Stressing Out- Torticollis, Tummy Time, Clogged Tear Ducts......

Hi,
I need to vent:

Our boys are 3 1/2 months old. At their 1st month appoinment, our pedi noticed Jake turning his head to one side. She diagnosed him with torticollis. Torticollis is a twisted and tilted neck. When your child has torticollis, he cannot move his neck very much, and holds his head to one side. At night we would put a towel under his left side to prevent him from laying on that side. At their 2 month appointment we seen another pedi in her office (she was not in that day and we had never met him before) and he did not say anything about Jake's neck.

So last Thursday, we seen our pedi and now Jake & Josh have torticollis. She has given us exercises to do and stressed tummy time, tummy time, tummy time. With torticollis, they usually hate tummy time, so after a minute or two they start to scream. I try to do the exercises, but that also upsets them and our pedi said not to do it when they are stressed because it will tense their neck muscles. We are back to putting wedges under the left side when they sleep which in a way is good since their necks are in that postions uninterrupted for 10 hours straight, plus whenever they take naps.

It's gotten so bad for Josh that his left ear has been bent over for the last few months with him always laying on that side and it's now sticking out :huh: She said it will go back to normal in time if we do everything she told us to do.

And to top it off, Josh has a clogged tear duct since birth. Again, we just were told this last week. I have to massage it as much as possible through out the day.

I'm upset that this other pedi we seen at their 2 month never mentioned any of this. If he did, we most likely would not be dealing with this now.

With their necks, if it does not resolve itself by their next appointment at 5 months, we'll have to take them to phsical therapy and if that does not work surgery.

I now find myself going over in my head what we have done during the day and I'm starting to worry it's not enough (yes I know, it's not even been a week). I feel that when we go out, that takes away from tummy time. And to top it off, it's all up to me. I'm have to keep reminding DH to do the exercises and to make sure their heads are not tilted. :angry:

Thanks for letting me vent.

 

:hug99:

If tummy time is stressful, try using a boppy pillow on the activity mat, or just holding them on your chest. I'm sorry I don't know much else about torticollis.

As for the blocked tear duct, we've been dealing with that with Meara since birth. We are actually going to the opthamologist of thursday to evaluate her for surgery. HOWEVER, for most babies it resolves itself within the first year. I just took a warm damp cloth and a couple of times a day and did the massage with that (usually when I was washing her face anyway after messy bottles). Try not to stress about this.

I would also be annoyed that the pedi didn't bring these things up. You should have a talk with your regular pedi about what happens when you see different pedi's in the office. GL and try not to stress about all of it.

 

Oh I hear you. Boy do I.

They suspected my sons had torticollis, but really it was just a strong gaze preference. One outgrew it pretty quick (loves the tummy time too). The other has had more issues with it, and a lot of flat-head issues, and they were afraid his neck was going to start developing wrong if we didn't change something, quick.

We tried propping his shoulder, but it was sort of not enough. He would turn against it and wiggle away from it. So we devised a thing using a car seat head rest and a sleep positioner pad and pillow, and totally got rid of his gaze preference by FORCING him to look the other way all night. (His head is rounding out nicely, too. Which ... when we did just prop his shoulder, the few times he stayed he started getting flat spots on the other side too. So I'm happier with this method.)

But tummy time ... yeah, everyone stresses it. It's SO good for them. Especially if they're having any neck/head shape issues.

If they won't do it on the floor, do it on your chest. Recline, and put one at a time on your chest, and let them have at. They might last longer that way - and it still COUNTS as tummy time. We have PT twice a month, and my son won't do a darned thing on the floor, but on my chest he'll stay for a good 10 minutes at a time, looking around, pushing up. It's not as good as doing it on a flat surface (strength-wise) and you can't do them both at once, but if they'll do it ON you for 10 times as long as they'll do it on the floor, it's gotta help, right? You can also try putting them on an incline (PT suggested 30 degrees to start, and then gradually decrease) - sometimes if it's easier they'll do it more. She's also suggested putting him on his tummy on the edge of the bed and then sitting on the floor in front of him, so it's easier to see my face.

It is hard, though, to have problems. And to know that you have to get so much done in a day - when some days it feels like you can barely keep everyone fed. And that by going out, or letting them sit awake for 10 minutes while you do something not with them, or whatever .. you're cutting into time they NEED. I've been struggling so much with that - the feeling that I'm not doing enough, even though I don't do ANYTHING (sleep, shower, clean, sometimes eat or go to the bathroom) until DH is home because ALL that time is spent dealing with their needs.

Do what you can do. Keep reminding DH to help. If you have anyone who can come help, make them do the exercises too. (No one is allowed to hold my son with the issues laying down if he's awake - he MUST be up on their chest, and they MUST encourage him to practice his neck strength.) It'll be ok.

 

My son too has torticollis. I thought he did at the 2mth appt. But the pedi didn't seem too concerned. Then at the 4th month appt, he seeme to notice it and said to call Early Intervention. Could that be an option for you? They came out and evaluated him and he qualifed for services. And honestly-I haven't really done much, if anything, with him-and he seems to be doing well. He turns his head both ways, etc. He still does favor one side. They will come out on Friday for their first session.

I would look into it. I don't think you need a pedi referral. But you could check. Good luck. I am no help with the clogged tear duct!

 

Tell your pediatrician you want a referral to a physical therapist for the torticollis. Joel had torticollis, diagnosed at his one month appt. We've been seeing a physical therapist every 4 weeks since then, and he is doing great. He now has full range of motion in his neck. We are still seeing the PT and we expect that he will need a helmet for plagiocephaly--which was a result of his torticollis. Because his head shape has changed, he still strongly prefers to lay on that left side, but he is getting so much better.

as for tummy time--any time not on their backs is considered tummy time. We use the boppies, the bumbo seats, and of course, lots of cuddle time with mom and dad.

 

One of my girls had torticollis really bad and we had Early Intervention come in and work with her. They gave use exercises to do that took about 5 minutes a day. We also always placed her sister, her toys and us on the side that she needed to look towards. It forced her to look in the direction she didn't want to. We were also told to place her in the crib so she had to turn to the bad side to look out of the crib. We had a little bean bag from a game we have so we covered it and used it to prop her head to look to the bad side. It was cleared up pretty quickly and her flat head rounded out.

For tummy time, they told us even 10 seconds at a time was good for little ones so we would lay them on their tummy until they started to cry, gave them a break and did it again and eventually the time got longer. We also did a lot of tummy time where we laid them across our knees and bounced them. They loved that.

 

Breena has torticollis too, but I was the one that noticed something was wrong not our ped. I too worried about surgery, but was told that it usually only happens in severe cases that go untreated for years. I took her to physical therapy twice a week for months and worked with her at home twice a day. The things you do to help her at home is what's most important. It's not uncommon for twins because of their cramped conditions in utero.

I'm a SAHM and decided it was my responsibility to do the PT exercises, the massage (Baylinn had a clogged tear duct too) and the tummy time myself. Yes, it added to my day but taking control of their problems and working toward a solution somehow made it less scary and stressful. There were many dark days that I had to remind myself that these were just minor problems, compared to what could've happened if they would've been born any earlier.

We were able to find a ped that worked as a sole practicioner...it is only her in the office. DH interviewed many group practices, but just didn't feel comfortable with the thought that the girls wouldn't have just one doctor. I don't know if it's an option for you, but it might be something to consider.

 

My daughter Ashley has torticollis and we let it go for 4 months listening to the drs to stretch and do tummy time and yes she hated it to. We finally got a prescription for PT-she didn't qualify for EI-and she is doing great! I wish I statred sooner-so my advice to you is to be proactive and see if you can get EI, if not go to PT. Ashley now loves her belly and her tilt is almost gone after 2 months...good luck and hang in there.
BTW-Ashley also had a clogged tear duct and we went to a ped opthamologist-he told me they like to see kids with torticollis b/c it can affect the size of one eye, so you might want to talk to your dr about that to...everything was fine with my DD.

 

My son began therapy for torticollis at 8 weeks. The Dr. said that often they will wait until 4 months to see if Pt is needed or if it will correct itself on its own. But since my sons was more severe, we began right away. After 4 months of PT once a week, we moved it to two times a week so that more progress could be made (he was about 5 months). We had to do stretches at home but we would not have seen the progress that was made without PT. At PT, she massaged the muscles and stretched him in such a way that you have to be trained and know what you are doing.

It is common and unfortunate the pediatricians often miss this diagnoses. My nephew was diagnosed late and therefore, his head became flat since he was always on one side. If my nephew did not have it, I may not have noticed it in my own son and then never would have brought it up to the Dr. I dont know if my ped. would have noticed it without me saying something.

I would tell you ped. that you want a referral for PT.

 

We saw a PT for Logan's torticollis when he was two months - and with the exercises he was able to stop at six months and we've had no signs of it since! My pedi didn't notice but I pointed it out and when I told him it was pretty common he recommended us to the PT. It was a long, stressful time doing those exercises but we are so thankful it was caught early. He sure didn't like them!

 

Sending hugs your way. Sounds very stressful but it does sound like you are doing what you can Hang in there.

Dianna

 

I can't help with the torticollis, but both my girls had both tear ducts clogged. We mostly left them alone (except occasional squirts of breastmilk in there-apparently it's an antibacterial), and I understand that they usually resolve on their own. So far 3 of the 4 eyes are cleared up.