Consult with Cranial Technologies in San Diego

[Guest guest]

Hi there. I am new to this group and I am looking for some advice.

I took my 4 months old to a neurosurgeon at the advice of my

peditrician and he said surgery or nothing.....hum...! So i made an

appointment with cranial technologies for the 17th of November. I am

traveling to San Diego, CA from Pahurmp, NV because all Las Vegas has

is Neurosurgeons. I need another alternative to surgery. She has

been diagnosised with deformational plagiocephaly. She has a flat

area on the back left side of her head with ear misalignment and

forehead bowing.

I was wondering how many of you have used the DOC bands and have gone

thourgh cranial technology? Do you have any advice? What are your

thoughts on the DOC bands? Any one have any luck with insurance

coverage? How do they cast the head? Does it hurt?

I am pretty scared and would love to hear from all of you!

Thanks so much,

Lea

[Guest guest]

Hi Lea-

I also started this DOC band journey with Emma at 4 months...she's 5

months now and has had her band for a week and a half. She also had

a flat left rear side, with ear misalignment & forehead bossing. It

was hard for me to come to the conclusion that she needed a band, but

I'm SOOOOO glad that we did it! We can see improvements already,

she's had an adjustment already...it's amazing, and I'm so much more

relaxed when she sleeps. There is a comparison chart in the Files

section of this group that compares all of the bands, but I love the

DOC...it has never given Emma a red spot, it's thin enough that you

can put a bigger hat on her head & she doesn't look like a melon head

(in rainy cold cleveland we need hats, maybe not in sunny NV??) and

she doesn't even notice that it's there. Plus, I think they're kinda

cute! Our insurance covered 70% of the band (well, it would have

been 100% if it was in network) and our people at Cranial Tech (CT)

are wonderful to deal with. I think there is a CT location in

Phoenix, isn't that closer to you than San Diego? (check their

website www.cranialtech.com) Casting is probably the worst part, but

it's only 10 minutes, so please don't let that affect your decision.

I know that this is hard, but BELIEVE me it gets easier! I was a

WRECK in the beginning...losing hair, no fingernails...but you're

doing the right thing, you're in the right place, and your daughter

is so lucky to have a wonderful loving mommy like you!

Good luck!

mom to Emma, 5 mo.

Tort/Plagio/Doc Band 10/25

--- In Plagiocephaly , " Ask me " <mad_molly76@y...>

wrote:

>

> Hi there. I am new to this group and I am looking for some

advice.

> I took my 4 months old to a neurosurgeon at the advice of my

> peditrician and he said surgery or nothing.....hum...! So i made

an

> appointment with cranial technologies for the 17th of November. I

am

> traveling to San Diego, CA from Pahurmp, NV because all Las Vegas

has

> is Neurosurgeons. I need another alternative to surgery. She has

> been diagnosised with deformational plagiocephaly. She has a flat

> area on the back left side of her head with ear misalignment and

> forehead bowing.

> I was wondering how many of you have used the DOC bands and have

gone

> thourgh cranial technology? Do you have any advice? What are your

> thoughts on the DOC bands? Any one have any luck with insurance

> coverage? How do they cast the head? Does it hurt?

> I am pretty scared and would love to hear from all of you!

> Thanks so much,

> Lea

[Guest guest]

Hi Lea,

Welcome to the group. There are other options besides surgery. Based on the diagnosis you were given I am assuming your child's sutures are still open and this isn't a case of premature fusing of the sutures (only option is surgery). The DOC Band is only used at Cranial Technology clinics or their licensees. My daughter had a DOC band. She was treated in Charlotte, NC. She was banded at 4 1/2 months. The casting does not hurt. It lasts about 10-15 minutes. If anything it is frustrating for the child because they are restrained (usually by a parent). My daughter had 3 castings because she had two DOC bands. We also opted for the exit cast. Our insurance did finally cover both bands with only a $20 co-pay for each. This was after a lengthy appeal. We do have a lot of help for insurance appeals but we're getting ahead of the game.

Have you tried repositioning? This is when you keep your child off the flat spot all the time. We have some tips in the repo section ...

Repositioning Headquarters Detailed repo strategies and information, photos of repo ideas from our group members, and more. Check out the Repositioning and Tummy Time folder in the Links section of the group for a lot more information on and products for repositioning.

Repositioning and Tummy Time Repositioning and Tummy Time products, studies, personal websites, and more. Also check the Files section/Repositioning Headquarters folder for detailed repositioning strategies and repositioning photos from our group members to help with developing a repo regimen for your baby.

Repo becomes much more difficult as a baby ages. They become more mobile and stronger willed, both good things but sometimes detrimental to repo efforts. We have had some parents who were diligent and repo'd babies from 5 months to 11 months and saw enough progress to not need further intervention. Repo requires diligence from all caregivers (including daycare, grandma, dad, and babysitters)

The AAP suggests that repo should be attempted until a baby is 5 months old. If flatness remains after that than cranial orthosis (band/helmet) may be needed. Here is a link to the recommendation (it's 2 lines so you may need to copy and paste in your browser window) ...

AAP Proposal Nov. 2003News article outlining new guidelines for treatment of deformational plagiocephaly are proposed 11/5/03http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/8525697700573E1885256DD5007FCDB8?OpenDocument & id=48DDE4A73E09A969852568880078C249 & c=Paediatrics & count=10.htm

If you want to do your own at home assesment you can use the severity charts from CT.

Severity Assesment of Plagiocephaly Assessing the severity of plagiocephaly can be very subjective. In an attempt to standardize the classification of plagiocephaly, Cranial Technologies has developed assessment tools

HTH

mom to na

DOC Grad

SCAsk me <mad_molly76@...> wrote:

Hi there. I am new to this group and I am looking for some advice. I took my 4 months old to a neurosurgeon at the advice of my peditrician and he said surgery or nothing.....hum...! So i made an appointment with cranial technologies for the 17th of November. I am traveling to San Diego, CA from Pahurmp, NV because all Las Vegas has is Neurosurgeons. I need another alternative to surgery. She has been diagnosised with deformational plagiocephaly. She has a flat area on the back left side of her head with ear misalignment and forehead bowing. I was wondering how many of you have used the DOC bands and have gone thourgh cranial technology? Do you have any advice? What are your thoughts on the DOC bands? Any one have any luck with insurance coverage? How do they cast

the head? Does it hurt? I am pretty scared and would love to hear from all of you!Thanks so much,Lea For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

First, let me say that my daughter is in her 2nd DOC Band and it is

something I don't regret at all.

That said, I have to travel 5 hours (one-way) 1-2 times a week for

adjustments. I have 7 mo twins and a 2 year old travelling with me.

If your child's headshape is straight-forward plagiocephaly (my

daughter has scaphocephaly), I would look for an option closer to

home. CT does a great job, but the travel can be VERY difficult if

you have experienced techs nearby.

I know the neuro said surgery or no treatment, but that is just

stupid, arrogant, and uninformed. Most doctors (even surgeons)

wouldn't have told you that unless your child's sutures are fused.

Some neuros (not all!!) are just extremely dismissive about plagio...

I think it is worth a second LOCAL opinion. You might just ask your

regular pediatrician if he/she knows if there is anyone doing helmets

in NV (STARbands, Hanger, etc) or a town closer than San Diego. If

you would like to see another specialist, try going to a

cranialfacial surgeon (usually work with the neuro in

craniosynostosis surgeries). Generally, they are plastic surgeons

(plenty of those in Las Vegas!) who do some pediatric reconstructive

stuff as part of their practice. I've found that the

cranialfacilal/plastic specialist typically is more sympathetic

to " cosmetic " issues and not as dismissive.

I know I've seen members from Las Vegas who were receiving treatment

locally, so I know SOMEONE is doing bands. If you can't find anything

in the database section, look on orthomerica.com (STARband) website.

Anyway, the DOC is an excellent product and I am not in ANY way

trying to ward you off, but until 7 mo, you will have to be adjusted

at least 1 time a week and may have to make extra trips if you have

problems. It can be VERY hard if you have more convenient choices.

Blythe, 7 mo, moderate scapocephaly, Side Opening DOC 4.5-6 mo, Bi-

Cal DOC 6.5- ???

Charlotte 7 mo and Hardy 2.5 yrs

--- In Plagiocephaly , " Ask me " <mad_molly76@y...>

wrote:

>

> Hi there. I am new to this group and I am looking for some

advice.

> I took my 4 months old to a neurosurgeon at the advice of my

> peditrician and he said surgery or nothing.....hum...! So i made

an

> appointment with cranial technologies for the 17th of November. I

am

> traveling to San Diego, CA from Pahurmp, NV because all Las Vegas

has

> is Neurosurgeons. I need another alternative to surgery. She has

> been diagnosised with deformational plagiocephaly. She has a flat

> area on the back left side of her head with ear misalignment and

> forehead bowing.

> I was wondering how many of you have used the DOC bands and have

gone

> thourgh cranial technology? Do you have any advice? What are your

> thoughts on the DOC bands? Any one have any luck with insurance

> coverage? How do they cast the head? Does it hurt?

> I am pretty scared and would love to hear from all of you!

> Thanks so much,

> Lea

[Guest guest]

I traveled from Seattle to San Diego CT for my older baby and they

were absolutely wonderful. The travel is rough but worth it--it is an

investment that will last your child's whole life.

Your doctors sound like asses, as mine were. I am so glad you didn't

listen and are getting treatment. Hopefully when your child is fixed

you will take some literature to those docs and maybe the local

hospitals with information so more parents don't have to go through

what you are going through. But first things first--take care of you.

Eat chocolate, kiss that baby, and just know that CT will absolutely

help your baby and are highly experienced and helpful. I was really

happy with the care my son got, and they repeatedly went the extra

mile to save me money and help me out.

Casting does not hurt. Lots of babies don't like it, and many cry,

but they stop as soon as it's over and then have fun in the tub.

Casting is still the most accurate way to make a helmet. My son hated

the casting, but it only lasts for a few minutes.

There may be some options in your area, so check those out first.

Starband and Hanger come to mind. Just make sure the ortho you choose

is experienced. Cranial Tech is so revered precisely because the

orthos are highly trained and don't make the kind of godawful

mistakes less experienced orthos make. In my opinion it's worth the

travel to go to a place where you completely trust the ortho.

, 23 mos, DOC Grad 9/7

>

>

> >

> > Hi there. I am new to this group and I am looking for some

> advice.

> > I took my 4 months old to a neurosurgeon at the advice of my

> > peditrician and he said surgery or nothing.....hum...! So i made

> an

> > appointment with cranial technologies for the 17th of November.

I

> am

> > traveling to San Diego, CA from Pahurmp, NV because all Las Vegas

> has

> > is Neurosurgeons. I need another alternative to surgery. She

has

> > been diagnosised with deformational plagiocephaly. She has a

flat

> > area on the back left side of her head with ear misalignment and

> > forehead bowing.

> > I was wondering how many of you have used the DOC bands and have

> gone

> > thourgh cranial technology? Do you have any advice? What are

your

> > thoughts on the DOC bands? Any one have any luck with insurance

> > coverage? How do they cast the head? Does it hurt?

> > I am pretty scared and would love to hear from all of you!

> > Thanks so much,

> > Lea