Re: Slight plagiocephaly in Central Illinois

February 1, 2010

Hi! I'm also in IL, but more north, closer to Chicago. My son is getting his DOC band in a week and he's 10 months old. I wished I would have gone sooner. My ped kept saying the same thing, that it should start rounding out, but it never did. Finally at his 9 month check up, the ped said we should go since it's not rounding out. I'm glad we are finally doing it, I was told we can still get a decent result. Though I think it's great if you can start sooner. I went with Cranial Tech, sorry I don't know anything about the other ones near you. Good luck! From: andreamgress <andreagress@...>Subject: "Slight" plagiocephaly in Central

IllinoisPlagiocephaly Date: Monday, February 1, 2010, 7:10 PM

Hi everyone, I'm new to this group and have a few questions. My 4-month old son was just diagnosed with "slight" plagiocephaly and I'm not finding much support amongst my family and friends because none of them have had to deal with plagiocephaly. I would consider my son's flatness to be "moderate" instead of slight but either way, his head is flat with a small curve at the bottom and a bump above each ear. I'm assuming the bumps are caused by his bones moving in the wrong direction. His regular pediatrician said it would correct itself once my son started sitting up and relieving the pressure. I wasn't comfortable with "waiting" so I got a second opinion. That pediatrician said the flatness was "prominent" and recommended we schedule an appt. with a plagiocephaly treatment facility. What are your opinions about letting mild to moderate plagiocephaly correct on its own? Has anyone had success? If so, how long did it take? I have been

repositioning and trying to keep him off his head for almost a month now. I have seen improvement but not enough to keep me from worrying about it. He has at least 2-3 months before can sit up on his own plus, he attends daycare during the week. I have talked to them about keeping him off his head but there's only so much they can realistically do. I'm in the central IL area and have found two different treatment facilities; the Plattner Orthopedic Co. in Peoria, IL and Hanger Helmet in Peoria, IL. Has anyone been to either one? I appreciate any and all comments! The situation has me completely stressed out. Thank you!!! :)

February 2, 2010

Welcome to the group. I'm still pretty new myself, but I've found a lot of

information on this site from other members. Most of the advice that I've seen

is that no one can help you make the decision about what's best for your child.

My son, Riley, got his doc band three weeks ago at four months old. He has

severe brachy and has the bumps on his side burns that you commented on. I

would try to look at your child objectively and answer the question...if his

never improves from where it is today would you regret not seeking treatment?

Our ped mentioned putting Riley in a helmet at his one month appointment...I was

very skeptical, but after researching it and doing the self-assessment on

cranial technology's website, I felt more convinced. I can honestly say that it

was the best choice for our family. We started noticing a change in the back of

his head and his " side burns " within a week. The biggest part for me...I

finally stopped feeling guilty everytime I put him down and quit worrying about

how much tummy time he was getting at daycare. I'd recommend that you keep

doing what you're doing...ask questions and keep researching! You'll find the

right answer for YOU!!! Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide.

>

> From: andreamgress <andreagress@...>

> Subject: " Slight " plagiocephaly in Central Illinois

> Plagiocephaly

> Date: Monday, February 1, 2010, 7:10 PM

>

> Â

>

> Hi everyone, I'm new to this group and have a few questions. My 4-month

old son was just diagnosed with " slight " plagiocephaly and I'm not finding much

support amongst my family and friends because none of them have had to deal with

plagiocephaly. I would consider my son's flatness to be " moderate " instead of

slight but either way, his head is flat with a small curve at the bottom and a

bump above each ear. I'm assuming the bumps are caused by his bones moving in

the wrong direction. His regular pediatrician said it would correct itself once

my son started sitting up and relieving the pressure. I wasn't comfortable with

" waiting " so I got a second opinion. That pediatrician said the flatness was

" prominent " and recommended we schedule an appt. with a plagiocephaly treatment

facility. What are your opinions about letting mild to moderate plagiocephaly

correct on its own? Has anyone had success? If so, how long did it take? I

have been

> repositioning and trying to keep him off his head for almost a month now. I

have seen improvement but not enough to keep me from worrying about it. He has

at least 2-3 months before can sit up on his own plus, he attends daycare during

the week. I have talked to them about keeping him off his head but there's only

so much they can realistically do. I'm in the central IL area and have found

two different treatment facilities; the Plattner Orthopedic Co. in Peoria, IL

and Hanger Helmet in Peoria, IL. Has anyone been to either one? I appreciate

any and all comments! The situation has me completely stressed out. Thank

you!!! :)

>

February 3, 2010

Hi,

My daughter's head was more on the severe side, so it was a little easier for us

to make the decision that we definitely needed the helmet. However, we didn't

get it until 6 months, which is still a good time to get the helmet. We tried

repositioning from 4 1/2 months till she got the helmet at 6 months. We got a

prescription from a specialist (cranio-facial) for our daycare for the

repositioning so that they really had to do everything they could to keep our

daughter off her head. The prescription also allowed us to take a bumbo seat to

daycare, where in most cases, they aren't allowed to have them there. So

anytime they would have put her in a bouncy seat or swing or on her back, they

used the bumbo instead. At about 4 1/2 months, she started using the exersaucer

too. We also got a neck pillow for the swing so that she was able to use the

swing again eventually too. And then we provided towel rolls to prop her up so

that she would be sleeping on her side. Normally, the daycare wouldn't be

allowed to do that, but in this case they were. Just thought that some of these

suggestions might help - I know that the director of the daycare said that since

it was a medical need, these things were ok. Good luck making your decision.

Our helmet experience has been very positive. The good thing about a mild to

moderate case of plagio is that the helmet might not have to be worn as long.

But if you get one, I suggest following instructions very well and you'll get

results faster.

> >

> > From: andreamgress <andreagress@>

> > Subject: " Slight " plagiocephaly in Central Illinois

> > Plagiocephaly

> > Date: Monday, February 1, 2010, 7:10 PM

> >

> > Â

> >

> > Hi everyone, I'm new to this group and have a few questions. My

4-month old son was just diagnosed with " slight " plagiocephaly and I'm not

finding much support amongst my family and friends because none of them have had

to deal with plagiocephaly. I would consider my son's flatness to be " moderate "

instead of slight but either way, his head is flat with a small curve at the

bottom and a bump above each ear. I'm assuming the bumps are caused by his bones

moving in the wrong direction. His regular pediatrician said it would correct

itself once my son started sitting up and relieving the pressure. I wasn't

comfortable with " waiting " so I got a second opinion. That pediatrician said

the flatness was " prominent " and recommended we schedule an appt. with a

plagiocephaly treatment facility. What are your opinions about letting mild to

moderate plagiocephaly correct on its own? Has anyone had success? If so, how

long did it take? I have been

> > repositioning and trying to keep him off his head for almost a month now. I

have seen improvement but not enough to keep me from worrying about it. He has

at least 2-3 months before can sit up on his own plus, he attends daycare during

the week. I have talked to them about keeping him off his head but there's only

so much they can realistically do. I'm in the central IL area and have found

two different treatment facilities; the Plattner Orthopedic Co. in Peoria, IL

and Hanger Helmet in Peoria, IL. Has anyone been to either one? I appreciate

any and all comments! The situation has me completely stressed out. Thank

you!!! :)

> >

>

February 3, 2010

Hi, this is also my first time to the group. My daughter just got the imaging

done for her DOC band yesterday so we will have it in 2 wks. She is a little

over 6months old. We were referred to a specialist at 4months and he Rx the

helmet and PT. We agonized over what to do because we got so much conflicting

info. (i.e. " It will work itself out " " She is a girl so her hair will cover it "

" It is a moneymaking scheme " etc.) I was getting TMJ from grinding my teeth at

night because I was so stressed out and felt guilty everytime I had her in the

carseat or laying down. Finally we got a second opinion from another specialist

which helped us make our decision. We decided if the insurance would cover much

of it (which it did) then we would get it. And I am so glad we have decided to

do it. I think it looks worse than ever and I can't wait to get started. Even my

mother-in-law who was initially against it, after going to Cranial Tech with me

she is totally on board.

So I feel your stress and agony!!! Don't worry, you will make the right decision

and he will be fine. No matter what, get second, third, fourth opinions if

necessary!!! We saw two specialists and two pediatricians and I feel so much

better about everything.

> > >

> > > From: andreamgress <andreagress@>

> > > Subject: " Slight " plagiocephaly in Central Illinois

> > > Plagiocephaly

> > > Date: Monday, February 1, 2010, 7:10 PM

> > >

> > > Â

> > >

> > > Hi everyone, I'm new to this group and have a few questions. My