Guest guest Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Hi Cara, Welcome to the group! Plagiocephaly and torticollis go hand in hand. A lot of the babies here have both plagio and tort. It's really great that your ped is so proactive! From what you say it sounds like your daughter will be getting a passive helmet. We have a few members here that have babies in passive helmets. I'm sure they'll chime in here. Do you know the name of the company that is making your helmet? --- In Plagiocephaly , " cara_handke " <chandke@w...> wrote: > Hi, > I just learned last week at my daughter's 6 mo checkup that her head > is too flat on one side (from torticollis). I had been wondering > since her last checkup if it was getting too flat (had been trying to > position her head on other side), but so many articles I recall > reading say not to worry - just ask at the next dr visit. Anyway, > I'm extremely stressed about this whole situation. Our family doctor > recommends position therapy or a helmet/band. I'm going with the > helmet/band to get the best odds at a non-flat head. > Our orthotics visit is this Thursday in Sioux Falls, SD. I suppose > it is too much to hope anybody else on this msg board is from this > area... Does anyone have experience with helmets/headbands other > than the DOC or Star? I'm not sure what will be available to me. I > am so anxious to get her helmet/band on - tomorrow the orthotics > fellow will call so I can find out how long until we get it!? > I have a million questions. I'm am so thankful for this msg board! > So many wonderful people sharing and helping each other. > Thanks, > Cara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Hi Cara, You've certainly come to the right place to ask your millions of questions! I know I've asked what seems to be a million! Lots of babies here have tort, though my daughter doesn't, but many other people will chime in. There's a good chance someone will be from around your area too. Lots of places make the STARband, and you can check www.cranialtech.com to see if there are any DOC clinics near you. Other people here have locally made helmets too. I was all stressed about everything too, but now my baby has been in her band for 2 weeks and we couldn't be happier. She had a couple day adjustment period with sleeping issues, but within a few days she was back to her old self (but with a rounder head!). I can't believe the results we're getting with Hannah (you can see in my earlier post) and you're baby is young enough where you should get good and fast results too. Good luck. , Hannah's mom-5mos-DOCbanded 5/12 Cape Cod, Ma --- In Plagiocephaly , " cara_handke " <chandke@w...> wrote: > Hi, > I just learned last week at my daughter's 6 mo checkup that her head > is too flat on one side (from torticollis). I had been wondering > since her last checkup if it was getting too flat (had been trying to > position her head on other side), but so many articles I recall > reading say not to worry - just ask at the next dr visit. Anyway, > I'm extremely stressed about this whole situation. Our family doctor > recommends position therapy or a helmet/band. I'm going with the > helmet/band to get the best odds at a non-flat head. > Our orthotics visit is this Thursday in Sioux Falls, SD. I suppose > it is too much to hope anybody else on this msg board is from this > area... Does anyone have experience with helmets/headbands other > than the DOC or Star? I'm not sure what will be available to me. I > am so anxious to get her helmet/band on - tomorrow the orthotics > fellow will call so I can find out how long until we get it!? > I have a million questions. I'm am so thankful for this msg board! > So many wonderful people sharing and helping each other. > Thanks, > Cara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Thank you all for sending info and support my way! I need all I can get. What is a passive helmet? How does it compare to the alternative? What should we be aiming for as far as head shape? Is perfectly round necessary? Do little flat spots turn into bigger ones as the head grows? Or do they fill out? Why are some babies/kids banded twice - months apart? My dr scheduled an appt with a neurosurgeon for us at my request. I wanted further info on our issue from someone with the specialty. I see others recommending appt's with neurosurgeons. For the same reason I am going - to get more info? Or for what other reason(s)? I'm just getting to talk to my orthotics guy for the first time tomorrow on the phone. I want to make sure he's experienced, etc., and see if there's anyway he can get me in earlier. Our appt is on Thursday. We went to the PT last Thursday. When I first noticed that my daughter liked to turn her head in one direction (when she started holding her head up), I thought it was because I wasn't providing her exercise in the other direction. So, I switched a lot of things around, and she improved a lot. When the dr said the head was too flat, I looked " head flat " up on the web and found the tort info. Then I got an appt with the PT. The PT seemed to think things were pretty good at this point. Gave me a stretch for baby and two ways to hold her to help her neck muscles. We have a follow up appt next week. I just want to get rolling! Something tells me we'll be spending a lot of time in the A/C. Thanks again, Cara > > Hi, > > I just learned last week at my daughter's 6 mo checkup that her > head > > is too flat on one side (from torticollis). I had been wondering > > since her last checkup if it was getting too flat (had been trying > to > > position her head on other side), but so many articles I recall > > reading say not to worry - just ask at the next dr visit. Anyway, > > I'm extremely stressed about this whole situation. Our family > doctor > > recommends position therapy or a helmet/band. I'm going with the > > helmet/band to get the best odds at a non-flat head. > > Our orthotics visit is this Thursday in Sioux Falls, SD. I suppose > > it is too much to hope anybody else on this msg board is from this > > area... Does anyone have experience with helmets/headbands other > > than the DOC or Star? I'm not sure what will be available to me. > I > > am so anxious to get her helmet/band on - tomorrow the orthotics > > fellow will call so I can find out how long until we get it!? > > I have a million questions. I'm am so thankful for this msg > board! > > So many wonderful people sharing and helping each other. > > Thanks, > > Cara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Hi Cara, The difference between passive helmets and active bands is that passive helmets rely on growth alone to correct the head shape. The helmet sits on the babies head and eventually it will grow into the shape of the helmet, round. An active band is just that, active. It redirects the growth of the head through gentle pressure, not felt by that baby. Passive helmets are great for infants because they are growing so much, so rapidly. Active bands are great of infants and older babies. If a baby is banded young enough it is possible to get 100% correction. Some babies require more than one band if they are severe to start w/or have had a late start. Teh reason some of us have had our babies seen my neurosurgeons is to rule out craniosynostosis, which is the premature fusion of one or more sutures in the head. Here is a link to some stretches for the tort, these really helped in resolving my daughter's torticollis. http://www.pedisurg.com/PtEduc/Torticollis.htm Please keep us posted. > > > Hi, > > > I just learned last week at my daughter's 6 mo checkup that her > > head > > > is too flat on one side (from torticollis). I had been wondering > > > since her last checkup if it was getting too flat (had been > trying > > to > > > position her head on other side), but so many articles I recall > > > reading say not to worry - just ask at the next dr visit. > Anyway, > > > I'm extremely stressed about this whole situation. Our family > > doctor > > > recommends position therapy or a helmet/band. I'm going with the > > > helmet/band to get the best odds at a non-flat head. > > > Our orthotics visit is this Thursday in Sioux Falls, SD. I > suppose > > > it is too much to hope anybody else on this msg board is from > this > > > area... Does anyone have experience with helmets/headbands other > > > than the DOC or Star? I'm not sure what will be available to > me. > > I > > > am so anxious to get her helmet/band on - tomorrow the orthotics > > > fellow will call so I can find out how long until we get it!? > > > I have a million questions. I'm am so thankful for this msg > > board! > > > So many wonderful people sharing and helping each other. > > > Thanks, > > > Cara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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