Re: New here - this is our story

[Guest guest]

I am sorry that you have had a difficult time with the shoes and

bar. I would encourage you to go back to Dr. Dobbs and let him

treat the relapse. At 8 months of age, they should be able to treat

the relapsing fine. There are now new Markell shoes that should

help a bit in avoiding the development of sores.

and (3-17-99)

> Hi! We have 8 month old twins and our son, Zach was born with a

> right club foot. We live in a small town and the ortho here

casted

> him at 7 days and refered us to Dr. Dobbs in St. Louis. We saw

him

> and decided to go with the Ponsetti method. He was casted 8 weeks

> and then has his tendon release and a cast for 3 more weeks. Then

> he had his brace for 3 months all of the time but we had real

> problems there. He kept getting open sores and we tried

everything

> but he would ultimately have to be out of it occassionally for a

> medicated bandage to be put on for it to heal up so the brace

could

> go back on. We went to naps and nights at the end of October and

> have been very bad parents since then. He has not worn his dbb

much

> and his foot is starting to turn back in a little. I know we

should

> have been more dilligent but he just hated it so much and with

twins

> it is really hard to deal with a screaming child and another baby

> the same age, and I admit we took the easy road and let him beat

> us. I feel very guilty because now I am worried that he will need

> more casting and surgeries. Can anyone else advise me? We have a

> follow up appointment at the end of this month.

[Guest guest]

Hi I am sorry you have had so much trouble with the brace. We see

Dr.Dobbs also and I would highly recommend to talk to him and see if

your son is relapsing. It still can be fixed and keep the brace on no

matter what. I know it can be hard with a screaming child but just

keep telling yourself that you aren't being a bad parent that you are

doing this so his feet will be fixed and he can walk one day. Good

luck and let me know how everything goes.

(Isabella 10-12-02 bilateral cf)

> > Hi! We have 8 month old twins and our son, Zach was born with a

> > right club foot. We live in a small town and the ortho here

> casted

> > him at 7 days and refered us to Dr. Dobbs in St. Louis. We saw

> him

> > and decided to go with the Ponsetti method. He was casted 8

weeks

> > and then has his tendon release and a cast for 3 more weeks.

Then

> > he had his brace for 3 months all of the time but we had real

> > problems there. He kept getting open sores and we tried

> everything

> > but he would ultimately have to be out of it occassionally for a

> > medicated bandage to be put on for it to heal up so the brace

> could

> > go back on. We went to naps and nights at the end of October and

> > have been very bad parents since then. He has not worn his dbb

> much

> > and his foot is starting to turn back in a little. I know we

> should

> > have been more dilligent but he just hated it so much and with

> twins

> > it is really hard to deal with a screaming child and another baby

> > the same age, and I admit we took the easy road and let him beat

> > us. I feel very guilty because now I am worried that he will

need

> > more casting and surgeries. Can anyone else advise me? We have

a

> > follow up appointment at the end of this month.

[Guest guest]

I would also say to see Dr. Dobbs as soon as possible. My son also

sees him. He will get your little guys foot back on track. Just try

not to look back and make a new committment. No matter what set a

schedule with the shoes and don't let yourself get off track. I

can't imagine how difficult it was to have twins and have to deal

with this. But you can do it! In a couple of years you'll look back

and think how did we handle this and be amazed with how well you

did. You can do it--I know you can! When my son was born I had been

on bedrest and meds due to preterm labor for the previous 6 weeks and

we also moved on the day he was born. Then he was born with clubfoot

which we didn't know about. We also had a four-year-old at the time

that I had to care for while I was on bedrest. Luckily he was a very

good boy because my husband is a firefighter and works 24 hour

shifts. I have also had a few very challenging times with the DBB

since was born. We were very overwhelmed with it to begin

with. It took 2 people and about 20 minutes just to get it on. Of

course now one of us puts it on in about 3 minutes. About 8 months

ago I broke my knee and had to wear a knee immobilizer and had to use

crutches and partial weight bearing on that leg. That was

challenging to get him to bed with his shoes on. Also I had surgery

11 days ago and cannot lift over 20lbs (he weighs 30lbs). I have

been at his mercy! I have to get him to walk upstairs and his

brother helps him climb into his bed and then I put his shoes on

him. He is 28 months old. He doesn't always want to go to bed so

sometimes it takes us 30 minutes just to physically get to his

bedside for bedtime and nap! (Remeber his Dad is gone for 24 hours

at a time for work) But he has never missed a night in his DBB. In

the beginning of these difficult situations sometimes I become very

distressed thinking how am I going to do this and it seems

overwhelming. But in the end I think hey, this hasn't been so bad.

We did it! So don't look back, get on track, start all over from

here and I know you can do it! And in a couple of years you will

look back and be so proud of what you accomplished for your son.

Good luck, sorry this has been so long. Let us know how guys are

doing.

Best of luck-

Pam and (8-12-01)

> Hi! We have 8 month old twins and our son, Zach was born with a

> right club foot. We live in a small town and the ortho here casted

> him at 7 days and refered us to Dr. Dobbs in St. Louis. We saw him

> and decided to go with the Ponsetti method. He was casted 8 weeks

> and then has his tendon release and a cast for 3 more weeks. Then

> he had his brace for 3 months all of the time but we had real

> problems there. He kept getting open sores and we tried everything

> but he would ultimately have to be out of it occassionally for a

> medicated bandage to be put on for it to heal up so the brace could

> go back on. We went to naps and nights at the end of October and

> have been very bad parents since then. He has not worn his dbb

much

> and his foot is starting to turn back in a little. I know we

should

> have been more dilligent but he just hated it so much and with

twins

> it is really hard to deal with a screaming child and another baby

> the same age, and I admit we took the easy road and let him beat

> us. I feel very guilty because now I am worried that he will need

> more casting and surgeries. Can anyone else advise me? We have a

> follow up appointment at the end of this month.

[Guest guest]

Sorry, I wrote this prior to reading your other posts (I was a few

days behind). So I acutally wrote this prior to Dr. Dobbs and his

nurse contacting you. Good luck with whatever decision you decide is

best for your family.

Pam and (8-12-01)

> > Hi! We have 8 month old twins and our son, Zach was born with a

> > right club foot. We live in a small town and the ortho here

casted

> > him at 7 days and refered us to Dr. Dobbs in St. Louis. We saw

him

> > and decided to go with the Ponsetti method. He was casted 8

weeks

> > and then has his tendon release and a cast for 3 more weeks.

Then

> > he had his brace for 3 months all of the time but we had real

> > problems there. He kept getting open sores and we tried

everything

> > but he would ultimately have to be out of it occassionally for a

> > medicated bandage to be put on for it to heal up so the brace

could

> > go back on. We went to naps and nights at the end of October and

> > have been very bad parents since then. He has not worn his dbb

> much

> > and his foot is starting to turn back in a little. I know we

> should

> > have been more dilligent but he just hated it so much and with

> twins

> > it is really hard to deal with a screaming child and another baby

> > the same age, and I admit we took the easy road and let him beat

> > us. I feel very guilty because now I am worried that he will

need

> > more casting and surgeries. Can anyone else advise me? We have

a

> > follow up appointment at the end of this month.