Guest guest Posted November 6, 2003 Report Share Posted November 6, 2003 Hi and welcome to the group. Iye, iye, iye.......We started my daughter out with a STARBand and ended up going with a DOCBand. Thankfully, my daughter never wore the 2 ill fitting STARBands longer than few minutes, but they were ill fitting and because of this group, I knew it. There are members of this group that their child actually wore the band and it made the headshape worse instead of better. Using a STARBand is not the case of you get what you pay for. STARBands can and do work in the hands of experienced orthos. CT the maker of the DOCBand makes every clinician go through weeks of training before they ever touch a baby/child to be banded and every clinician has to go to bi-yearly seminars to continue education. Bands are all Cranial Technologies do. The orthos that treat with the STARBand are not required to take any additional courses on banding other than what they had to have to college to get their degree. Most STARBand orthos do other prothestics besides banding. If you get a STARBand ortho with banding experience your child will benefit from the treatment. I'm really sorry that this band isn't working for you. As far as insurance goes, I was able to get my insurance to pay for the DOCBand because there was not another option in my area. You might want to use this as a reason for switching. CT should be able to help you with the insurance questions you may have. BCBS has been known to deny this claim and to approve this claim. From what I hear they are very inconsistant. Good Luck with the switch and if you need anything else, just let us know. Dustie, mom to , DOCGrad'03 --- In Plagiocephaly , " clemtiger88 " <wood6@c...> wrote: > Help! We are looking for people who initially started with the Star > Band but switched to the Doc Band after several months. We have a 7 > month old boy with a fairly sever case of positional plagiocephaly > with some slight facial asymmetry due to torticollis. He is > currently in physical therapy and is doing well with the tort, but we > are having trouble with his star band. It was prescribed by a well > know neurosurgeon in our area and the orth doctor that has been > working with it is also well known. The problem is that we have the > band adjusted all the time and they cannot get it to stay positioned > correctly on his head. It has the tendency to rotate .75 to 1.00 > inches to one side when our son sleeps in it. While it has helped in > areas, we feel that it is causing further shape problems in other > areas. We are becoming very frustrated with it and are checking into > the Doc band. It sounds as if it is more precise or " high tech " . Are > these bands a case of " you get what you pay for " since the Star band > is less than a third the cost of the Doc band. > > Any feedback on either band or similar problems would be greatly > appreciated. > > Also, we are located in SC and would be traveling to Atlanta if we go > with the Doc band. Any advice on getting BCBS of SC to pay? > > Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2003 Report Share Posted November 6, 2003 Hi there! I'm sorry that you are going through this frustration. I see that Dustie gave you a good response and I'm sure others that used both products will chime in too. Both products can produce good correction, especially with your son's early age. Did your ortho recommend re-casting and having another Starband made? If you decide to use the Atlanta CT feel free to ask questions, we have many active members that use/have used them including myself. As for insurance, I have BCBS of Alabama and they paid 90% of my son's 2 DOCbands. Let us know what happens Clemson fan! Natasha Mommy to Aidan DOCGrad Atlanta, GA --- In Plagiocephaly , " clemtiger88 " <wood6@c...> wrote: > Help! We are looking for people who initially started with the Star > Band but switched to the Doc Band after several months. We have a 7 > month old boy with a fairly sever case of positional plagiocephaly > with some slight facial asymmetry due to torticollis. He is > currently in physical therapy and is doing well with the tort, but we > are having trouble with his star band. It was prescribed by a well > know neurosurgeon in our area and the orth doctor that has been > working with it is also well known. The problem is that we have the > band adjusted all the time and they cannot get it to stay positioned > correctly on his head. It has the tendency to rotate .75 to 1.00 > inches to one side when our son sleeps in it. While it has helped in > areas, we feel that it is causing further shape problems in other > areas. We are becoming very frustrated with it and are checking into > the Doc band. It sounds as if it is more precise or " high tech " . Are > these bands a case of " you get what you pay for " since the Star band > is less than a third the cost of the Doc band. > > Any feedback on either band or similar problems would be greatly > appreciated. > > Also, we are located in SC and would be traveling to Atlanta if we go > with the Doc band. Any advice on getting BCBS of SC to pay? > > Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2003 Report Share Posted November 6, 2003 Hi and Welcome! Dustie, very well put. "Using a STARBand is not the case of you get what you pay for. STARBands can and do work in the hands of experienced orthos." That's an important statement. There are many things to consider when deciding on treatment options, and with so many devices, it is admittedly difficult. But it's not a matter of "you get what you pay for". I'm sorry you have to go through an ill-fitting band, it certainly makes things more difficult. But agreeing again with Dustie, it is important to get an understanding about what training and on-going education/courses that orthotist is getting. We were prescribed the DOC Band from the very beginning and had great success, so I'm sorry, I have nothing to offer regarding the Starband as far as an opinion. There are many members here who have had great experiences with Star as well, and I'm sure you'll get many responses. Hang in there, and good luck - Rhonda Collin-DOC*14wks-NJ-7mos(started) www.collingillespie.com www.preciousbambino.com NJ/NY Jamboree-Dec. 7, 2003 (click for more info) -----Original Message-----From: dustiejones [mailto:dustiejones@...] Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 9:50 AMPlagiocephaly Subject: Re: Star Band vs Doc BandHi and welcome to the group. Iye, iye, iye.......We started my daughter out with a STARBand and ended up going with a DOCBand. Thankfully, my daughter never wore the 2 ill fitting STARBands longer than few minutes, but they were ill fitting and because of this group, I knew it. There are members of this group that their child actually wore the band and it made the headshape worse instead of better. Using a STARBand is not the case of you get what you pay for. STARBands can and do work in the hands of experienced orthos. CT the maker of the DOCBand makes every clinician go through weeks of training before they ever touch a baby/child to be banded and every clinician has to go to bi-yearly seminars to continue education. Bands are all Cranial Technologies do. The orthos that treat with the STARBand are not required to take any additional courses on banding other than what they had to have to college to get their degree. Most STARBand orthos do other prothestics besides banding. If you get a STARBand ortho with banding experience your child will benefit from the treatment. I'm really sorry that this band isn't working for you. As far as insurance goes, I was able to get my insurance to pay for the DOCBand because there was not another option in my area. You might want to use this as a reason for switching. CT should be able to help you with the insurance questions you may have. BCBS has been known to deny this claim and to approve this claim. From what I hear they are very inconsistant. Good Luck with the switch and if you need anything else, just let us know.Dustie, mom to , DOCGrad'03> Help! We are looking for people who initially started with the Star > Band but switched to the Doc Band after several months. We have a 7 > month old boy with a fairly sever case of positional plagiocephaly > with some slight facial asymmetry due to torticollis. He is > currently in physical therapy and is doing well with the tort, but we > are having trouble with his star band. It was prescribed by a well > know neurosurgeon in our area and the orth doctor that has been > working with it is also well known. The problem is that we have the > band adjusted all the time and they cannot get it to stay positioned > correctly on his head. It has the tendency to rotate .75 to 1.00 > inches to one side when our son sleeps in it. While it has helped in > areas, we feel that it is causing further shape problems in other > areas. We are becoming very frustrated with it and are checking into > the Doc band. It sounds as if it is more precise or "high tech". Are > these bands a case of "you get what you pay for" since the Star band > is less than a third the cost of the Doc band.> > Any feedback on either band or similar problems would be greatly > appreciated.> > Also, we are located in SC and would be traveling to Atlanta if we go > with the Doc band. Any advice on getting BCBS of SC to pay?> > Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2003 Report Share Posted November 6, 2003 Hi & welcome to our group: Yep, we switched from a STARband to a DOCband after about 3 mos in Abby's STARband w/NO correction, and it did in fact do more harm than good to her head, resulting from incorrect pressures being applied by the STARband. We had great success in her DOCband, for us, it was night & day from her STARband FOR US. We traveled 4 hrs one way biweekly to our nearest Cranial Tech for 5 mos, it was worth every last screaming minute for us. Is your STARband orthotist experienced? That is the key to any product working or not. Abby's STAR ortho didn't know what he was doing and her result is proof of that. Abby's STARband was very assymetrical in fit, is that how your baby's is? You can see Abby's pictures of her STARband in her photo section " photos " " Our plagio babies " " Abby-Debbie " I think her folder is the 3rd one listed. Do you have any photos you could share w/us of your baby's STARband fit? Sorry you're going thru this, please hang in there. I've been where you are & know how discouraging & frustrating it can be. Debbie Abby's mom 3/1/00 STARband 11/7/00-1/26/01 DOCGrad 2/16/01- 6/22/01 Michigan --- In Plagiocephaly , " clemtiger88 " <wood6@c...> wrote: > Help! We are looking for people who initially started with the Star > Band but switched to the Doc Band after several months. We have a 7 > month old boy with a fairly sever case of positional plagiocephaly > with some slight facial asymmetry due to torticollis. He is > currently in physical therapy and is doing well with the tort, but we > are having trouble with his star band. It was prescribed by a well > know neurosurgeon in our area and the orth doctor that has been > working with it is also well known. The problem is that we have the > band adjusted all the time and they cannot get it to stay positioned > correctly on his head. It has the tendency to rotate .75 to 1.00 > inches to one side when our son sleeps in it. While it has helped in > areas, we feel that it is causing further shape problems in other > areas. We are becoming very frustrated with it and are checking into > the Doc band. It sounds as if it is more precise or " high tech " . Are > these bands a case of " you get what you pay for " since the Star band > is less than a third the cost of the Doc band. > > Any feedback on either band or similar problems would be greatly > appreciated. > > Also, we are located in SC and would be traveling to Atlanta if we go > with the Doc band. Any advice on getting BCBS of SC to pay? > > Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2003 Report Share Posted November 6, 2003 Just wanted to say hi and glad to see someone else on here from SC. I am in ton and my daughter Caroline just got her STARBand on Monday and so far so good. She has been in for one adjustment and is adjusting great to her band. I hope everything works out well for you and your son!! I have Companion Healthcare Insurance and they denied our claim, so now we are working on our 1st appeal. --- In Plagiocephaly , " clemtiger88 " <wood6@c...> wrote: > Help! We are looking for people who initially started with the Star > Band but switched to the Doc Band after several months. We have a 7 > month old boy with a fairly sever case of positional plagiocephaly > with some slight facial asymmetry due to torticollis. He is > currently in physical therapy and is doing well with the tort, but we > are having trouble with his star band. It was prescribed by a well > know neurosurgeon in our area and the orth doctor that has been > working with it is also well known. The problem is that we have the > band adjusted all the time and they cannot get it to stay positioned > correctly on his head. It has the tendency to rotate .75 to 1.00 > inches to one side when our son sleeps in it. While it has helped in > areas, we feel that it is causing further shape problems in other > areas. We are becoming very frustrated with it and are checking into > the Doc band. It sounds as if it is more precise or " high tech " . Are > these bands a case of " you get what you pay for " since the Star band > is less than a third the cost of the Doc band. > > Any feedback on either band or similar problems would be greatly > appreciated. > > Also, we are located in SC and would be traveling to Atlanta if we go > with the Doc band. Any advice on getting BCBS of SC to pay? > > Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.