Tenotomy Today

[Guest guest]

My precious daughter had a tenotomy on both of her feet today and then they were

casted. Because she has severe, atypical club feet, her tenotomies were done in

the middle of the casting instead of the end of the process so she'll continue

to get casts changed over the next few weeks.

However, I have a question or two. When we were leaving the office the Dr. said

that some blood would seep through the cast at the site and that was perfectly

normal so not to worry. By the time we got home (10 minutes tops) one foot was

already seeping through. Is this really normal? Also, we were told to keep her

feet elevated for a few days and that it would help with the pain. However she

has other health problems and must have her torso elevated as well during and

for 90 minutes after each feeding. It seems they are mutually exclusive. Any

ideas? Finally, I had read so much about this procedure here and thought that

it was not painful at all. Poor is quite miserable and I am beside

myself. When does the pain stop? How long will it take for her to be able to

move her legs or have us move them without experiencing pain? She's on tylenol

with codeine but it isn't stopping the pain completely at all. HELP!!!

Chris

[Guest guest]

Sorry to read about 's difficulty with the tenotomy. Is she crying

constantly and inconsolably? Our daughter did feel some pain too for the

first day but I don't remember it being constant. As for the blood, it is

normal for a spot the size of a quarter or a bit bigger to form. It's also

normal for one foot to bleed more than the other.

I wish I could help more but thought you could at least be reassured about

the bleeding.

Dan

Tenotomy Today

My precious daughter had a tenotomy on both of her feet today and then they

were casted. Because she has severe, atypical club feet, her tenotomies

were done in the middle of the casting instead of the end of the process so

she'll continue to get casts changed over the next few weeks.

However, I have a question or two. When we were leaving the office the Dr.

said that some blood would seep through the cast at the site and that was

perfectly normal so not to worry. By the time we got home (10 minutes tops)

one foot was already seeping through. Is this really normal? Also, we were

told to keep her feet elevated for a few days and that it would help with

the pain. However she has other health problems and must have her torso

elevated as well during and for 90 minutes after each feeding. It seems

they are mutually exclusive. Any ideas? Finally, I had read so much about

this procedure here and thought that it was not painful at all. Poor

is quite miserable and I am beside myself. When does the pain stop? How

long will it take for her to be able to move her legs or have us move them

without experiencing pain? She's on tylenol with codeine but it isn't

stopping the pain completely at all. HELP!!!

Chris

[Guest guest]

Hi

I'm sorry you and are having such a rough time of it! For Jake,

the first day was definitely the worst. He had his surgery bright &

early at 7am...he would sleep for a couple hours at a time, and then

wake up shrieking from the pain! Our dr only allowed tylenol, but I

don't think it really helped much. All I could do was try to comfort

him as best I could, and nursing really helped (he got that cuddle time

with me and it would put him back to sleep). Like I said before, the

first day was the worst, and even by that evening he was pretty much

back to his usual self.

About the bleeding, I'd suggest calling your dr's office about it. We

were told by our dr that Jake's might seep thru a little, but we didn't

have any bleeding at all. So I'd give your dr a call, it never hurts to

just ask about it.

As far as trying to keep her legs elevated...you could try just folding

a blanket and putting that under her legs. Then, even when she's

sitting up after feedings, they wouldn't be too high. The main reason

for elevating the legs is to help decrease any bleeding and swelling

that she could get in her heels from the surgery. I don't know that

they need to be elevated really really high or anything, so maybe just a

folded blanket or towel would do the trick.

Good luck, and tomorrow will definitely be better for you both.

Kassia

mommy to 3/22/01 (Lt club foot)

and 11/22/02

[Guest guest]

Hi there

So sorry you are having a nasty time of it.

My son (unilateral left clubfoot)had his tenotomy done

twice, and we had very different experiences with them.

The first time he was as you describe your daughter, absolutely

inconsolable. I could see him fles his leg and his eyes would shoot

open with the pain and he would scream and scream. It also bled alot

and he had a toonie sized blood stain in his cast. He hardly slept

that night, lots of short naps broken up with loud crying. He was

better the next day but still pretty bad. I would say it took 2-3

full days before he was himself again.

The second time was totally different. After the tenotomy he had a

massive nap for about 3 hours, and when he woke he was fine. no

crying...nothing. And it didn't even bleed.

Basically every child is different and every tenotomy is different.

Trust your instincts, if it is bleeding too much or your baby girl is

too upset you will know. If you are in doubt take her in. It can't

hurt.

Hope she is feeling better soon.

Ruth

Mum to Ben born March 31, 2003 left clubfoot

Now in DBB nights and naps.

> My precious daughter had a tenotomy on both of her feet today and

then they were casted. Because she has severe, atypical club feet,

her tenotomies were done in the middle of the casting instead of the

end of the process so she'll continue to get casts changed over the

next few weeks.

>

> However, I have a question or two. When we were leaving the office

the Dr. said that some blood would seep through the cast at the site

and that was perfectly normal so not to worry. By the time we got

home (10 minutes tops) one foot was already seeping through. Is this

really normal? Also, we were told to keep her feet elevated for a

few days and that it would help with the pain. However she has other

health problems and must have her torso elevated as well during and

for 90 minutes after each feeding. It seems they are mutually

exclusive. Any ideas? Finally, I had read so much about this

procedure here and thought that it was not painful at all. Poor

is quite miserable and I am beside myself. When does the pain

stop? How long will it take for her to be able to move her legs or

have us move them without experiencing pain? She's on tylenol with

codeine but it isn't stopping the pain completely at all. HELP!!!

>

> Chris

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Dan. I called the dr. and he had us come in right away. He took the

cast off to be sure she was fine and then recast her. She's been much better

since. Don't know what changed unless the case was bothering her... I'm just

glad she's doing better. Then again the tylenol with codeine could have

something to do with that! LOL

Tenotomy Today

My precious daughter had a tenotomy on both of her feet today and then they

were casted. Because she has severe, atypical club feet, her tenotomies

were done in the middle of the casting instead of the end of the process so

she'll continue to get casts changed over the next few weeks.

However, I have a question or two. When we were leaving the office the Dr.

said that some blood would seep through the cast at the site and that was

perfectly normal so not to worry. By the time we got home (10 minutes tops)

one foot was already seeping through. Is this really normal? Also, we were

told to keep her feet elevated for a few days and that it would help with

the pain. However she has other health problems and must have her torso

elevated as well during and for 90 minutes after each feeding. It seems

they are mutually exclusive. Any ideas? Finally, I had read so much about

this procedure here and thought that it was not painful at all. Poor

is quite miserable and I am beside myself. When does the pain stop? How

long will it take for her to be able to move her legs or have us move them

without experiencing pain? She's on tylenol with codeine but it isn't

stopping the pain completely at all. HELP!!!

Chris

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kassia. I did go back to the Dr. and he changed the casts - she's been

better since. We have used rolled towels under her casts since the first ones

in the NICU. Our problem is elevating both ends of her body at the same time...

it's a challenge. Can you tell me how long you need to keep her feet elevated?

Re: Tenotomy Today

Hi

I'm sorry you and are having such a rough time of it! For Jake,

the first day was definitely the worst. He had his surgery bright &

early at 7am...he would sleep for a couple hours at a time, and then

wake up shrieking from the pain! Our dr only allowed tylenol, but I

don't think it really helped much. All I could do was try to comfort

him as best I could, and nursing really helped (he got that cuddle time

with me and it would put him back to sleep). Like I said before, the

first day was the worst, and even by that evening he was pretty much

back to his usual self.

About the bleeding, I'd suggest calling your dr's office about it. We

were told by our dr that Jake's might seep thru a little, but we didn't

have any bleeding at all. So I'd give your dr a call, it never hurts to

just ask about it.

As far as trying to keep her legs elevated...you could try just folding

a blanket and putting that under her legs. Then, even when she's

sitting up after feedings, they wouldn't be too high. The main reason

for elevating the legs is to help decrease any bleeding and swelling

that she could get in her heels from the surgery. I don't know that

they need to be elevated really really high or anything, so maybe just a

folded blanket or towel would do the trick.

Good luck, and tomorrow will definitely be better for you both.

Kassia

mommy to 3/22/01 (Lt club foot)

and 11/22/02

[Guest guest]

Ruth, THanks for sharing. She's better today but still completely annoyed when

her legs are bothered. One leg seems to be sitting weird, too. Not her normal,

open lay if you know what I mean. I hope she settles down for her sake soon!

Chris

Re: Tenotomy Today

Hi there

So sorry you are having a nasty time of it.

My son (unilateral left clubfoot)had his tenotomy done

twice, and we had very different experiences with them.

The first time he was as you describe your daughter, absolutely

inconsolable. I could see him fles his leg and his eyes would shoot

open with the pain and he would scream and scream. It also bled alot

and he had a toonie sized blood stain in his cast. He hardly slept

that night, lots of short naps broken up with loud crying. He was

better the next day but still pretty bad. I would say it took 2-3

full days before he was himself again.

The second time was totally different. After the tenotomy he had a

massive nap for about 3 hours, and when he woke he was fine. no

crying...nothing. And it didn't even bleed.

Basically every child is different and every tenotomy is different.

Trust your instincts, if it is bleeding too much or your baby girl is

too upset you will know. If you are in doubt take her in. It can't

hurt.

Hope she is feeling better soon.

Ruth

Mum to Ben born March 31, 2003 left clubfoot

Now in DBB nights and naps.

> My precious daughter had a tenotomy on both of her feet today and

then they were casted. Because she has severe, atypical club feet,

her tenotomies were done in the middle of the casting instead of the

end of the process so she'll continue to get casts changed over the

next few weeks.

>

> However, I have a question or two. When we were leaving the office

the Dr. said that some blood would seep through the cast at the site

and that was perfectly normal so not to worry. By the time we got

home (10 minutes tops) one foot was already seeping through. Is this

really normal? Also, we were told to keep her feet elevated for a

few days and that it would help with the pain. However she has other

health problems and must have her torso elevated as well during and

for 90 minutes after each feeding. It seems they are mutually

exclusive. Any ideas? Finally, I had read so much about this

procedure here and thought that it was not painful at all. Poor

is quite miserable and I am beside myself. When does the pain

stop? How long will it take for her to be able to move her legs or

have us move them without experiencing pain? She's on tylenol with

codeine but it isn't stopping the pain completely at all. HELP!!!

>

> Chris

>

>

[Guest guest]

<>

I would think probably just for a couple of days or so. I'm glad to

hear 's doing better.

Kassia