Guest guest Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 Thank you so much for all of your input into our surgery decision. I had my husband look at Dr. Ponseti's website and we both feel we want to research this method some more before we agree to such an invasive surgery. My husband actually cried and couldn't believe we never took the time before to do a little research on clubfoot. I've e-mailed Dr. Ponseti explaining our situation and asking him if it's too late to try his method since my son is already nine months old. That is my husband's concern is that it's too late. If anyone knows of a doctor in Maine who is trained in this method please let me know. Otherwise we will probably go to Massachusetts for a second opinion. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate all of your advice because I've been dreading the idea of surgery and now I feel like we have another alternative. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 That's great , I hope you can find a doctor in your area who can give you the info you are wanting. I don't think it is too late for your son to start the method. Let us know what you hear back from Dr Ponseti. Mia > Thank you so much for all of your input into our surgery decision. I > had my husband look at Dr. Ponseti's website and we both feel we want > to research this method some more before we agree to such an invasive > surgery. My husband actually cried and couldn't believe we never took > the time before to do a little research on clubfoot. > > I've e-mailed Dr. Ponseti explaining our situation and asking him if > it's too late to try his method since my son is already nine months > old. That is my husband's concern is that it's too late. > > If anyone knows of a doctor in Maine who is trained in this method > please let me know. Otherwise we will probably go to Massachusetts > for a second opinion. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate > all of your advice because I've been dreading the idea of surgery and > now I feel like we have another alternative. Thanks again. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 , I'm very glad that you wrote to Dr. Ponseti. 9 months isn't too late.. Once when I was in Iowa, I met a couple who had come all the way from Spain, with their 9 month old boy, for treatment from Dr. Ponseti. He had responded wonderfully to the casting, and was doing great. The older the child is, though, it is all the more important to go to a doctor who is very skilled in the method. In your part of the country, the doctors on the list in New York City (Lehman, Feldman, etc.) have had quite a bit of experience. Also Dr. Herzenberg in Baltimore. I can't tell you much about the ones in Massachusetts. If you are considering going to one of them, I'd recommend that you ask Dr. Ponseti about them by name. You can also, of course, consider making a trip 'to the source', in Iowa. If you come from far away, the casting process is sped up, with casts changed every 5 days. Families come and stay in the Mc House near the hospital, and the feet can be corrected within a couple of weeks perhaps. Hang in there.. please let us know what you hear, and know how we can help.. We've been where you are! and Claire > Thank you so much for all of your input into our surgery decision. I > had my husband look at Dr. Ponseti's website and we both feel we want > to research this method some more before we agree to such an invasive > surgery. My husband actually cried and couldn't believe we never took > the time before to do a little research on clubfoot. > > I've e-mailed Dr. Ponseti explaining our situation and asking him if > it's too late to try his method since my son is already nine months > old. That is my husband's concern is that it's too late. > > If anyone knows of a doctor in Maine who is trained in this method > please let me know. Otherwise we will probably go to Massachusetts > for a second opinion. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate > all of your advice because I've been dreading the idea of surgery and > now I feel like we have another alternative. Thanks again. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 > I'm so glad to hear that you are going to give the Ponseti method a try. I'm sure that Dr. Ponseti will tell you that it most certainly is not too late to try with your 9 month old child. We took our daughter to see Dr. Ponseti at 5 months old. She had been casted with traditional casts from 7 days old right up to the day that we went to Iowa, but none of those casts had done anything to improve her severe clubfoot. In fact, many had made the situation worse. Dr. Ponseti was able to completely correct her clubfoot with just 4 more casts. In 4 short weeks we were completely done with casts and had moved onto the FAB portion of the protocol. Looking back, my only regret was not having gone sooner. We were aware of the Ponseti method shortly after Olivia's birth, but don't live near a Ponseti qualified physician. In our endevour to save some money we tried several doctors who claimed to be using the Ponseti method, but were in fact not. How will I know if the doctor we see is really using the Ponseti method? If they're listed on his website can I assume they're qualified? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 > I'm so glad to hear that you are going to give the Ponseti method a try. I'm sure that Dr. Ponseti will tell you that it most certainly is not too late to try with your 9 month old child. We took our daughter to see Dr. Ponseti at 5 months old. She had been casted with traditional casts from 7 days old right up to the day that we went to Iowa, but none of those casts had done anything to improve her severe clubfoot. In fact, many had made the situation worse. Dr. Ponseti was able to completely correct her clubfoot with just 4 more casts. In 4 short weeks we were completely done with casts and had moved onto the FAB portion of the protocol. Looking back, my only regret was not having gone sooner. We were aware of the Ponseti method shortly after Olivia's birth, but don't live near a Ponseti qualified physician. In our endevour to save some money we tried several doctors who claimed to be using the Ponseti method, but were in fact not. How will I know if the doctor we see is really using the Ponseti method? If they're listed on his website can I assume they're qualified? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 > I'm so glad to hear that you are going to give the Ponseti method a try. I'm sure that Dr. Ponseti will tell you that it most certainly is not too late to try with your 9 month old child. We took our daughter to see Dr. Ponseti at 5 months old. She had been casted with traditional casts from 7 days old right up to the day that we went to Iowa, but none of those casts had done anything to improve her severe clubfoot. In fact, many had made the situation worse. Dr. Ponseti was able to completely correct her clubfoot with just 4 more casts. In 4 short weeks we were completely done with casts and had moved onto the FAB portion of the protocol. Looking back, my only regret was not having gone sooner. We were aware of the Ponseti method shortly after Olivia's birth, but don't live near a Ponseti qualified physician. In our endevour to save some money we tried several doctors who claimed to be using the Ponseti method, but were in fact not. How will I know if the doctor we see is really using the Ponseti method? If they're listed on his website can I assume they're qualified? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 , So many people have been in your shoes and gone to doctors who wanted to do surgery. Why would you think they don't know what they were talking about? If this whole situation has taught me anything, it is to ALWAYS second guess a doctor (no offense to any doctors out there). The first guy may be right, but a few opinions can't hurt. Don't let yourselves feel bad! The Ponseti Method can be practiced on children up until 2 years old with great success. Since your son has had some treatment already he likely won't have to have too many casts, but even if it is 5-7, they are changed weekly. You will be on maintenance before you know it. I am glad you have written to Dr. P. I am sure he will further put your mind at ease about your little guys feet. Louisa 6-27-99 Zoe 2-22-04 RCF FAB 18/7 > Thank you so much for all of your input into our surgery decision. I > had my husband look at Dr. Ponseti's website and we both feel we want > to research this method some more before we agree to such an invasive > surgery. My husband actually cried and couldn't believe we never took > the time before to do a little research on clubfoot. > > I've e-mailed Dr. Ponseti explaining our situation and asking him if > it's too late to try his method since my son is already nine months > old. That is my husband's concern is that it's too late. > > If anyone knows of a doctor in Maine who is trained in this method > please let me know. Otherwise we will probably go to Massachusetts > for a second opinion. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate > all of your advice because I've been dreading the idea of surgery and > now I feel like we have another alternative. Thanks again. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 > Aw I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes for you and your husband. I know how it feels to suddenly wake up and find out all that misery was for nothing - and your poor child who suffered when he didn't have to. If we can do ANY thing, please write me. > s. Thanks, I really appreciate that. Once I know what doctor we're going to see I'll know if I need anything. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 > Aw I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes for you and your husband. I know how it feels to suddenly wake up and find out all that misery was for nothing - and your poor child who suffered when he didn't have to. If we can do ANY thing, please write me. > s. Thanks, I really appreciate that. Once I know what doctor we're going to see I'll know if I need anything. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 > Aw I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes for you and your husband. I know how it feels to suddenly wake up and find out all that misery was for nothing - and your poor child who suffered when he didn't have to. If we can do ANY thing, please write me. > s. Thanks, I really appreciate that. Once I know what doctor we're going to see I'll know if I need anything. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 > Hi, > In my understanding, yes if the doc is on the Ponseti list then they > have shown Dr. P proof that they are following the method correctly. > > Marilouise > 9/9/03, LCF, 3 week cast after 2nd tenotomy (12 days left) > Owen and 3/20/99 > > > How will I know if the doctor we see is really using the Ponseti > > method? If they're listed on his website can I assume they're > > qualified? Unfortunately.. it seems that not every doctor on the the list is equally proficient or remains true to every phase of it as designed, for whatever reason. So, parents need to be watchful. Here is a " checklist " at 's PonsetiLinks site, which includes things to ask and warning signs.. http://pages.ivillage.com/ponseti_links/id13.html Hope it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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