Guest guest Posted May 22, 2003 Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 We were told by a neurosurgeon when my son was four months old that we were being ridiculous and that our son's head would round out on his own. He told us helmets were only for seriously deformed children and that repositioning was the only thing we could do. My son just turned one and we now know that this information was wrong. We had our first appointment with Cranial Technologies last week and found out that our son has torticollis and a severe case of positional plageocephaly. We were upset, but glad that we had found the help we desperately needed. On to the recent snag... Aetna is refusing to cover the Doc Band, telling us they will only pay for the Star Band. I have heard nothing positive about this helmet, which is why we chose Cranial Technologies and the Doc Band to begin with. My son turned 1 on 5/8, so we are running out of time. I desperately need some guidance as to anyone's experience with the Star Band. Thank you in advance for your help. Jen TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2003 Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 Hello Jen & Welcome to our group! Glad you have found us. I'm sooo sorry to hear about your son's late diagnosis, how frustrating for your family, unfortunately though, this happens frequently As others have already replied, the STARband can be a good product, but you need to find an experienced orthotist! That is the key that I cannot stress enough. My daughter Abby wore a STARband from age 8- 11 mos w/no improvement, it actually did more harm than good to her head thanks to incorrect pressures being applied. Our orthotist was not experienced. We later switched to a DOCband and rec'd good correction, shew! That's the main difference between the STAR vs DOCbands, Cranial Tech trains each & every clinician who will be using their product and they have overall control of the patient's care. Orthomerica, maker of the STARband, do not require orthotists go thru any addt'l training besides their regular plagio course in orthotics school (I'm sure there's a more technical name for it!! sorry) prior to being allowed to treat plagio babies w/the STARband. If you find an experienced orthotist, the product can produce amazing results Do you know which hospital or location you would receive the STARband from in TX if you decided to go that route? We have several Texan members w/us, maybe one of them has used that particular location or orthotist? Good luck w/your decision, very very difficult I know!! Keep us posted. Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad MI > We were told by a neurosurgeon when my son was four months old that > we were being ridiculous and that our son's head would round out on > his own. He told us helmets were only for seriously deformed children > and that repositioning was the only thing we could do. My son just > turned one and we now know that this information was wrong. > > We had our first appointment with Cranial Technologies last week and > found out that our son has torticollis and a severe case of > positional plageocephaly. We were upset, but glad that we had found > the help we desperately needed. > > On to the recent snag... Aetna is refusing to cover the Doc Band, > telling us they will only pay for the Star Band. I have heard nothing > positive about this helmet, which is why we chose Cranial > Technologies and the Doc Band to begin with. My son turned 1 on 5/8, > so we are running out of time. I desperately need some guidance as to > anyone's experience with the Star Band. Thank you in advance for your > help. > > Jen > TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2003 Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 Hi Jen and welcome! I'll just agree with the others - it's really the orthotist and not the product. My daughter wore a locally made helmet and got great results. We had a fantastic orthotist and he made the difference. Let us know where you decide to go. Marci (Mom to ) Oklahoma > We were told by a neurosurgeon when my son was four months old that > we were being ridiculous and that our son's head would round out on > his own. He told us helmets were only for seriously deformed children > and that repositioning was the only thing we could do. My son just > turned one and we now know that this information was wrong. > > We had our first appointment with Cranial Technologies last week and > found out that our son has torticollis and a severe case of > positional plageocephaly. We were upset, but glad that we had found > the help we desperately needed. > > On to the recent snag... Aetna is refusing to cover the Doc Band, > telling us they will only pay for the Star Band. I have heard nothing > positive about this helmet, which is why we chose Cranial > Technologies and the Doc Band to begin with. My son turned 1 on 5/8, > so we are running out of time. I desperately need some guidance as to > anyone's experience with the Star Band. Thank you in advance for your > help. > > Jen > TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2003 Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 Hi: Well I may not be the best judge as Kurt has only had his STARband for a little over 2 weeks. We were having some red spot issues so we went back about a week after he got it and our ortho took another scan. He had gone from 20 mm to 14.6 mm in about a week of less than full time wear. From what I understand, the STARband is great, you just have to make sure you have a good ortho. Kim mom to Kurt (STARbanded 5/8/03)sctxjenn <reckjb@...> wrote: We were told by a neurosurgeon when my son was four months old that we were being ridiculous and that our son's head would round out on his own. He told us helmets were only for seriously deformed children and that repositioning was the only thing we could do. My son just turned one and we now know that this information was wrong. We had our first appointment with Cranial Technologies last week and found out that our son has torticollis and a severe case of positional plageocephaly. We were upset, but glad that we had found the help we desperately needed. On to the recent snag... Aetna is refusing to cover the Doc Band, telling us they will only pay for the Star Band. I have heard nothing positive about this helmet, which is why we chose Cranial Technologies and the Doc Band to begin with. My son turned 1 on 5/8, so we are running out of time. I desperately need some guidance as to anyone's experience with the Star Band. Thank you in advance for your help.JenTX For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Hi there, My son Jack received his STARband approx. 8 weeks ago. He had just turned six months. From our own experience I can tell you that we are very pleased with ours, the results have already been incredible. My son had severe plagio ( 27mm) and in the short amount of time he has already gone down to about 14mm. We have seen a vast improvement. I'm not sure whether your insurance is covering your band but it seems like on the cost side of things, the STARband seems to be more affordable. I've heard great things about the DOC band but like I've said I can only speak about our own experience. I think in the end it all comes down to your Ortho and there experience in dealing with plagio. I hope this helps. Doreen mother to Jack Plagio/Tort/ Facial Asymmetrysc_yogini <sc_yogini@...> wrote: We are getting ready to be measured for the STAR Band, but the information I have read relates mostly to the Doc band. Is there a difference - besides who manufactures each? Has anyone had experience with one versus the other? Does it matter which we use? Thanks!For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Hi there, My son Jack received his STARband approx. 8 weeks ago. He had just turned six months. From our own experience I can tell you that we are very pleased with ours, the results have already been incredible. My son had severe plagio ( 27mm) and in the short amount of time he has already gone down to about 14mm. We have seen a vast improvement. I'm not sure whether your insurance is covering your band but it seems like on the cost side of things, the STARband seems to be more affordable. I've heard great things about the DOC band but like I've said I can only speak about our own experience. I think in the end it all comes down to your Ortho and there experience in dealing with plagio. I hope this helps. Doreen mother to Jack Plagio/Tort/ Facial Asymmetrysc_yogini <sc_yogini@...> wrote: We are getting ready to be measured for the STAR Band, but the information I have read relates mostly to the Doc band. Is there a difference - besides who manufactures each? Has anyone had experience with one versus the other? Does it matter which we use? Thanks!For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 The most important thing is the experience of the ortho. The experience level of all CT orthos is very uniform and very high due to their training and refresher training programs. They are very similar bands. The STARband is based on the DOC Band and gained it's FDA approval as such. In the hands of an experienced ortho it is wonderful. The trianing of the STARband orthos varies widely. We have a link to the question Orthomerica (makers of the STARband) suggest asking your ortho - check the links section. Where are you located? We may have someone who went to the same ortho and can offer a personal experience. mom to na DOC Grad South Carolina www.thefilyaws.com sc_yogini <sc_yogini@...> wrote: We are getting ready to be measured for the STAR Band, but the information I have read relates mostly to the Doc band. Is there a difference - besides who manufactures each? Has anyone had experience with one versus the other? Does it matter which we use? Thanks!For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 The most important thing is the experience of the ortho. The experience level of all CT orthos is very uniform and very high due to their training and refresher training programs. They are very similar bands. The STARband is based on the DOC Band and gained it's FDA approval as such. In the hands of an experienced ortho it is wonderful. The trianing of the STARband orthos varies widely. We have a link to the question Orthomerica (makers of the STARband) suggest asking your ortho - check the links section. Where are you located? We may have someone who went to the same ortho and can offer a personal experience. mom to na DOC Grad South Carolina www.thefilyaws.com sc_yogini <sc_yogini@...> wrote: We are getting ready to be measured for the STAR Band, but the information I have read relates mostly to the Doc band. Is there a difference - besides who manufactures each? Has anyone had experience with one versus the other? Does it matter which we use? Thanks!For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 I will have to ask about the experience level. I am afraid that because the Hanger location here in Columbia just started offering the bands that it might mean will be one of the first - I don't want him to be a guinea pig, if you'll excuse the expression! Thanks, Randa > >> > >> We are getting ready to be measured for the STAR Band, but the > >> information I have read relates mostly to the Doc band. Is there > > a > >> difference - besides who manufactures each? Has anyone had > >> experience with one versus the other? Does it matter which we > > use? > >> Thanks! > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 I will have to ask about the experience level. I am afraid that because the Hanger location here in Columbia just started offering the bands that it might mean will be one of the first - I don't want him to be a guinea pig, if you'll excuse the expression! Thanks, Randa > >> > >> We are getting ready to be measured for the STAR Band, but the > >> information I have read relates mostly to the Doc band. Is there > > a > >> difference - besides who manufactures each? Has anyone had > >> experience with one versus the other? Does it matter which we > > use? > >> Thanks! > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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