Re: new here with clubfoot... LONG POST

[Guest guest]

Wow, once again I have the shivers at all these doctors who are mistreating our

babies! I'm so glad you found the right care!

s.

new here with clubfoot... LONG POST

hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found out at

my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle had

clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My baby

Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well known

hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

" practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.) I

thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she was

the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I was

told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple days

before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking for

treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at Shriners

who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee. A

heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt have

a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit and

put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but she

hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and hopefully

it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to thank

you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3 month

old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah

[Guest guest]

I'm so glad it's working out for you! Kudos for knowing your doc

wasn't right & taking the initiative to find a new one! I know

there's others on here who have more experience with Dr. Lehrman,

and I'm sure they'll chime in (Kori, right?) And can I just say--3

WEEKS in a cast for a rapidly growing newborn???? You're kidding,

right???!!?!? What is with these doctors??? AAARRRGGHH!! >:-[

-- In nosurgery4clubfoot , " sheilahp1975 "

<sheilahp@s...> wrote:

> hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found

out at

> my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle

had

> clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

> research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

> realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My

baby

> Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well

known

> hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

> " practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

> casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.)

I

> thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she

was

> the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

> could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I

was

> told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple

days

> before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

> Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

> about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

> chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

> wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

> states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

> right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

> foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking

for

> treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at

Shriners

> who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

> appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

> appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee.

A

> heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

> miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

> tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

> difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt

have

> a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit

and

> put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but

she

> hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and

hopefully

> it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to

thank

> you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

> hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3

month

> old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Sheilah & Brooklyn,

I'm so sorry that your sweet baby had to endure some rotten care

initially. There are few things as frustrating to me as doctors who

proclaim to use the Ponseti method when they actually aren't. It

sounds like this first doctor wasn't even a tiny bit close to using

the Ponseti method. If you're a motivated (and maybe a bit

vindictive) sort of mom, I would suggest that you print off the

Global HELP booklet on the Ponseti method and mail copies to both

your previous doctor and the head of her department (or the chief of

staff) to inform them that the treatment they are providing is

definitely *not* the Ponseti method and they should stop telling

families that this is what they're using. It's borderline

malpractice.

I'm very glad that you'd done some research to know that they were

not doing things right and sought out another doctor.

I know that Naomi's son, Jonah, goes to Dr. Lehrman and they're very

happy there.

Glad you came out of lurkdom to share your story! Please keep us

posted on Brooklyn's progress as you're able.

Regards,

& (3-16-00, left clubfoot)

> hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found

out at

> my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle

had

> clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

> research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

> realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My

baby

> Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well

known

> hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

> " practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

> casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.)

I

> thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she

was

> the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

> could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I

was

> told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple

days

> before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

> Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

> about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

> chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

> wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

> states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

> right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

> foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking

for

> treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at

Shriners

> who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

> appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

> appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee.

A

> heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

> miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

> tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

> difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt

have

> a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit

and

> put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but

she

> hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and

hopefully

> it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to

thank

> you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

> hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3

month

> old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah

[Guest guest]

Congratulations! I am so happy your daughter's feet look good, and you followed

your instincts. Welcome to the group.

new here with clubfoot... LONG POST

hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found out at

my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle had

clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My baby

Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well known

hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

" practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.) I

thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she was

the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I was

told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple days

before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking for

treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at Shriners

who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee. A

heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt have

a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit and

put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but she

hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and hopefully

it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to thank

you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3 month

old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah

[Guest guest]

Sheilah, that's great that you stuck with your gut instinct and realized that

doctor didn't have a clue! I think any doctor who says they use the Ponseti

Method should damn well do it correctly. I wonder how often they've really had

no clue and those children eventually ended up in surgery because nothing was

happening. BUG!! It drives me crazy our first doctor was the same way. After

the second casting and obviously no real care for my child we went somewhere

else as well.

Don't kid yourself, you know more than you think. Stick to the research and if

something is really bothering you check here or ask Dr. Ponseti himself they're

great at getting back to you.

Good for you and GREAT for your daughter.

Jenn & Aidan (blcf 12/7)

sheilahp1975 wrote:

hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found out at

my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle had

clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My baby

Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well known

hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

" practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.) I

thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she was

the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I was

told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple days

before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking for

treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at Shriners

who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee. A

heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt have

a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit and

put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but she

hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and hopefully

it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to thank

you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3 month

old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheilah-

Love the name Brooklyn! I saw your post and had to reply. My daughter,

, was born on August 6th and she was casted 6 days old by Dr. Lerman in

Sacramento @ Shriners. He is a godsend. Like your family, my husband and I

found out in an ultrasound. In fact, the tech was looking at my placenta and

saw her clubfeet--so we were able to research and get prepared before she

arrived. And she was 5 weeks early. These support groups are wonderful, this

is where I found resources and people answered questions. In fact, I met Naomi,

who is part of this support group and we met for ice cream during her family's

visit to Shriner's. And Jonah is such a cutie and keeps her busy. Remember

this is correctable and Dr. Lerman will take great care of your little one. It

is just an obstacle and before you know it we'll be chasing our babies around

wishing they were still at the newborn stage. Good luck to you and keep us

posted!

Krishna

sheilahp1975 wrote:

hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found out at

my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle had

clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My baby

Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well known

hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

" practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.) I

thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she was

the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I was

told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple days

before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking for

treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at Shriners

who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee. A

heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt have

a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit and

put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but she

hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and hopefully

it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to thank

you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3 month

old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah

[Guest guest]

Sheilah and Brooklyn,

Welcome to the group! We're glad you found us.

We are also in Northern CA--really north, in the Arcata/Eureka area. We drive

down to Sacramento for our son's treatment. He's actually treated by a

colleague of Dr Lerman's, Dr Boakes. We've met several times with Dr

Lerman though and I can assure you that you are in good hands. He is a terrific

doctor and committed to the Ponseti method.

I have met/corresponded with several families now who were treated at UCSF,

allegedly with the Ponseti method, and NONE of those stories have been good

ones. It's a shame too (and it irks me to no end when physicians claim to be

doing the Ponseti method when they are NOT), because I think that is the place

most people in the Bay Area think of first when they need a specialist. Good

for you for seeking someone who actually follows the protocol!

We wish you and Brooklyn continued success!

Naomi

The Family

Naomi Hannah(02/21/01) Jonah(06/20/03, corrected bilateral clubfoot, FAB

14/7)

sheilahp1975 wrote:

hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found out at

my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle had

clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My baby

Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well known

hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

" practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.) I

thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she was

the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I was

told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple days

before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking for

treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at Shriners

who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee. A

heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt have

a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit and

put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but she

hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and hopefully

it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to thank

you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3 month

old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah

[Guest guest]

Sheilah and Brooklyn,

Welcome to the group! We're glad you found us.

We are also in Northern CA--really north, in the Arcata/Eureka area. We drive

down to Sacramento for our son's treatment. He's actually treated by a

colleague of Dr Lerman's, Dr Boakes. We've met several times with Dr

Lerman though and I can assure you that you are in good hands. He is a terrific

doctor and committed to the Ponseti method.

I have met/corresponded with several families now who were treated at UCSF,

allegedly with the Ponseti method, and NONE of those stories have been good

ones. It's a shame too (and it irks me to no end when physicians claim to be

doing the Ponseti method when they are NOT), because I think that is the place

most people in the Bay Area think of first when they need a specialist. Good

for you for seeking someone who actually follows the protocol!

We wish you and Brooklyn continued success!

Naomi

The Family

Naomi Hannah(02/21/01) Jonah(06/20/03, corrected bilateral clubfoot, FAB

14/7)

sheilahp1975 wrote:

hello my name is Sheilah I am in northern california and found out at

my 20 week ultrasound my daughter had clubfoot. Turns out my uncle had

clubfoot as well. (my first daughter is fine.) So I did

research...looked here for answers as well as other places and

realized the Ponsetti method sounded like the best treatment. My baby

Brooklyn was born and I was referred my my pedi to UCSF (well known

hospital and well respected orthopedic pedi surgeon who also

" practiced " Ponsetti. We went and saw her and she was immediately

casted but her foot was not turned in any direction (just casted.) I

thought it was a waste of time but didnt say anything because she was

the doctor. She also had my husband hold Brooklyn's foot up so she

could cast it which he is not educated in this area. Afterwards I was

told to come back in three weeks and take the cast off a couple days

before the appointment. I found this very odd and not like the

Ponsetti method she said she was following.... I was feeling unsure

about this doctor but for some unknown reason I kept giving it a

chance. Well she fitted Brooklyn for bebax shoes to wear while she

wasnt in a cast and right on the literature you take with you it

states 'not for treatment of clubfoot' okay now something isnt

right... She fitted her for another cast, this time she turned her

foot but still said 'see you in three weeks'... I started looking for

treatment elsewhere in the meantime. I found Dr. Lehrman at Shriners

who follows Dr. Ponsetti YAY!!! it took a month for the first

appointment but I desperately wanted a second opinion.At my last

appointment with the first doctor she casted Brooklyn to her knee. A

heavy weighted plaster cast tugging on her knee(poor thing was

miserable) we ended up saying screw it and took the cast off and

tossed the bebax shoes to the side. we went to Shriners and what a

difference! Her foot has always been very flexible and she didnt have

a severe case to begin with so after two castings she has been fit and

put in Dennis Brown bar straight last shoes. I am so excited but she

hates them so far I have been reading your dbb tricks and hopefully

it only lasts a couple days! Sorry this is so long and I want to thank

you even though you didnt know it, all your postings have given me

hope, strength and the knowledge to find the best care for my 3 month

old daughter!!!!!! You guys are great! Love, Sheilah