Re: Re: New here--what would you do?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I agree with using CT over Hanger. The drive is well worth a fixed

head.

Also, I would put a helmet on regardless of the insurance and I would

do it soon. The money is well spent. If you regret it later, you

could spend more time/money in the long run. And you end up with a

fixed head if you do the helmet.

Good luck,

Kathy, mom to 5.5 yrs and 22 months, both with very mild

plagio

DomsMom wrote:

I personally would go to Cranial Tech. If Hanger is already a 1

1/2 hr drive, I would drive twice the distance to go to Cranial Tech

because they are worth it. If you go with CT, you will have the peace

of mind that you are getting the best treatment possible for your son.

Unless the ortho at Hanger is very good and sees several plagio cases

as week, I would be worried. It's a risk in my opinion to go with

anyone other than Cranial Tech. I have been around a little while, my

son is about to graduate from his 3rd DOC Band, and I've heard some

horror stories along the way. At least you can be confident in CT

because they have the best reputation, and banding babies is all that

they do, unlike other orthotic companies. My son has had amazing

results with the DOC Band, you would never know that he once had severe

brachy.

>

> I'm new to this board and I'm so glad I found it. My youngest son

has

> plagio and brachycephaly due to torticollis. We just finished up PT

> last week. Our pediatrician didn't even take it seriously until

his 4

> month appt. (he was almost 5 months by then) and we couldn't get

in to

> the pediatric neurosurgeon (Dr. in town, WV) until

DS was

> almost 7 months. They have refered us to Hanger in town, WV

(a

> 1.5 hour drive from our home). I read some of the archived

messages on

> them, but the orthotist referred to isn't the one who is listed on

their

> website. The orthotist there is Tom Pacak. I intend to call them

> tomorrow to get more info on his credentials. Everything I've read

> seems to point to DOC as superior, but our closest CT is over a 3

hour

> drive (one way) in ndale, VA. Dr. said that in his

opinion

> he would helmet if our insurance will cover it, but he wouldn't

pay out

> of pocket as it will get better on its own. I'm just not so sure

how

> good his opinion is. I've gone over and over whether it will be

more

> worthwhile to drive farther to CT or not. Here are some pics of his

> natural progress. Any advice is welcome. (The first pics he was 4

> months, 3 weeks. The second are from yesterday at 7 months, 3

weeks.)

>

>

> [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs238.snc3/22531_1046475595\

> 53222_100000239344850_114807_1785775_n.jpg]

>

> [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs426.ash1/23615_1117135688\

> 46621_100000239344850_197081_3638616_n.jpg]

>

>

> [http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs238.snc3/22531_104647602886551_10000023\

> 9344850_114809_1415922_n.jpg]

> [http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs386.snc3/23615_111713858846592_10000023\

> 9344850_197083_4006892_n.jpg]

>

>

> [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs218.snc3/22531_1046475862\

> 19886_100000239344850_114808_7862415_n.jpg]

> [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs426.ash1/23615_1117137288\

> 46605_100000239344850_197082_2133815_n.jpg]

>

[Guest guest]

I think that before you decide whether or not to band, you should go to both Hanger and CT and meet with them. Hanger will probably do a computer scan (not sure if they do these at the consult though) and CT will do hand measurements and pictures. Both of them will give you an idea of severity and make their own recommendations about the need for a band.

You should also check out your insurance coverage to fine out if one or both are covered. Then, interview the people you will be working with. Find out how much experience they have and see if you can find someone else who is happy with them.

Lastly, ask yourself whether you think that you would be happy if the head never got any better. If not, then you should probably go forward with a band of some sort. CT has an excellent reputation, but people have also gotten good correction using Hanger. However, some people have had problems with some of the Hanger locations. The key is to get a good ortho and that involves you doing your homework. Ask the doctor that referred you what he knows about other baby's improvements that he has sent there. Ask your former PT about any experiences.

Then, you will have to decide where to go. 3 hours is considerably longer than 90 minutes when a baby is in the car, but if you don't feel that you will be in good hands at Hanger, then it would be worth it. The same may be true if only CT is covered by insurance. If only Hanger is covered, then you will have to decide if both the drive and the out of pocket cost will be worth it. You should also know that there is a possibility that you will need more than one band at CT. They will be able to tell you about this possibility at their consult. Ask if they don't tell you.

Some people believe that everyone should always choose CT. I believe that each case is different and a parent owes it to themselves and their babies when distance or finances are an issue to check out the other options. That extra 1000 up to 3000 dollars could go towards a college fund or towards keeping a family in strong financial shape. A parent is not necessarily choosing 2nd best if they go with someone else. Good head correction is the same no matter how much it costs or the type of band that is used. All it takes is a little work on your part and asking a few questions and checking out references.

If you don't feel good about the Hanger location, then I would go ahead and use CT, if you can afford the extra money (yes a doc band is more expensive) and the drive. More than likely, you will end up with good correction. A lot of doc band moms are very happy with their experiences; however there are also several hanger moms who are just as happy. I didn't use either, but we are very happy with our experience at a STARband location. Like CT, all they do is bands all day long, but I'm guessing that it is too far for you (Columbia, MD).

Good luck with figuring all of this out. Maybe someone else on here knows of this ortho at Hanger and can help you out in checking out your options.

, mom to , 2.5 years

STARband grad May 2009

Chiro and CST

land

Re: New here--what would you do?

I personally would go to Cranial Tech. If Hanger is already a 1 1/2 hr drive, I would drive twice the distance to go to Cranial Tech because they are worth it. If you go with CT, you will have the peace of mind that you are getting the best treatment possible for your son. Unless the ortho at Hanger is very good and sees several plagio cases as week, I would be worried. It's a risk in my opinion to go with anyone other than Cranial Tech. I have been around a little while, my son is about to graduate from his 3rd DOC Band, and I've heard some horror stories along the way. At least you can be confident in CT because they have the best reputation, and banding babies is all that they do, unlike other orthotic companies. My son has had amazing results with the DOC Band, you would never know that he once had severe brachy.>> I'm new to this board and I'm so glad I found it. My youngest son has> plagio and brachycephaly due to torticollis. We just finished up PT> last week. Our pediatrician didn't even take it seriously until his 4> month appt. (he was almost 5 months by then) and we couldn't get in to> the pediatric neurosurgeon (Dr. in town, WV) until DS was> almost 7 months. They have refered us to Hanger in town, WV (a> 1.5 hour drive from our home). I read some of the archived messages on> them, but the orthotist referred to isn't the one who is listed on their> website. The orthotist there is Tom Pacak. I intend to call them> tomorrow to get more info on his credentials. Everything I've read> seems to point to DOC as superior, but our closest CT is over a 3 hour> drive (one way) in ndale, VA. Dr. said that in his opinion> he would helmet if our insurance will cover it, but he wouldn't pay out> of pocket as it will get better on its own. I'm just not so sure how> good his opinion is. I've gone over and over whether it will be more> worthwhile to drive farther to CT or not. Here are some pics of his> natural progress. Any advice is welcome. (The first pics he was 4> months, 3 weeks. The second are from yesterday at 7 months, 3 weeks.)> > > [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs238.snc3/22531_1046475595\> 53222_100000239344850_114807_1785775_n.jpg]> > [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs426.ash1/23615_1117135688\> 46621_100000239344850_197081_3638616_n.jpg]> > > [http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs238.snc3/22531_104647602886551_10000023\> 9344850_114809_1415922_n.jpg] > [http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs386.snc3/23615_111713858846592_10000023\> 9344850_197083_4006892_n.jpg]> > > [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs218.snc3/22531_1046475862\> 19886_100000239344850_114808_7862415_n.jpg] > [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs426.ash1/23615_1117137288\> 46605_100000239344850_197082_2133815_n.jpg]>

[Guest guest]

If CT is closer to you and in your network, it makes sense to go with them. I wouldn't worry because there are people on this board that have had good experiences. My cranial doctor said that she had better experiences with Star Cranial, but I don't have details regarding any problems that she may have had and haven't heard anything negative from parents. I believe that part of it was that she didn't trust their assessments in their consultations. I do agree with this since their hand measurements of my daughter's head were way off, but that could vary depending upon who takes the measurements as well as how wiggly the baby is during the process. My daughter was screaming. However, good measurements should at least be close. And, if they know they didn't get a good read, then this should be repeated. The ortho at Star cranial always managed to get a decent scan, even with screaming. We accomplished this by having three of us holding her. There was a substitute orthos wasn't who had a lot of trouble, but she kept trying rather than just accepting what she knew wasn't good. The doctor also had issues with the fact that their bands didn't last as long and she had seen as good or better results from babies that she had sent to Star Cranial. Therefore, she felt that Star Cranial was the better choice. She didn't outright refuse to write the script for them, but she was making an argument to me against using them. However, I did not get the feeling that she felt that they were incompetent in treating the head or making adjustments or anything. It turns out that I decided to go with Star cranial the first time and CT did not recommend a 2nd band when I later went for a consult, so I never pushed the issue.

The only thing that I can say is that they do not appear to be as open to banding older babies as I have heard about some of the locations. The person I spoke to said that they hadn't put a band on a baby older than 16 months. But, this isn't an issue that relates to you at all.

Re: New here--what would you do?

,I am also in MD, but opted to go with CT in VA. My ped had suggestedStarband in Columbia, but CT is closer to me, and they were in myinsurance network. My LO is almost 5 months old and he is getting his3d imaging done tomorrow and will have his band on the 12th.When you were researching companies, did you come across anything aboutthat particular CT office that would raise a red flag? I have not beenable to find anything in particular regarding that VA office.Thanks!Christy> >> > I'm new to this board and I'm so glad I found it. My youngest sonhas> > plagio and brachycephaly due to torticollis. We just finished up PT> > last week. Our pediatrician didn't even take it seriously until his4> > month appt. (he was almost 5 months by then) and we couldn't get into> > the pediatric neurosurgeon (Dr. in town, WV) until DSwas> > almost 7 months. They have refered us to Hanger in town, WV (a> > 1.5 hour drive from our home). I read some of the archived messageson> > them, but the orthotist referred to isn't the one who is listed ontheir> > website. The orthotist there is Tom Pacak. I intend to call them> > tomorrow to get more info on his credentials. Everything I've read> > seems to point to DOC as superior, but our closest CT is over a 3hour> > drive (one way) in ndale, VA. Dr. said that in hisopinion> > he would helmet if our insurance will cover it, but he wouldn't payout> > of pocket as it will get better on its own. I'm just not so sure how> > good his opinion is. I've gone over and over whether it will be more> > worthwhile to drive farther to CT or not. Here are some pics of his> > natural progress. Any advice is welcome. (The first pics he was 4> > months, 3 weeks. The second are from yesterday at 7 months, 3weeks.)> >> >> > [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs238.snc3/22531_1046475595\> > 53222_100000239344850_114807_1785775_n.jpg]> >> > [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs426.ash1/23615_1117135688\> > 46621_100000239344850_197081_3638616_n.jpg]> >> >> > [http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs238.snc3/22531_104647602886551_10000023\> > 9344850_114809_1415922_n.jpg]> > [http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs386.snc3/23615_111713858846592_10000023\> > 9344850_197083_4006892_n.jpg]> >> >> > [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs218.snc3/22531_1046475862\> > 19886_100000239344850_114808_7862415_n.jpg]> > [http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs426.ash1/23615_1117137288\> > 46605_100000239344850_197082_2133815_n.jpg]> >>