Do I need to see a ped neurologist?

[Guest guest]

My pediatrician recommended getting a helmet and I am ready because my son is in

the " severe " plagio category based on our recent STAR visit. My question is

this: so many others seem to have been seen by a neurologist first to rule out

anything else. My ped seems to think my son is fine, though, other than his

flat spot. I didn't notice it until he brought it to my attention and his head

does look a bit unusual now that I'm not in denial. Any thoughts? His head is

in the 30%ile (but was a preemie) and he is 6 months old. The worrier in me

wonders if I need to rule out hydrocephalus or closing of his skull bones...??

Thanks for any input.

[Guest guest]

If you can, I'd see one just for peace of mine.  Our first neuro told us everything was fine twice, and we're still going to see another to make sure.

On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 2:43 PM, JUFGATOR <jufgator@...> wrote:

 

My pediatrician recommended getting a helmet and I am ready because my son is in the " severe " plagio category based on our recent STAR visit. My question is this: so many others seem to have been seen by a neurologist first to rule out anything else. My ped seems to think my son is fine, though, other than his flat spot. I didn't notice it until he brought it to my attention and his head does look a bit unusual now that I'm not in denial. Any thoughts? His head is in the 30%ile (but was a preemie) and he is 6 months old. The worrier in me wonders if I need to rule out hydrocephalus or closing of his skull bones...?? Thanks for any input.

-- http://kandidkatie.blogspot.com/ " Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up. "

" And I tell you, ask (and keep asking), and it will be given to you; seek (and keep seeking), and you will find; knock (and keep knocking), and it will be opened to you. " (Luke 11:9)Send words of encouragement to our armed forces: http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

Support your local businesses!Great sandwiches and food in Tempe! http://www.munchamania.com/Great Mexican food in north and south sdale! http://www.losolivosrestaurant.com/

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[Guest guest]

My ped automatically sent us to get xrays at my son's 1 month check up to make sure it was nothing but plagio. Can your ped just have you do that instead of going through a neurologist? I don't see the point of one unless it is determined by xrays or CT scan that it necessary...or at least that's my opinion.

From: JUFGATOR <jufgator@...>Subject: Do I need to see a ped neurologist?Plagiocephaly Date: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 5:43 PM

My pediatrician recommended getting a helmet and I am ready because my son is in the "severe" plagio category based on our recent STAR visit. My question is this: so many others seem to have been seen by a neurologist first to rule out anything else. My ped seems to think my son is fine, though, other than his flat spot. I didn't notice it until he brought it to my attention and his head does look a bit unusual now that I'm not in denial. Any thoughts? His head is in the 30%ile (but was a preemie) and he is 6 months old. The worrier in me wonders if I need to rule out hydrocephalus or closing of his skull bones...?? Thanks for any input.

[Guest guest]

,A simple exam can easily rule out premature fusing of the skull bones. From what I understand, the heads of babies with that problem, take on a trapezoid shape as opposed to a parallelogram shape that is the case with classic plagio. It is for this reason, that it is not easy to confuse the two and many peds are comfortable diagnosing plagio and writing scripts for bands. However, some peds(like my daughter's) refer patients to neurosurgeons. I believe that she did this because she didn't feel comfortable overseeing my daughter's correction. She definitely didn't know that much about plagio and didn't even know it's covered by some insurance companies and not considered just cosmetic as she asserted when I first brought up the issue. A neurosurgeon, not a neurologist is the

specialist you should see if you really feel like you need to see a specialist. He/she will do a simple visual exam and will know right away if there's something else going on. Only you know your ped. If you feel like he/she is knowledgeable, then you're probably okay. If you're worried because let's face it, sometimes docs are wrong, then ask for a referral. Our ped was dead wrong when she insisted that all my daughter needed from 2-6 months was "more tummy time" when she needed PT for tort and a band for severe plagio.Do what you feel is right. It never hurts to be overly cautious.Good luck!-Amy From: Kathleen Newton <ktlasers@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Thu, August 5, 2010 4:17:29 PMSubject: Re: Do I need to see a ped neurologist?

If you can, I'd see one just for peace of mine. Our first neuro told us everything was fine twice, and we're still going to see another to make sure.

On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 2:43 PM, JUFGATOR <jufgator (DOT) com> wrote:

My pediatrician recommended getting a helmet and I am ready because my son is in the "severe" plagio category based on our recent STAR visit. My question is this: so many others seem to have been seen by a neurologist first to rule out anything else. My ped seems to think my son is fine, though, other than his flat spot. I didn't notice it until he brought it to my attention and his head does look a bit unusual now that I'm not in denial. Any thoughts? His head is in the 30%ile (but was a preemie) and he is 6 months old. The worrier in me wonders if I need to rule out hydrocephalus or closing of his skull bones...?? Thanks for any input.

-- http://kandidkatie. blogspot. com/"Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up."

"And I tell you, ask (and keep asking), and it will be given to you; seek (and keep seeking), and you will find; knock (and keep knocking), and it will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9)Send words of encouragement to our armed forces: http://www.letssayt hanks.com/ Home1280. html

Support your local businesses!Great sandwiches and food in Tempe! http://www.munchamania.com/Great Mexican food in north and south sdale! http://www.losolivo srestaurant. com/

Baby Gifts and Supplies in Mesa (Best Lactation Store Ever!) http://www.milksmile.com/Cloth Diaperer Extraordinaire! http://www.gogonatural.com/

[Guest guest]

Just FYI, if you choose to see a neurosurgeon, it is ideal to see one who's part

of a craniofacial team (CFT). You can search for one on this website.

http://www.cleftline.org/team_listings/choose_team_listings Just so you don't

get confused, a CPT is a cleft palate team. That's not what you're looking for.

Even better, you can also ask if there's someone else on this site who saw

someone they liked in your area, or you can use the search function to see if

anyone has recommended a good neuro in the past.

Just to forewarn you, some neurosurgeons are very helpful regarding banding, and

some are very resistant. Though even a band-resistant neuro can tell you whether

your baby has craniosynostosis or not, he/she may not do it in a very nice way

and may or may not be willing to write you a prescription. Don't accept the " it

will go away on it's own " speech. It's not true in almost all cases.

Did you get a prescription from you pediatrician? That's ideal, but if she won't

write you a script, you can ask the neuro for one while you're there (assuming

he's not one of the anti-band types).

Also, does your baby have brachycephaly (flat head in the center back) as

opposed to plagiocephaly (flat spot on the side and facial asymmetry)? If so,

brachy doesn't resemble a cranio head shape, so that should give you some

reassurance.

Good luck and keep us posted!

>

>

> >My pediatrician recommended getting a helmet and I am ready because my son is

in

> >the " severe " plagio category based on our recent STAR visit. My question is

> >this: so many others seem to have been seen by a neurologist first to rule

out

> >anything else. My ped seems to think my son is fine, though, other than his

flat

> >spot. I didn't notice it until he brought it to my attention and his head

does

> >look a bit unusual now that I'm not in denial. Any thoughts? His head is in

the

> >30%ile (but was a preemie) and he is 6 months old. The worrier in me wonders

if

> >I need to rule out hydrocephalus or closing of his skull bones...?? Thanks

for

> >any input.

> >

> >

>

>

> --

>

>

> http://kandidkatie. blogspot. com/

>

> " Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up. "

>

> " And I tell you, ask (and keep asking), and it will be given to you; seek (and

> keep seeking), and you will find; knock (and keep knocking), and it will be

> opened to you. " (Luke 11:9)

>

> Send words of encouragement to our armed forces: http://www.letssayt

hanks.com/

> Home1280. html

>

> Support your local businesses!

> Great sandwiches and food in Tempe! http://www.munchamania.com/

> Great Mexican food in north and south sdale! http://www.losolivo

> srestaurant. com/

> Baby Gifts and Supplies in Mesa (Best Lactation Store Ever!)

> http://www.milksmile.com/

> Cloth Diaperer Extraordinaire! http://www.gogonatural.com/

>

[Guest guest]

Good advice. Our orthotist called our neurosurgeon a "rarity" because he frequently prescribes bands. His partner in the same practice very rarely prescribes bands and only in the most extreme cases(maybe two per year.) Before visiting a neurosurgeon, I would definitely find out if he/she prescribes bands and how often to save some time and money. Our ped didn't believe in banding before us(hopefully that's now changed) and it's frustrating to deal with a physician who won't even consider this treatment.Good luck!-Amy From: stephaniebilliel <SBilliel@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Sat, August 7, 2010 8:25:36 PMSubject: Re: Do I need to see a ped neurologist?

Just FYI, if you choose to see a neurosurgeon, it is ideal to see one who's part of a craniofacial team (CFT). You can search for one on this website. http://www.cleftline.org/team_listings/choose_team_listings Just so you don't get confused, a CPT is a cleft palate team. That's not what you're looking for.

Even better, you can also ask if there's someone else on this site who saw someone they liked in your area, or you can use the search function to see if anyone has recommended a good neuro in the past.

Just to forewarn you, some neurosurgeons are very helpful regarding banding, and some are very resistant. Though even a band-resistant neuro can tell you whether your baby has craniosynostosis or not, he/she may not do it in a very nice way and may or may not be willing to write you a prescription. Don't accept the "it will go away on it's own" speech. It's not true in almost all cases.

Did you get a prescription from you pediatrician? That's ideal, but if she won't write you a script, you can ask the neuro for one while you're there (assuming he's not one of the anti-band types).

Also, does your baby have brachycephaly (flat head in the center back) as opposed to plagiocephaly (flat spot on the side and facial asymmetry)? If so, brachy doesn't resemble a cranio head shape, so that should give you some reassurance.

Good luck and keep us posted!

>

>

> >My pediatrician recommended getting a helmet and I am ready because my son is in

> >the "severe" plagio category based on our recent STAR visit. My question is

> >this: so many others seem to have been seen by a neurologist first to rule out

> >anything else. My ped seems to think my son is fine, though, other than his flat

> >spot. I didn't notice it until he brought it to my attention and his head does

> >look a bit unusual now that I'm not in denial. Any thoughts? His head is in the

> >30%ile (but was a preemie) and he is 6 months old. The worrier in me wonders if

> >I need to rule out hydrocephalus or closing of his skull bones...?? Thanks for

> >any input.

> >

> >

>

>

> --

>

>

> http://kandidkatie. blogspot. com/

>

> "Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up."

>

> "And I tell you, ask (and keep asking), and it will be given to you; seek (and

> keep seeking), and you will find; knock (and keep knocking), and it will be

> opened to you." (Luke 11:9)

>

> Send words of encouragement to our armed forces: http://www.letssayt hanks.com/

> Home1280. html

>

> Support your local businesses!

> Great sandwiches and food in Tempe! http://www.munchamania.com/

> Great Mexican food in north and south sdale! http://www.losolivo

> srestaurant. com/

> Baby Gifts and Supplies in Mesa (Best Lactation Store Ever!)

> http://www.milksmile.com/

> Cloth Diaperer Extraordinaire! http://www.gogonatural.com/

>