Advise? Assymetry remains, but 2nd band NOT recommended

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she turned

1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd band for

her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4 (normal

range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear, forehead, and

facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the band has

it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more resistant than

others. She said that once the band corrects the skull base, it

doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the skull

base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know what to

do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not recommended,

try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry fixes itself

or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has anyone done a

2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have experience with

post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's definitely

gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the assymetry, so

another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to think.

[Guest guest]

We just had our latest appointment at Cranial Technologies last

Friday and while my son's head shape has improved, he has only gone

from 6mm to 5mm facial asymmetry in the last 2 months. (Age 12

months to 14 months) We still have 2 more months to go, but the

ortho told me that the KEY to the asymmetry is the tort stretches.

I WISH he'd told me that 2 months ago when we got the band and I'd

have worked harder on the stretches. We can easily get him to turn

left, but he fights the tilting ones so much that I have to do them

after he falls asleep and some nights I'm so tired that I've just

skipped them. Since you daughter still has some tort, that may be

the cause. Good luck and let us know if you find out any other info

or treatment for facial asymmetry.

Sheila, mom to , 14 months, STARband 3/6-8/6, DOCband 9/6-?

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she

turned

> 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd band

for

> her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4 (normal

> range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear, forehead,

and

> facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the band

has

> it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more resistant

than

> others. She said that once the band corrects the skull base, it

> doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the skull

> base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know what to

> do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

recommended,

> try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry fixes

itself

> or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has anyone

done a

> 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have experience

with

> post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's definitely

> gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the assymetry,

so

> another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to think.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I totally understand, will graduate on Thursday from his 3rd

DOC band. The first did round out his head shape, but there was

still alot of asymmetry. The second improved more. Now with the

third ending, his head looks great. But, I can still see some

asymmetry. You really have to look to see it. I think we are more

critical than others when looking at our children. s tort

has been resolved for a few months now. The teck at cranial tech

told me to still do the neck stretches, that it can help up to 18

months. She said the ears straighten out the most from the

stretching. He is almost 17 months old , and hates when you try to

stretch him. Its so hard. As long as you feel like we do . That

you have done what ever you can . You should not feel bad about it

Patty

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she

> turned

> > 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd band

> for

> > her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4

(normal

> > range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear, forehead,

> and

> > facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the band

> has

> > it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more resistant

> than

> > others. She said that once the band corrects the skull base, it

> > doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the

skull

> > base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know what

to

> > do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

> recommended,

> > try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry fixes

> itself

> > or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has anyone

> done a

> > 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have experience

> with

> > post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> > daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's

definitely

> > gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the

assymetry,

> so

> > another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to

think.

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

To Patty and Sheila-

Thanks so much for your responses! For whatever reason, our DOCband

PT has never let on that the tort. can cause asymmetry. But I

started getting the hint from reading other parents' messages, and

you guys just confirmed it for me. Thanks!

I was wondering... How often and for how long do you guys do the

stretching exercises? I'm starting to get more anxious about my

daughter's tort. because she's almost 14 mo., and it's definitely

gotten better, but it's still there. I'm starting to feel guilty

that maybe we haven't tried hard enough with the exercises. Do you

guys know if it's pretty common for a baby over age 1 to still be

affected by tort? Sheila: Are you too starting to wonder if your

son will need surgery to correct his neck? At what point does

surgery become necessary?

When you guys talk about your baby hating to be stretched, are you

talking about the exercise where you physically tilt their head to

the other side? Maybe I shouldn't have, but I actually stopped doing

that one once my daughter started fighting me on it. Instead, we do

the " tilt in space " exercise where we hold her sideways so she has to

tilt the other direction. We also do the " dangle " exercise where her

head dangles upside down. Our PT says this is the best stretching

exercise there is because it stretches all of the neck muscles. My

daughter doesn't mind these exercises too much, so maybe you could

try them if you already haven't!

> > >

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she

> > turned

> > > 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd band

> > for

> > > her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4

> (normal

> > > range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear, forehead,

> > and

> > > facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the band

> > has

> > > it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more resistant

> > than

> > > others. She said that once the band corrects the skull base, it

> > > doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the

> skull

> > > base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know what

> to

> > > do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

> > recommended,

> > > try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry fixes

> > itself

> > > or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has anyone

> > done a

> > > 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have experience

> > with

> > > post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> > > daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's

> definitely

> > > gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the

> assymetry,

> > so

> > > another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to

> think.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

No, we haven't considered surgery yet. We've only been doing the

exercises for about 2 months so I don't think that's enough time to

say it's not working. Right now I suspect the main problem is that

I could never get him to stand the 'ear to shoulder' stretch, so I

focused mainly on strengthening the other side. I've recently

discovered that I can easily do that stretch if I wait about 10-15

mintues after he falls asleep at night.

The DOCband ortho told us to do 3 sets of each stretch (look left

and tilt right) 5 times a day (15 reps total). Since I work full

time that's impossible, so we've been doing about 10-15 minutes

of 'left' stretches and tilt strengething in the morning and 30

minutes in the evening. I've also just added 10 minutes of 'tilt'

stretches after he falls asleep. It's not an orthodox schedule, but

it's about all I can fit in, so I hope it's enough!

Sheila, mom to , 14 months

> > > >

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > >

> > > > My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she

> > > turned

> > > > 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd

band

> > > for

> > > > her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4

> > (normal

> > > > range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear,

forehead,

> > > and

> > > > facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the

band

> > > has

> > > > it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more

resistant

> > > than

> > > > others. She said that once the band corrects the skull

base, it

> > > > doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the

> > skull

> > > > base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know

what

> > to

> > > > do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

> > > recommended,

> > > > try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry

fixes

> > > itself

> > > > or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has

anyone

> > > done a

> > > > 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have

experience

> > > with

> > > > post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> > > > daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's

> > definitely

> > > > gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the

> > assymetry,

> > > so

> > > > another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to

> > think.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have a question regarding asymmetry. I totally understand how the

torticollis causes the asymmetry by pulling towards the tort side

(compounded by positioning), but don't get how stretching will help

it get better.(I understand that it will prevent it from getting

worse) When you speak of asymmetry, are the P.T.'s talking about the

facial tissue/muscles? Or are they talking about the bones around

the eye/cheek? It would be my understanding that the bones of the

head/face would grow proportionally to the way they are after helmet

treatment. However, the muscles and tissue of the jaw/cheek area

could change as a response to stretching and correcting the tilt.

I've been trying to figure this out for so long. I would love to

hear others' thoughts on this. How have your P.T.'s explained it???

Are they speaking of the bones when they talk about it getting

better, or just the tissue?

Thank you!

Tricia Reimer

> > > >

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > >

> > > > My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she

> > > turned

> > > > 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd

band

> > > for

> > > > her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4

> > (normal

> > > > range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear,

forehead,

> > > and

> > > > facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the

band

> > > has

> > > > it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more

resistant

> > > than

> > > > others. She said that once the band corrects the skull

base, it

> > > > doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the

> > skull

> > > > base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know

what

> > to

> > > > do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

> > > recommended,

> > > > try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry

fixes

> > > itself

> > > > or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has

anyone

> > > done a

> > > > 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have

experience

> > > with

> > > > post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> > > > daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's

> > definitely

> > > > gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the

> > assymetry,

> > > so

> > > > another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to

> > think.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tricia,

The DOCband location we visit (Cranial Therapies in LA) measures

asymmetry as the distance from the eyes to ear and nose to ear, so I

think they're talking about his ear moving forward more in line with

the other ear. His 'tort' side ear also appears lower to me. What

I don't think they're talking about is the overall head shape. I

also don't see how that can get better just with stretching. The

DOCband ortho seemed disappointed with my son's progress (only one

mm ear shift in two months), but to me his head looks SO much better

that I don't think the numbers tell the whole story. (Before the

DOCband the whole right side of my son's forehead looked a lot

flatter and more sloped than the other side and that seems to be

filling out.)

Sheila, mom to , 14 months, STARband 3/6-8/6, DOCband 9/6-?

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > >

> > > > > My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when

she

> > > > turned

> > > > > 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a

2nd

> band

> > > > for

> > > > > her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4

> > > (normal

> > > > > range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear,

> forehead,

> > > > and

> > > > > facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the

> band

> > > > has

> > > > > it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more

> resistant

> > > > than

> > > > > others. She said that once the band corrects the skull

> base, it

> > > > > doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with

the

> > > skull

> > > > > base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know

> what

> > > to

> > > > > do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

> > > > recommended,

> > > > > try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry

> fixes

> > > > itself

> > > > > or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has

> anyone

> > > > done a

> > > > > 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have

> experience

> > > > with

> > > > > post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> > > > > daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's

> > > definitely

> > > > > gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the

> > > assymetry,

> > > > so

> > > > > another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to

> > > think.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for your response. It's too bad the clinicians don't explain

exactly how resolving the tort is going to change the symmetry!

My daughter receives cranial sacral therapy once a week, and within

about 3 or 4 treatments (actually in the beginning she received it

twice a week) we noticed her tort side cheek just drop down more

even with the other. However this was all tissue. So I wondered if

maybe that was the asymmetry clinicians and P.T.'s are speaking of

when they say it will improve with stretching.

Tricia Reimer

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when

> she

> > > > > turned

> > > > > > 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a

> 2nd

> > band

> > > > > for

> > > > > > her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to

4

> > > > (normal

> > > > > > range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear,

> > forehead,

> > > > > and

> > > > > > facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that

the

> > band

> > > > > has

> > > > > > it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more

> > resistant

> > > > > than

> > > > > > others. She said that once the band corrects the skull

> > base, it

> > > > > > doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with

> the

> > > > skull

> > > > > > base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't

know

> > what

> > > > to

> > > > > > do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

> > > > > recommended,

> > > > > > try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry

> > fixes

> > > > > itself

> > > > > > or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has

> > anyone

> > > > > done a

> > > > > > 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have

> > experience

> > > > > with

> > > > > > post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time?

My

> > > > > > daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's

> > > > definitely

> > > > > > gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the

> > > > assymetry,

> > > > > so

> > > > > > another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to

> > > > think.

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila. Thanks for the input! It sounds to me like you're

getting enough exercises in. I mean if you think about it, assuming

a 10 second hold for each rep., they're only advising 150 seconds or

2.5 minutes total for each stretch every day! That's really not very

much! But I would think the more, the better!

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > >

> > > > > My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she

> > > > turned

> > > > > 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd

> band

> > > > for

> > > > > her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4

> > > (normal

> > > > > range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear,

> forehead,

> > > > and

> > > > > facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the

> band

> > > > has

> > > > > it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more

> resistant

> > > > than

> > > > > others. She said that once the band corrects the skull

> base, it

> > > > > doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the

> > > skull

> > > > > base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know

> what

> > > to

> > > > > do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

> > > > recommended,

> > > > > try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry

> fixes

> > > > itself

> > > > > or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has

> anyone

> > > > done a

> > > > > 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have

> experience

> > > > with

> > > > > post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> > > > > daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's

> > > definitely

> > > > > gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the

> > > assymetry,

> > > > so

> > > > > another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to

> > > think.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

We're kind of in the same situation. My soon 10-month-old son just

outgrew his first STARband and he still has a minor flat spot in the

back, and has obvious facial asymmetry. (His photos are in an album

named Larson.) I asked our ortho if we needed a second helmet, and he

looked at me like I was crazy. He's never had a baby move on to a

second helmet. I feel like there's still some progress to be made, but

I really don't want to use another helmet. As far as I can tell,

Larson doesn't have an issue with tort anymore and we never performed

any formal stretches with him. His tort was mild and resolved just by

repositioning him before we got his helmet.

Sorry I don't have any advise. I don't know if stretching can help

with facial issues or not. Just wanted to let you know that you're not

alone and I'm going to keep reading everyone's advise as well.

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she turned

> 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd band for

> her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4 (normal

> range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear, forehead, and

> facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the band has

> it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more resistant than

> others. She said that once the band corrects the skull base, it

> doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the skull

> base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know what to

> do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not recommended,

> try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry fixes itself

> or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has anyone done a

> 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have experience with

> post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's definitely

> gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the assymetry, so

> another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to think.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for replying! I don't really want to do another band either.

It's a pain. But on the other hand, I'm not satisfied with the

asymmetry that remains, and I can't stand to just sit and hope that

it gets better with time. After reading many messages from parents

and getting some helpful advise, I've concluded that I can do one of

two things. Either push really hard for another band even though

almost everyone else says no, no, no (including my husband), or try

getting a 2nd opinion. I feel like I should believe the Cranial

Tech. company and our PT that she's done, because they're supposed to

be the experts after all. So I guess I've decided to try getting a

2nd opinion from a neurosurgeon. I'm also going to try taking her to

a chiropractor in hopes that it will help with the tort. Other

parents recently informed me that tort. can cause a lot of the facial

and ear asymmetry. I know you said Larson's is resolved, but I've

read about other parents being advised to keep doing the exercises

because they help with the asymmetry. Hope this helps!

Good luck deciding what you think is best for Larson. It's nice to

know that I'm not alone in this stressful situation!

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > My daughter (now 13.5 mo. old) finished her Docband when she

turned

> > 1, and both her PT and Cranial Tech. do not recommend a 2nd band

for

> > her. Her cranial vault assymetry went from 14mm down to 4

(normal

> > range). Unfortunately she still has significant ear, forehead,

and

> > facial assymetry in my opinion. Her PT explained that the band

has

> > it's limits, and that some cases of assymetry are more resistant

than

> > others. She said that once the band corrects the skull base, it

> > doesn't have much more to offer, and the ears shift with the

skull

> > base. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't know what to

> > do. Should I insist on a 2nd band even though it's not

recommended,

> > try an alternative treatment, or just hope the assymetry fixes

itself

> > or accept that this is as good as it gets for her? Has anyone

done a

> > 2nd band just to fix assymetry? Or does anyone have experience

with

> > post-band assymetry fixing/not fixing itself over time? My

> > daughter's torticollis is still not gone yet, but it's definitely

> > gotten better. Is the tort. maybe causing a lot of the

assymetry, so

> > another band wouldn't do much good? I don't know what to think.

> >

> >

> >

>