plagio/torticollis

I have 6 month twins and my son was born with torticollis. Although we caught it early, it lead to plagio by 6 weeks and we've done the doc band (at 4 mo. for 5 weeks) and are still doing the chiropractor (started at 8 weeks) once a week, and stretching every day but his head is still slightly asymmetrical and his ears are still misaligned. I've had two physical therapy evaluations and I'm told he's doing great and doesn't need anything additional other than the stretches that I'm doing. I'm going crazy worrying about this. Can anyone assure me this will correct?? Please?? When? How? What else can I be doing? Is it possible he could be like this forever??

 

Can I ask why the band was worn for 5 weeks? I have never heard of it for such a short time frame. Not that that means anything but just from what I have heard about it...

My son had tort and began pt at 8 weeks. He had to be seen by pt until he was able to walk. Around 4 months, we noticed that 1 time a week at pt was not enough so he was increased to 2 times. Every time at pt she would massage that muscle out since it was so tight. It was something I was not able to do at home.

He just seems so young for the pt to say he does not need anything additional. I was told that when they begin to crawl, the tort may become more noticable again since it is a new skill they are learning and the same goes for walking which is why they wait until after a year. Do you feel that his torticollis is resolved or do you still see it?

 

I too am wondering why only 5 weeks of treatment with the band? I would consider getting him refitted for another band, he is still young enough to get great correction!

Sorry, I don't have any experience with tort.

 

I wanted to be more clear in my other post. I mentioned I could not massage that muscle out at home but I did want to add that I did have to do stretches with him at home.

 

Elizabeth has tort as well. We stretch her with every diaper change and her range of motion and strength is as good as her brothers. Her is still mishapen though and her ears are out of line. I was told not to worry and it would correct on its own. We shall see!

 

How are misaligned ears going to correct on their own? Not being sarcastic or anything here, honestly wondering what the basis is for self correction? Are they saying when the head rounds in the back that will make the ears line up? I have never heard this before and very eager to learn!

 

QUOTE(seamusnicholas @ Dec 12 2007, 09:38 PM) [snapback]531596[/snapback]
Can I ask why the band was worn for 5 weeks? I have never heard of it for such a short time frame. Not that that means anything but just from what I have heard about it...

My son had tort and began pt at 8 weeks. He had to be seen by pt until he was able to walk. Around 4 months, we noticed that 1 time a week at pt was not enough so he was increased to 2 times. Every time at pt she would massage that muscle out since it was so tight. It was something I was not able to do at home.

He just seems so young for the pt to say he does not need anything additional. I was told that when they begin to crawl, the tort may become more noticable again since it is a new skill they are learning and the same goes for walking which is why they wait until after a year. Do you feel that his torticollis is resolved or do you still see it?


I really don't see evidence of it. He has excellent range of motion, at times could use about 2% more to his left. He holds his head up straight too. I don't see a left tilt either. (It is his left side that he needs to fill out on.) This is why the pt told me not to worry, that things will continue to correct, but I don't see any difference. She did not find any tightness. I have been doing a little massage each day too. He only needed the doc band for such a short time because he grew so much that he grew out of it. He made great progress and I was told that he'd continue to fill in and his ears would align with stretching.

 

QUOTE(kj2racing @ Dec 13 2007, 11:15 AM) [snapback]532326[/snapback]
How are misaligned ears going to correct on their own? Not being sarcastic or anything here, honestly wondering what the basis is for self correction? Are they saying when the head rounds in the back that will make the ears line up? I have never heard this before and very eager to learn!


Thay say they will align better (perhaps not 100%) secondary to the head taking shape. They say most ears correct after the band has been worn. Because he was so young, he only had to wear it for a short time due to his rate of growth. They do not recommend a second band because they feel that would be overcorrecting and lead to problems. So... I obsessed with worrying and stretching, massaging, keeping the spine aligned and pressure off the cranium with the chiro visits and going in sane every week I don't see his ears shifting.

 

QUOTE(kj2racing @ Dec 13 2007, 11:15 AM) [snapback]532326[/snapback]
How are misaligned ears going to correct on their own? Not being sarcastic or anything here, honestly wondering what the basis is for self correction? Are they saying when the head rounds in the back that will make the ears line up? I have never heard this before and very eager to learn!



We have had 3 doctors look at her and they all say the same thing. It will correct as her heads grows and the shape corrects! Her head shape ahs definately gotten better, but to me here ears still look funny. No one else can notice it unless I show them. I just hope for her sake she grows some hair soon!

 

I guess I am looking for more, I am looking for the how. I understand what 'they say' but I am looking for the why and how's. How will the ears reposition as the head grows and the shape corrects? I would be asking for diagrams and illustrations showing how the head growing and shaping will move the ears. For Kyle his ears aligned because of the helmet and he was considered 'graduated' from the helmet when the misalignment was nominal. I don't understand how that would happen after the helmet when that is part of the purpose for the helmet.