Visist with Dr. Dobbs

[Guest guest]

Just returned from a visit to Shriner's with Dr. Dobbs. He said

's feet look great. Before we saw him the nurse sent us to the

shop to get his shoes and brace length checked. Usually things go

okay (I say ususally because we have had problems before) with the

brace shop. But I am not happy with them right now. The orthotist

had us to put 's shoes on and he said okay, they are fine. I

said, " No, we have had these shoes for 8 months now and he is

begining to pull one of his feet out in the early morning hours

because they are uncomfortable and he says it's too tight. " (He's

almost 3--he's pretty good about telling you what's wrong.) His toes

on one foot come to almost the end of the shoe, but are not hanging

off. This is usually where he begins feeling uncomfortable. Well

the orthotist says these are a size 5 right? And I say yes and he

says these shoes don't come any larger that that. (And thankfully

due to the time I spend on this board each day trying to keep up with

all the latest on caring for my child) I say no, that's not correct,

these shoes go up to a size 8 and due to an increase in some kids

relapsing due to growth spurts when they are in their third year

Markwell has put a size 8 1/2 and 9 into production. So he goes and

looks and comes back and said I was wrong I found a size 5 1/2, but I

don't know what you're going to do after that because my supervisor

doesn't order them past that. Isn't the Dr. going to be taking him

out of them soon anyway. I said I don't know I haven't seen the Dr.

yet, but I know we're not getting out of them now because he is still

tolerating them well and the risk for relapse is too high for me. We

also can't extend the length of his bar any and according to the way

Dr. Dobbs checks it it is exactly right right now. The orthotis said

it's actually too wide right now because HE (the orthotist) measures

from the middle of his leg and not from his heels. So we have a

shoes that are a half size bigger and a bar that has no room to

grow. We definitely won't make it six months on that. I'm not upset

with Dr. Dobbs he said to e-mail him as soon as we start to see that

he is going to have problems. But the brace shop upsets me. Bracing

is such an important part of this treatment. We have worked so hard,

never missed a night in the shoes and they almost have an attitude

like sorry, can't help you anymore. They should be encouraging and

trying to do things to help not be an obstacle you have to overcome.

Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful to Shriner's. We were able to

see Dr. Dobbs and not have to fight our insurance and pay out of

network. And when I first went there I would never dream of

complaining over anything they did. I am so thankful for what they

have done for us, but you don't want results comprimised. If I

didn't know the things that I do I probably would have a different

attitude toward the shoes like why do we still need them? That guy

didn't even know they come that big and he's an orthotist and he

thinks it's time for not to have them anymore. But thankfully

from reading this board I know better. But what about the next

person?

Pam and (8-12-01)