Infant Torticollis

JabbaJawz

Be about it
Does anyone have experience with this? My 3-month old was diagnosed around 6 weeks of age and has been in physical therapy since about 7 weeks. She started out going 2x/week, then down to 1x, now every 2 weeks. We do the exercises with her at home as well. I'd seen continuing improvement until her last check-up, when the therapist and I both agreed that she hadn't progressed any. No regression, which is good, but she hadn't improved any either. :ohwell: I'm getting really worried. We go again next Wednesday and if she still hasn't progressed (and in my opinion she hasn't) they're sending us to the big ortho. doctor. I'm frightened to death that she'll need surgery. :sad:

For those of you who don't know what it's all about, here's a good link that gives a basic, easy to understand explanation. Torticollis

Basically, she only looks to the right and leans to the left. We are working to help her lean to the right and look to the left. I can get her to lean right pretty well, but the turning left is going badly. She HATES to be worked on, and the PT basically said it's useless if she starts to wail b/c then her neck muscles tighten up and spasm which doesn't help matters. So, I work with her a lot when she's sleeping.

(edited to correct my weekage. :coffee:)
 
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K

Kizzy

Guest
You know, I thought she seemed to rest her head to the one side when I was holding her. All you can do is wait and see what the doctor has to say. The waiting is the worse part, but maybe before they do anything, they will try a collar and see if that helps things. If by chance they HAVE to do surgery, babies don’t have the stress we adults ponder over before and after a surgery, so they do very well. Now for the parents, that is a different story. :huggy:
 

JabbaJawz

Be about it
IM4Change said:
Now for the parents, that is a different story. :huggy:

Thanks,,,and isn't that the truth! I guess I really thought that once we started the PT and working with her at home that it would work itself out. So, now that she's stopped progressing, it's hitting home that it might not be so easy. She just has one heck of a stubborn case I suppose, so it's more difficult and may require more intense measures.
 

JabbaJawz

Be about it
CMC122 said:
Is the big ortho at Childrens?

I believe they plan to refer us to Dr. Spatz at Calvert if she needs it. I hear good things about her; have you heard of her?
 

CMC122

Go Braves!
PFgal said:
I believe they plan to refer us to Dr. Spatz at Calvert if she needs it. I hear good things about her; have you heard of her?
No, I've never heard of her but my cousin is a nurse at Calvert. I could ask her if you like. She knows all the doctors pretty well:lol:
 

Pete

Repete
I know the pain and fear. This will all work out and everything will be fine. I didn't see surgery as a treatment on the web site, is it a treatment ? I am the king of worry when it comes to my kid, you can be the queen.
 

happyappygirl

Rocky Mountain High!!
My MIL had a set of foster twins where one had this and the other didn't. The one that had it was so extreme that one ear was even lower than the other, which never corrected, but with PT the muscles lengthened, and the headset became normal (can't remember how long it took though, it's been a few years, sorry). It doesn't sound as though your little one is as severe as that baby was, and he looks absolutely normal now, except his one ear is just slightly lower than the other, which if you don't know it, you can't tell. so relax, and enjoy your baby! With your help and the PT she'll be just fine. :howdy:
 
G

geminigrl

Guest
Sorry PFgal never heard of it. I wish you the best of luck and strength to over come this and every thing will work out for the best. :flowers:
 

JabbaJawz

Be about it
Pete said:
I know the pain and fear. This will all work out and everything will be fine. I didn't see surgery as a treatment on the web site, is it a treatment ? I am the king of worry when it comes to my kid, you can be the queen.

Thanks. :huggy: PT is the main treatment, but if there is no progression, surgery is a last option. We'll see...I'm just hoping we don't have to go that route.
 

carolinagirl

What's it 2 U
PFgal - I am so sorry to hear about your little one. Just having a new baby myself, I know you just want to enjoy them and not have to worry with illnesses and such.

PFgal - I am so sorry to hear about your little one. Just having a new baby myself, I know you just want to enjoy them and not have to worry with illnesses and such.

I have not heard of Torticollis, but my second daughter who is now 4 was born with a rare skin condition. I worried so much when she was diagnosed. At the first dermatologist we took her to, the doctor breezed right through the diagnosis and barely told me anything. I just remember her saying it is very rare and then bringing her associates in training in to ooh and aah over my 3 month old infant. I was so upset when I left her office. I did tons of research and happened to find a specialist in the field. I got my insurance company to allow me to go out of network and eventually, we went to see this specialist at Duke Hospital in NC. He assured me her case was mild and she would grow out of it. Also, many of the things the first dermatologist said to do, he said were unnecessary.

I am sure your baby girl will be just fine with a little more therapy. Try not to worry. :huggy:
 

bluecat

New Member
PFgal, I'm sorry to hear about your little girl. She'll be fine. Just keep your head up and say a prayer.

I'll say one too.

I wish you the best !!! :smile:
 

CityGrl

Time for a nap
Hey PF--I remember my parents telling me that when I was a baby, I had this same problem.

I had PT and after a while it just worked itself out (no surgery needed). There are no lasting physical effects.

Hopefully your baby will have the same result!
 

Chasey_Lane

Salt Life
YES! My best friends little girl had the same when she was born. She had to take her to physical therapy twice a week, and also massage her neck and surrounding muscles two to three times a day. It took many, many weeks, but she finally started progressing and now she's perfectly healthy.
 

terbear1225

Well-Known Member
:bump:

sorry to bring back an old thread but we just got a diagnosis of torticollis for our 3month old and I was wonderin where you went for PT jabbajawz.
 

DanceMom

New Member
My child needed physical therapy as an infant and we went to Gateau Physical Therapy in Lusby. It was the only place that I could find to treat infants. They were FABULOUS!

Also infants and toddlers should also provide services.

I used both - got more therapy in the end.
 

bresamil

wandering aimlessly
:bump:

sorry to bring back an old thread but we just got a diagnosis of torticollis for our 3month old and I was wonderin where you went for PT jabbajawz.
Our neighbor's son was also diagnosed with this and they went to NovaCare in Leonardtown. Their therapist was Jennifer.
 

poster

New Member
I believe they plan to refer us to Dr. Spatz at Calvert if she needs it. I hear good things about her; have you heard of her?

My daughter's pediatrician sent us to Dr. Spatz for a leg curvature.
Turned out the pediatrician was waisting our time, her legs were fine.
Dr. Spatz was great, she was very good with her and answered all our questions. Our daughter was about 5mo. at the time. I would not hesitate to see her again. She also treats my mother-in-law and she only has good things to say.
 
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