Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

OK, so a little background: Ava was breech and born via c-section. Her legs were kind of pulled up towards her chest in a crossed/pretzel type of shape while she was in utero and so it took a long time for her to relax them after birth. The doctor sent her for a hip sonogram when she was 6 weeks old to make sure she didn't have hip dysplasia, which she did not. As she started to grow and develop and walk, I noticed that her left leg would turn almost entirely around when she would pivot to turn on it. I was concerned and so I asked my ped. to check out her legs at her one year appt. Her legs went in at the knees a bit, as well, and he said that it would most likely correct itself and to not worry. I did a lot of reading on the subject and basically everything I read said that in the past, dr.s would jump to put kids in a brace for this or to perform surgery, but that now many doctors leave a child's legs along until they are 5 before they do anything about it.
All this time, my mother has been hounding me to take her to the doctor, and my feeling was that I trusted my pediatrician and what I had read and that if it got worse or I read something different, etc., that I would take her to a specialist.
So, now she's 2, and I am noticing more and more that her legs are really not right. I tried calling a few orthopedists and they all generally told me the same thing: She's too young to be seen, call a pediatric orthopedist. So, after checking out my insurance, it seems there's only 2 pediatric orthopedists covered and they are both in Connecticutt Anyway, life has gotten in the way lately and I haven't been ontop of finding an answer to this problem. My mother made me feel horrible tonight when I was at her house, basically telling me that I am neglecting my child. I feel awful. I feel like this horrible mother who is just letting her child walk around with this deformity or something. I hate that I let my mother get to me, but I do, and now I feel like I should have done something sooner. I'm just not the type of person to freak out over these things, and I trusted (and still trust) my pediatrician. Why would he tell me to wait if he hadn't seen this before? He's in his 70s, I know he's seen a lot in his day. Anyway, so now my mother is mad at me and JT and basically trying to make me feel guilty and sh-tty for not taking her to the doctor yet. She even made me feel guilty for not having the money to pay out of pocket for a specialist vist. I just don't have the money, what am I supposed to do? I have GOOD insurance, but this is something that obviously isn't going to be easy.
So, that's my vent. Here's my next question: Does anyone have a pediatric orthopedist or a regular one they can recommend?

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Ok, Rach, ignore your mom. And I know it is hard to do, but do it.

Secondly, do you think she needs to be seen? I mean, most likely you are going to see a ped ortho and they are going to tell you to come back in 3 years

FM me about a ped orthopedist, I can help you tho.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

i know how your feeling... noone wants to look at my sons legs yet because hes still tooo young they say when there older. i feel why cant we corrct it now not later... for now ive been trusting the ped but i point it out evey time we go.



dont feel bad mama! your doing a good job wth her! your trusting the ped they should be telling you the right thing!!

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

I don't have an recomendations as far as doctors go....but I do have some recommendations for your mom....unfortunately, I can't post them on here - it's a family site!

Seriously - you've asked the questions you need to, you've made the phone calls you need to, and you've done all that you could - aside from performing surgery yourself on the kitchen table and then creating leg braces out of popsicle sticks!

If you trust your ped, which you do, then listen to him and see what happens in the years to come. You've asked for varied medical opinions, and they all say the same thing. Odds are, they're right, and your mom is wrong.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Just wanted to add that this is the best picture I can get of it, but you can see that her legs kind of point outwards, instead of straight down.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Rach the girl can run and play. I am sure your ped is right. If you really want a rec I can call my cousin for you.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

You need to do what you feel is right...your trusting your ped and i'm sure he's giving the right advice.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Have you asked your ped again now that you dd is 2yrs old? When my middle guy was younger everyone told me his feet went out to much and that I need to take him to an orthopedic but when I asked my ped he told me not to worry they would correct themselves when he gets older. My family still didn't agree and kept trying to push me to go. Well shortly after that my oldest had to see an orthopedic dr and while I was there I asked the orthopedic if he thought I should make an apt to see him because of my little guys feet. Well he looked at my ds and said nope it would correct it self. Now he's 3yrs old and they are as straight as can be. I know in your case it's your dd legs but if your ped isn't worried and you feel comfy with his decision I would just wait and see what happens. That's just my opinion though. I live in Suff county and if your interested in the dr I saw number feel free to fm me, however he is not just a ped ortho. dr because he sees adults also.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Rach, your ped has a degree, has gone through medical school and seen thousands of patients - I would trust his opinion above and beyond your mother's in this case. WHENEVER I have an issue, I always see my pediatrician first, I trust him implicitly and this is why I chose him. I don't think you did the wrong thing at all, in fact, I think the person in the wrong is our mother. If she harasses you again, I would give her the name and number of your pediatrician and have her call him'/her directly if she has any questions or concerns about the issue. Otherwise, she needs to back off

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

You went on the advice of your ped - that is what any good mother would do - its not like you didn't notice it or ignored it and didn't mention it to anyone. If it gives you piece of mind to get her looked at now - I would do it for that - but, I wouldn't say you are a bad mom at all for not doing that sooner!

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

My ped sent me to an orthopedist right away when he thought something was wrong with Andrews hips. He told me better earlier then later.

He is technically a regular orthopedist but sees tons of young children.

I would go and just pay the visit fee and see what they say. It can't hurt

I can get you his name if you want.

Message edited 8/26/2008 7:29:40 AM.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

I don't really have advice, but I know your pediatician is who I had as a child. My sister was a newborn and he picked up on her hip dysplasia, and she was in traction and in a brace for a long time. I am sure that she had a more severe issue going on than Ava. AND I am sure if he thought something needed to be corrected, he would have done something or referred you out. Try not to let anyone make you feel bad. You are a great mommy and you have full trust in your Dr, who has been practicing medicine longer than we have been alive!!!!

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Thanks, girls. I just wanted to update that last night at like 10:45, my mother called to apologize---granted she didn't apologize for telling me I need to take Ava to a specialist, but she apologized for giving me the impression that she thought I was a bad mother. So, I guess that's something. I love my mom, but she drives me nuts. I just wish she'd be more concerned with being MY mother than with trying to protect MY daughter. I know it comes from a good place, but I need a mom, Ava already has one.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

My daughter was breeched as well and born via C-section . Luckily she has not suffered any complications.
But per the reccomendation of my Dr, I go to a Pediatric Orthopedist .
He is monitering her until she is 2-3 to make sure her hips continue to grow properly.
His name is Dr. Carrion and he is associated with Stony Brook hospital.
From what I have heard he is one of the best around and we really like him.
Good luck with what ever decision you choose to make .

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

I don't have any experience with this as a mom, but my legs turned in as a child. I could do what you're saying Ava can do - turn my leg completely inwards so that my toe was facing the wrong direction but in my case it was both my legs. And I could walk that way - very freaky. It's a problem with my hips that runs in my family. My pediatrician told my mom that he could put braces on my legs or send me to dancing school.

I went to dancing school and took ballet. It was like physical therapy without doctors. It corrected my legs, I got exercise and I was able to interact with other kids. Best of all, it was fun!

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Our family physician (no peds back then)told my mom that there was something "wrong" with my legs when I was born. He said it was due to how I was positioned in utero. Essentially my femur bone is rotated inwards in the socket. You know how first position in ballet (or is it 2nd?) you turn your feet outward?? Well I can physically do that. But I can turn them completely inward and even a little backward. Im extremely pigeon toed but it's b/c of my legs so that's just the way I walk...

ANYWAY..

Our doctor told my mom that it would correct itself. And basically it never did. He was a doctor of the older generation as well. It should have been addressed when I was younger. It does cause me some issues now b/c of how the muscles compensate for the torque.

My suggestion would be to take her to another doctor...if for nothing else just a piece of mind.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Firstly, you are a GREAT mother!

Secondly, I would probably just go on your instinct and see the pediatric orthopedist. It can't hurt and will put your mind at ease.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Posted by Mrs. Patticakes

Firstly, you are a GREAT mother!

Secondly, I would probably just go on your instinct and see the pediatric orthopedist. It can't hurt and will put your mind at ease.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Posted by KateDevine

Ok, Rach, ignore your mom. And I know it is hard to do, but do it.

Secondly, do you think she needs to be seen? I mean, most likely you are going to see a ped ortho and they are going to tell you to come back in 3 years

FM me about a ped orthopedist, I can help you tho.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

My mom bugged me to take Ryan to the orthopedist because his feet are toe-in a little. My pediatrician said it would correct itself, but I went to the orthopedist anyway. They said there is nothing they can do about it now. We went to Branch Orthopedics in Smithtown - 631-360-6370

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Posted by prncss

Thanks, girls. I just wanted to update that last night at like 10:45, my mother called to apologize---granted she didn't apologize for telling me I need to take Ava to a specialist, but she apologized for giving me the impression that she thought I was a bad mother. So, I guess that's something. I love my mom, but she drives me nuts. I just wish she'd be more concerned with being MY mother than with trying to protect MY daughter. I know it comes from a good place, but I need a mom, Ava already has one.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

First of all, you are a wonderful mother. With that said, what is your gut telling you? Do you notice this getting progressively worse, or is it simply not improving yet? If you have any questions or doubts, then take her to the Dr. Another thing I can suggest is putting her in dance classes (if she isn't already.) They will help her legs and also improve her muscle control.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

My daughter went through something similar. We chose to bring her to a pediatric orthopaedist bc it was pretty obvious and wanted to hear from the expert what we needed to do (or not do). My ped wasn't talking us out of it. She had 2 issues, one was called tibia torsion and the name of the other escapes me now. But there was nothing to do, it is generally a self correcting issue. She is 4 now and her legs have been straightened out for some time now. But it was worth checking out IMO.
If you want a name, we used Dr. Ronald Lewis. I have several family members who are in the medical field on LI and he is highly respected and considered "the doctor" to see as far as pediatric orthpaedics. He's in Levittown, don't have his info but he can easily be found on line I'm sure. He has the personality of a dishrag and is notorious for running late on his appts. but he is excellent.

Good Luck!

Message edited 8/26/2008 6:27:47 PM.

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

Trepeta, NSUH

Re: Did I do the wrong thing? Vent

You are a fabulous mother, so get those crazy thoughts out of your head. I will get you some names of Pediatric Orthopedists that we refer to at work. I need to stop in there tomorrow anyway