Re: New Here/ Reposition vs. Helmet

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I would def try to repo for a few weeks but while you are repoing,

set up your appt with the Starband people and get going on your

insurance. These things can def take time! You are better off getting

the ball rolling and not using them, then let the clock tick! Where

are you and Nate located? Let us know, perhaps you have someone in

your area that can let you know how the faility near your home is.

Kathy (mom to JT Doc Grad)

> Hi! We took our son (4.5 months)to the neurosurgeon last week and

> he's recommending a helmet (Starband). Nate has a flat head, but

no

> ear or facial misalignment. Since Thursday, I've done a lot of

> reading, and I'm surprised the doctor didn't suggest a trial of

> repositioning, and then the helmet if the repo didn't work. When

we

> met with the orthotist, he said Nate would actually have to wear

the

> helmet longer because we're starting him so early. He said they

> rarely, if ever, see babies before 6 months. With that

information,

> we are leaning towards trying repo for a few weeks, and then go

with

> the helmet if we aren't seeing any improvement. I didn't know

> anything about repo when we met with the neurosurgeon, and I'm

> waiting on a call back from him to see if he feels Nate could be a

> candidate. So, anyone had a similar situation? Have experience

> with repositioning, good or bad?

>

> Thank you for your help!

>

>

> Mom to Nate/4.5 months

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome to the group! I hope we can be of help in answering some of

your questions, and providing some information.

The Starband by Orthomerica can be used on infants 3-19 months of

age. Generally speaking, the younger the babies are banded, the

better and faster the result. There are a lot of babies here at the

group who were banded before 6 months of age. I have not heard of

younger babies being required to wear a cranial orthoses longer

because of starting at a younger age. Usually, we hear of

correction occuring more rapidly with younger babies, and therefore

overall treatment time is shorter (variable depending on severity

and accompanying asymmetries.) There is such a thing as regression

after treatment, which is very rare (less than 1%, and does NOT seem

to correlate with age.) There is another helmet made by Orthomerica

called the Clarren, which is used on infants 6 - 18 months of age.

Is the Starband the band that your orthotist is using? I am not sure

what your orthotist meant by those statements, but if you decide to

consider him for treatment, you may want take with you some

questions for the orthotist (LINKS section, HELMETS AND BANDS

folder). Did the orthotist take any measurements, or let you know

if he felt Nate's plagio was mild, moderate, or sever? We also have

a HELMET/BAND DATABASE in the DATABASE section of the group that you

may want to check out. There is a column for group members who have

used specific locations to list their email for offlist contact.

Maybe you could see if your facility is listed, and email any

members who have experience there. Have you been to the Orthomerica

website? www.orthomerica.com

No one in the medical field ever recommended aggressive

repositioning to us to treat our daughter Remy's plagio, even though

we brought up our concerns about her headshape repeatedly - I would

really have appreciated knowing some repo techniques and tips to

help me when she was still very young! Instead, we found the term

ourselves when we went online and found this group when Remy was 5

months old. Like your son, Remy had not facial, forehead, or ear

asymmetry. She didn't have any tort, which can seriously undermine

repo efforts. We felt she was a good candidate for repo, although

starting repo at 5 months old is LATE by any standards. Other

factors we felt were in our favor, were that we did not have Remy in

a childcare situation (we had total control over her environment),

and she was our only child (so we could devote 100% of our repo

efforts toward her.) We started and all-out super aggressive repo

effort when Remy was 5 months old, and continued repo'ing in some

form or another until she was 13 months old or so. She was never on

her back at all except to change her diaper - day and night, 7 days

a week. The flat side of the back of her head also never made

contact with any seat back, be it high chair or carseat. We never

used a bouncie or swing at all. Remy's progress photos are in the

PHOTOS section, BEFORE AND AFTER folder, REPOSITIONED folder, if you

would like to see what sort of severity of plagio/brachy we were

dealing with.

We have had a lot of members have some success with repo, and then

move on to helmets or bands. Some members tried repo with no

success. I'm still hoping for some company in the " repo only "

cateogory! It is critical to take photos every week or two to

confirm that repo is working. That way, if repo progress stalls, or

if regression occurs, you can move on to more appropriate treatment

(helmets/bands.) One way to encourage yourself to make the decision

in a timely manner, since plagio treatment is so time-sensitive, is

to set a deadline for repo, and hold yourself to it. BEFORE you

reach that deadline, start your pre-work for a helmet/band if you

are open to that option. It can take weeks and sometimes months to

slog through all of the appts., referrals, etc. to actually get into

a band -- that way, about the time you would have given up on repo,

you will move into a band, eliminating a large treatment gap. You

can always change your mind and go with repo only, right up until

your deadline. That's what we did with Remy. We set a deadline of

8 months, and ended up cancelling her helmet casting appointment the

night before (we decided to continue with aggressive repo only.) By

the way, the age of 8 months is older than I would feel comfortable

recommending to other moms and dads.

Would you let me know if I can be of any help at all if you decide

to repo Nate for a few weeks? We have a lot of repo information

here at the group in the LINKS/REPOSITIONING folder, and the

FILES/REPOSITIOINING HEADQUARTERS folder that might be of help as

well. There is also a Decision Tree in the files section which can

offer some guidance when deciding about repo and banding.

Take care,

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> Hi! We took our son (4.5 months)to the neurosurgeon last week and

> he's recommending a helmet (Starband). Nate has a flat head, but

no

> ear or facial misalignment. Since Thursday, I've done a lot of

> reading, and I'm surprised the doctor didn't suggest a trial of

> repositioning, and then the helmet if the repo didn't work. When

we

> met with the orthotist, he said Nate would actually have to wear

the

> helmet longer because we're starting him so early. He said they

> rarely, if ever, see babies before 6 months. With that

information,

> we are leaning towards trying repo for a few weeks, and then go

with

> the helmet if we aren't seeing any improvement. I didn't know

> anything about repo when we met with the neurosurgeon, and I'm

> waiting on a call back from him to see if he feels Nate could be a

> candidate. So, anyone had a similar situation? Have experience

> with repositioning, good or bad?

>

> Thank you for your help!

>

>

> Mom to Nate/4.5 months

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Thanks for the reply. We saw the ped. neurosurgeons at Boston

Children's Hospital. I would love to talk with someone who's been

there. There's also a Cranial Technologies in Connecticut that I'm

planning to check out, to compare the 2 programs. The orthos said we

just had to call and come in anytime. Our insurance will pay 80%,

so that's all set. We now just have to make the decision!

> > Hi! We took our son (4.5 months)to the neurosurgeon last week

and

> > he's recommending a helmet (Starband). Nate has a flat head,

but

> no

> > ear or facial misalignment. Since Thursday, I've done a lot of

> > reading, and I'm surprised the doctor didn't suggest a trial of

> > repositioning, and then the helmet if the repo didn't work.

When

> we

> > met with the orthotist, he said Nate would actually have to wear

> the

> > helmet longer because we're starting him so early. He said they

> > rarely, if ever, see babies before 6 months. With that

> information,

> > we are leaning towards trying repo for a few weeks, and then go

> with

> > the helmet if we aren't seeing any improvement. I didn't know

> > anything about repo when we met with the neurosurgeon, and I'm

> > waiting on a call back from him to see if he feels Nate could be

a

> > candidate. So, anyone had a similar situation? Have experience

> > with repositioning, good or bad?

> >

> > Thank you for your help!

> >

> >

> > Mom to Nate/4.5 months

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome to the group. I just want to second everything Christie has

already told you. Please let us know what you decide.

-- In Plagiocephaly , " kjmcpo " <kjmcpo@y...> wrote:

> Hi! We took our son (4.5 months)to the neurosurgeon last week and

> he's recommending a helmet (Starband). Nate has a flat head, but

no

> ear or facial misalignment. Since Thursday, I've done a lot of

> reading, and I'm surprised the doctor didn't suggest a trial of

> repositioning, and then the helmet if the repo didn't work. When

we

> met with the orthotist, he said Nate would actually have to wear

the

> helmet longer because we're starting him so early. He said they

> rarely, if ever, see babies before 6 months. With that

information,

> we are leaning towards trying repo for a few weeks, and then go

with

> the helmet if we aren't seeing any improvement. I didn't know

> anything about repo when we met with the neurosurgeon, and I'm

> waiting on a call back from him to see if he feels Nate could be a

> candidate. So, anyone had a similar situation? Have experience

> with repositioning, good or bad?

>

> Thank you for your help!

>

>

> Mom to Nate/4.5 months