Torticollis diagnosis today

I took Breena in to the ped today because of her head tilt. I suspected she had torticollis and the ped confirmed it. She acted like it wasn't a big deal, just referred me to a physical therapy facility. When I called the pt, they told me I need a prescription and cervical x-rays - two things the doctor didn't tell me.

I hope I caught this soon enough. I don't want my little girl to end up in a helmet or with surgery. I look back at pictures of her since their birth and notice now how she was tilting back then. I wish I would've known to look for this....or that the doctor would've caught it.

I'm just feeling really bad about this.

 

I don't have any experience with torticollis, but please don't feel bad. The important thing is, that you caught it, and are now doing something to help her! You are a good mommy! :hug99:

 

At 8 weeks Seamus was diagnosed. My nephew had tort. so I was familiar with it. Dh and I would always say Seamus' head is tilting and finally one day we said, 'wait...it is ALWAYS tilting" So I called the ped and he sent us to pt. He said that many babies correct it on its own by 4 months and if not then pt is recommended but since Seamus' was more severe we began right away. The pt jsut evaluated him and began therapy. Seamus did not have any xrays taken

You are catching it early so do not feel bad. I remember it was a very stressful time for us. Also, it seems that dr.s often miss this diagnoses or think it just will correct itself on its own. Let me know if you have any questions.

eta: For about the first 4 months, he went to pt once a month. Then I felt like he was not making great improvement so he began to go 2 times a week for about 4 months and then back to 1 time a week and by a year he was done with theray and no longer had a head tilt.

 

Both of mine had torticolis and started receiving weekly physical therapy treatments through Early Intervention starting at 6 months old. At 9 months, one of them was deemed "cured" and released from the program. The other is 14 months and just about to end his sessions. It can be fixed pretty quickly (3 and 8 months in our case), but it does require physical therapy and daily stretching exercises performed by you. My baby who took 8 months to progress almost had to wear a neck brace, but luckily it didn't come to that. If it had, I would have supported it 100%. Don't worry - it's really not that hard to fix and can clear up pretty fast.

 

My first daughter had this. PT showed us how to do the stretching exercises. We did them with ever diaper change. We didn't get any extra tests. She was normal by 4 months or so.

 

DS has tort since birth. He started out going ot PT every other week, then every 3 now about once a month.He now only has a VERY slight tilt and can rotate his head both ways on his own. I still stretch him as much as possible and think his PT will not be needed much longer.

Essentially you will be doing stretching exercises at home to stretch out the short muscle and strenghtening exercises for the one that is too long. Your PT will work w/ you on setting short and long-term goals according to your child's specific needs.

The reason you are getting x-rays is to make sure there is no spinal problems like scoliosis which can go along w/ torticollis, usually only if it has gone on too w/o treatment, which IMO you should be fine. Surgery is usually very unusual, and very last last resort from what I have heard from my PT, and helmets are for plagiocephaly so unless she has that as well you should be ok, and if not many TS moms have had their babies in helmets and will tell you ultimately it is not really a big deal.

Try not to be too hard on yourself for "not catching it sooner" there are so many little kinks that work out on their own it can be hard to know what is just a little kink and what needs help.

Please keep us updated and know you are not alone and we are here to support you! :love0028:

Alyson

 

Both of mine had torticollis that was corrected with stretching exercises. Their heads were already flattening by the time we noticed the problem and they did end up in helmets but they are doing great now and there's no sign of the tort.

 

Hey! Don't blame yourself girl! You are definately catching it early. My ds has tort. and I brought it up at their two month appt. The doc said to give it until 4 months and then we'll see, he thought it would clear up on it's own. It didn't and we went to PT. He didn't have any xrays, so I can't help you on that one.
Anthony started with PT two times a week from when he was four months until 6.5 months, then it moved down to once a week. By the time he was nine months old, the tilt was barely noticeable. At pt they pretty much just play with them and do the stretches, and also showed me how to do them at home. We were out of PT by 11 months...I personally think it could of been sooner, but it was up to them, not me. We noticed a difference after about a month or so. It really isn't bad. You can look at it as an outing...a playdate. He is now 15 months old and you can't tell he ever had a tilt and his flattening has improved alot. We did take him to a specialist to see if he needed a helmet, but the doc didn't recommend it. Good luck and if you have any other questions or concerns, we're here for you! :drinks:

 

My son had a mild case and we treated it with stretches and head placement .. EI came to help. Can you get EI to assist? they come to your house and it's much easier to deal with.

they took no exrays of my kids' head.

Teri D

 

My DD started getting it and I'm an OT so don't beat yourself up as I 'should' have caught on as a therapist but I also know how crazy your life can be w/ 2 babies!

I was able to get it under control before we had to go to PT. I changed EVERYTHING like how she slept in her bed, I moved her all over so she would look in different places, I would move her in her seats/swings and make it a point to constantly feed on the other side as my DH could only feed on one side, where I could change w/ no problem.

I would also put her backwards on the changing table as hard as it was to change her on the other side, I knew it was helping her.

I would move the tub in the kitchen so she would have to look the other direction at us when she was in the tub...

I would tolerate the screaming when I put her on her tummy a few times a day, as I knew it was best and now she loves it!

Don't feel bad as it is quite common and at least your doing something about it!

 

My DD has torticollis as well. We first noticed it at 2 weeks and now at 2 months it isn't really getting any better. She has little neck control at this point. The Doctor has us waiting 2 more weeks and if she still has a weak neck we are going to see a Neurologist. I hope it is nothing serious beyond the Torticollis.

We have been stretching her at every diaper change since 2 weeks and positioning her so she has to look to her left. She now can go from side to side well, but still cannot hold it up!

:-(