Re: SUCCESS IN AUSTIN TEXAS

November 6, 2003

Becky,

We live in Texas too. We live about 1 1/2 hours from Austin. It is a small

town named Cameron. Do you know where that is? Anyway, my son is Simon and

he is now 8 months old and has bi latteral c/f. He has been treated by Dr.

Haynes Brindley, Jr. at & White. I have been wanting a second opinion

from a Ponsetti doctor, but I couldn't locate on in Texas. Does she do the

method exactly? Simon's doctor is good, but he does deviate from Ponsetti

method. His way is still nonsurgical but I feel like I should make double

sure his feet are corrected fully. Can I get the number of your doctor. I

would love to talk more.

& Simon

>From: tblahuta8@...

>Reply-To: nosurgery4clubfoot

>To: nosurgery4clubfoot

>Subject: SUCCESS IN AUSTIN TEXAS

>Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 11:27:25 EST

>

>If anyone is looking for a Doctor in the Austin area Dr Prince has

>done a wonderful job with my son's bilateral club foot. His right foot

>especially, because it had a crease on the sole of the foot and was more

>difficult to

>correct. He is 10 1/2 weeks old and has been in shoes for a week. We were

>one

>of the lucky ones to be close to a MD using the Ponseti technique. I have

>yet

>to see a photo of a surgical foot but from the little I have read on the

>emails from the group, I didn't realize that benefit of not doing surgery.

>We were

>happy to go with the Ponseti technique just to avoid surgery. I think what

>has made me soo happy this last week was just to be able to feel and kiss

>my

>sons feet. Good Luck to all!

>Becky

>

November 6, 2003

Becky,

It's so nice to read about your positive experience.

Although we are far away from Texas (in Africa), your message touched a chord

with me. I still get excited every day I see my son's feet, and it's nearly 6

months now since he got out of his casts and into the DBB.

We will be forever grateful to Dr Ponseti for his method.

and

Born 24th Jan 2003, bilateral cf

Treated by Dr Ponseti in April

SUCCESS IN AUSTIN TEXAS

If anyone is looking for a Doctor in the Austin area Dr Prince has

done a wonderful job with my son's bilateral club foot. His right foot

especially, because it had a crease on the sole of the foot and was more

difficult to

correct. He is 10 1/2 weeks old and has been in shoes for a week. We were one

of the lucky ones to be close to a MD using the Ponseti technique. I have yet

to see a photo of a surgical foot but from the little I have read on the

emails from the group, I didn't realize that benefit of not doing surgery. We

were

happy to go with the Ponseti technique just to avoid surgery. I think what

has made me soo happy this last week was just to be able to feel and kiss my

sons feet. Good Luck to all!

Becky

November 7, 2003

Hi ,

Yes she does the Ponseti technique exactly as far as I know, she was also

trained with the French and Kite (spelling?) technique and prefers the Ponseti.

One of Dr Ponseti's partners came here to Austin a month or so ago to observe

and meet with the Doctors in their group. They even asked me to bring Blake in

so he (I can't remember the name I wish I would have written it down,

something like Dr Masenger?) could see his feet. Her name is Dr Prince

478-8116. Their whole staff has been wonderful. Her right hand man so to speak

is

her physical therapist , her extension is 1105, call her directly and

she can talk with you about your concerns and get you an appt. I really can't

say enough about how wonderful and Dr Prince are.

I know exactly where Cameron is. You said your son Simon is 8 months, what

makes you think is feet may not corrected? Because by eight months using the

Ponseti technique he should be in braces and only at night.

Becky

November 7, 2003

Becky,

Simon's docotr does not do the ponsetti method. I could never find a

doctor close enough to take him to. The reason I think his feet

aren't corrected fully is because his heel won't come down all the

way. He may need a tentonomy.He was in the dbb's at 3 1/2 months. He

went in them in June and was in them until mid October. He then

prescribed him afo's because the dbb's were causing sores. This is

when I noticed that his heel wasn't all the way down. He told me to

strech them. I would feel better with a second opinion. I wonder if

I will need a refferal. I am at work right now, but I am going to

call when I go to lunch. I will let you know what I find out. I am

really excited to find a Ponsetti doctor so close.This has been a

long 8 months knowing that Simon could be not getting the best

treatment. Thank you for joining this group.

& Simon]

> Hi ,

> Yes she does the Ponseti technique exactly as far as I know, she

was also

> trained with the French and Kite (spelling?) technique and prefers

the Ponseti.

> One of Dr Ponseti's partners came here to Austin a month or so ago

to observe

> and meet with the Doctors in their group. They even asked me to

bring Blake in

> so he (I can't remember the name I wish I would have written it

down,

> something like Dr Masenger?) could see his feet. Her name is Dr

Prince

> 478-8116. Their whole staff has been wonderful. Her right hand man

so to speak is

> her physical therapist , her extension is 1105, call her

directly and

> she can talk with you about your concerns and get you an appt. I

really can't

> say enough about how wonderful and Dr Prince are.

> I know exactly where Cameron is. You said your son Simon is 8

months, what

> makes you think is feet may not corrected? Because by eight months

using the

> Ponseti technique he should be in braces and only at night.

> Becky

November 7, 2003

Becky,

A dbb is also known as a fab( foot abduction brace) It is the brace

that Ponseti prescribes.Only that Simon's weren't set at the 70

degree angle like he does; they were set at 45 degrees. An afo is a

ankle foot orthotic. Basically, it is a piece of plastic that is

molded for the foot. It is attached with velcro.

I called Dr. Priest office and they don't accept Simon's insurance,

but he also has Medicaid as a second pay. She was going to talk to

the doctor and see if she would okay him for a patient. They are

supposed to call me Monday. His insurance has already okay out of

network doctor for & White because their was no qualified

doctor in the network. I don't think they would do for a doctor

farther away. The cost is staggerring. I got the bill for Simon's

afo's, and it was $1,200.00 only. I'm lucky that insurance covers

it.I let you know what Dr. Priest office says. I am still waiting to

hear back from Dr. Ponseti.

& Simon

hoogroups.com, tblahuta8@c... wrote:

> ,

> Call , Dr Prince's physical therapist 478-8116 x 1105. We

did the

> tenonomy 9-30, and it helped tremendously. What is dbb and afo? If

Dr Prince is

> not covered by your insurance you may want to see if they will

cover her out

> of network at 100%. This is what I had to do, because Dr Prince's

group is the

> only pediatric orthopedic specialists within 50 miles of my home,

and

> according to a law? or a BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield) protocol,

they by law must

> cover 100% of " customary and reasonable " I told BCBS that I wanted

a pediatric

> orthopedic specialist for my newborn. They agreed. The bad part is

I am having to

> pay out of pocket and them submit the claims myself to BCBS and

lets just say

> I have cried a few times, but I feel we will get reimbursed

reasonably, it

> just will likely take months to get it.

> Hope this helps, Becky

November 7, 2003

,

Just my two cents worth. We were refered to Dr. Brindley when we found out

about Lyssa's clubfeet while I was still pregnant. We decided to go with Texas

ish Rite Hospital in Dallas, and just this week we changed to Dr. Dobbs (on

Ponseti's list) at Shriners Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. We were not in any

position to be able to afford to pay for commercial flights or pay out of pocket

for a doctor. The Shriners hospital does not charge for its services, therefore

we do not have to pay for any of the braces or the casts or to see Dr. Dobbs.

We were also able to make arrangements with Wings of Hope to fly us to St. Louis

for our appointments. There is also Angel Flights that will fly patients to

doctors appointments, with them it takes two weeks to get set up to fly the

first time, and you have to give them at least 7 days notice for future flights.

With Wings of Hope I don't believe you have to give them that much notice. If

you really want to get a second opinion on Simon you might consider that option.

Here is the website for the St. Louis Shriners:

http://www.shrinershq.org/shc/stlouis/index.html. Just ask to speak with Dr.

Dobbs' nurse and she can help you. The Family Services dept. will help with the

flight arrangements.

Kathy and Lyssa (8/7/03, bilateral, casts (again!) )

>>> simon031003@... - 11/6/03 1:11 PM >>>