immediately started stretching exercises and

> repositioning. Pediatrician with the urging from us diagnosed the

> plagiocephaly and torticollis at his 3 month check up. The doctor

> was not concern about plagiocephaly and instructed us to continue

> with repositioning. Physical therapy was prescribed for

> torticollis. Thanks to PT (stretching, strengthening exercises as

> prescribed by therapist), the torticollis is basically resolved.

> Son has full neck motion and has met all physical development

> milestones. However, I see only a little improvement with

> plagiocephaly. Ear, forehead, and check are still pushed forward

> on his right side.

>

> I'm currently stuck in a dilemma. I see his plagiocephaly as

> possible being moderate and in need of band/helmet intervention,

> but do not know for sure as they are no cranial clinics or

> specialists locally (in Hawaii) to assist with a diagnosis.

> Additionally, the pediatric community in Hawaii is highly against

> helmet treatment weather the plagiocephaly is mild, moderate or

> severe, so obtain a prescription locally appears impossible. The

> nearest area where treatment/prescription are available is Southern

> California. Before wife and I start the expensive band therapy

> journey (insurance will not cover any of the costs), I wish for

> member to take a look at son's photos (list in photos folder )

> and let me know what you believe his condition to be and would they

> pursue band treatment. Please add any other advice or questions

> you have.

>

> Thanks and Aloha,

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

I agree with the other posts.  I would proceed with treatment.  And at your son's age you could expect considerable correction.  But it seems unlikely that there is absolutely no orthotic bands available there in Hawaii.  I would definitely call every prothestics place you can find and maybe call other peds.  Hopefully you can find one locally.  Good luck.

On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 3:25 PM, hibrg1 <maind001@...> wrote:

 

New to this group and in much need of help/advice.

My 5 month old son (born 11/8/09), has plagiocephaly/torticollis. Wife and I learned of his ailment while performing Internet research on his unusual head shape at 2 1/2 months old. At which time, We immediately started stretching exercises and repositioning. Pediatrician with the urging from us diagnosed the plagiocephaly and torticollis at his 3 month check up. The doctor was not concern about plagiocephaly and instructed us to continue with repositioning. Physical therapy was prescribed for torticollis. Thanks to PT (stretching, strengthening exercises as prescribed by therapist), the torticollis is basically resolved. Son has full neck motion and has met all physical development milestones. However, I see only a little improvement with plagiocephaly. Ear, forehead, and check are still pushed forward on his right side.

I'm currently stuck in a dilemma. I see his plagiocephaly as possible being moderate and in need of band/helmet intervention, but do not know for sure as they are no cranial clinics or specialists locally (in Hawaii) to assist with a diagnosis. Additionally, the pediatric community in Hawaii is highly against helmet treatment weather the plagiocephaly is mild, moderate or severe, so obtain a prescription locally appears impossible. The nearest area where treatment/prescription are available is Southern California. Before wife and I start the expensive band therapy journey (insurance will not cover any of the costs), I wish for member to take a look at son's photos (list in photos folder ) and let me know what you believe his condition to be and would they pursue band treatment. Please add any other advice or questions you have.

Thanks and Aloha,