Ortho Appointment Today

We went to Maddy's ortho appointment this morning. Maddy had her xray, and then we go to a room to wait for the doctor. And let me say Maddy remembered the last visit because she started screaming and wanted to leave immeddiately. The doctor comes in, Maddy is still SCREAMING, we look at the x-ray. He says that he cannot see the left side clearly and wants another z-ray, but the right side looks funny to him now. I told him that I could not handle any more bad news. So off to x-ray we go AGAIN. This time the doctor comes in to hold Maddy's hips and legs the way he wants them. It takes 4 people to hold Maddy down for the x-rays this time. So then back to the room, to wait for the doctor again. When he comes in the room this time Maddy is hysterical. Kevin (hubby) has to take her out so that one of us can hear what the doctor has to say. The left side is good,it is in the correct position, blood supply good, that side is where it is supposed to be. Now the right side, he says that there is dysplasia on that side as well, although it is very mild. So I ask what our next step is. We are just going to watch both sides, the right side might correct itself. He said that when the kids reach age 4 the ball of the femur stops affecting the growth of the hip. The dysplasia, as simple definition as possible, is the hip socket is not cupping the ball of the femur, the hip is kinda straight instead of curving. So once she is 4 if the hip socket is not cupping the ball of the femur, surgery will be needed. It is a pretty big surgery, and she would be back in a spica cast. I was afraid to ask for how long.

Our next issue was that Maddy is not walking yet, and it looks to us that one of her legs (left) is longer than the other, a lot longer, like about 1.5 inches. The doctor lined her up, and her legs are the same length, thankfully. She is holding her pelvis crooked making it look like her legs are different lengths.

Next, her feet. The right foot is really curving inward. He felt both of her feet, and they are both still really flexible so he is not too worried. We are going to see if we can find bar for her Ponsetti shoes that is wide enough that she can wear it with her night cast (the purple cast, a couple of posts down).

He also prescribed physical therapy twice a week for her which will help her range of movement, and correct the way she is holding her pelvis. They are also going to work with keeping her feet stretched properly.

So we had a busy day. At the doctor's office from 10 to 1, and then after we made it back home. I was on the phone setting up appointments and such. Between taking 17 hours of college classes and PT twice a week, we are going to be a very busy family. I will try to update as much as possible, but please understand if it get a liitle long between posts. Although if you have any specific questions please ask and I will answer them the best I can and as quickly as I can. Questions from anon. posters will not be answered.

Out Of Spica Cast 2.5 Weeks

The swelling in Maddy's leg is gone, and we have a little progress to report. She has started moving her left leg on her own. When she crawls, she still scoots, but occasionally uses the left leg as well. She can pull up to a standing position, and occasionally puts some weight on the left leg. She can climb on the couch totally by herself. We aren't to the cruising stage yet, but slowly I am sure we will get there.

Maddy has a ortho appt. on the 23rd, we will get an x-ray done to make sure her leg is still in the hip socket. My biggest fear is that it will be out of socket, and then she will need an open reduction which is a huge surgery.

I am definitely going to push for physical therapy (PT), at this next appt. I have learned about Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). They will come to our house and do PT with Maddy. So if the doctor won't prescribe PT I am going to go the ECI route. ECI might be easier anyway beacause I start school next week, and I am taking 17 hours.

Senthil-I am here if you have any questions. I started this blog to help others. Everytime, Maddy has had an issue I have looked to others that have gone through the same situations for help and ideas, and with questions.