Clubfoot Community

Hi Kathy,

No we don’t know Dr. Daniels. What hospital is he at? Is he a surgeon. The problem we have had is that there is no one to go to post surgery. The surgeon just says there is nothing more surgically that he would recommend for Evan. I took him to a podiatrist who said he had no idea what to do. He wore orthotics but the orthotists kept asking what the surgeon recommended and the answer was nothing. He wore orthotics but then took him to my sister (a physiotherapist, she does acupuncture and is a natuorpathic Dr.) and she discovered his leg length discrepancy and determined that the orthotics were actually bad for his posture. Having his shoes modified for that has been really good.

I’m quite upset that the medical community doesn’t know how to help clubfoot patients post surgery.

~ Ruth

Hi Rachel, Welcome to the Clubfoot Club! Feel free to ask your questions. Read about the Ponseti method so you understand the latest treatment method.

~ Ruth

Hi April,

Welcome to the Clubfoot Club!

The Shriners Hospitals provide free care. Make sure your son is treated by the Ponseti method. Treatment should have already begun before this age so don’t delay. The Ponseti Method You can use this list to locate a Doctor Ponseti Doctors

I hope this helps.

~ Ruth

Dana,

You did nothing wrong and with the Ponseti method your baby will be just fine! Read this What is Clubfoot and this Ponseti Checklist for some answers. Don’t blame yourself!

Welcome to the Clubfoot Club!

Welcome to the Clubfoot Club! NO SURGERY TANYA! Please read this The Ponseti Checklist and find a doctor who uses this method of treatment. A lot of the people here had surgery before the Ponseti method was widely practiced but now this method is the standard.

Hi Charity welcome to the Clubfoot Club! Years ago I had an email exchange with Dr. Ponseti about my son Evan. Evan also had clubfoot surgeries. Dr. Ponseti’s advice was to encourage him to have a job where he didn’t have to be on his feet a lot. If he stands or walks a lot he will have pain. It must be very hard for you to be a waitress.

Kelly,

It is so great to read your story and know that your son received the proper treatment! Welcome to the clubfoot club!

~ Ruth

Oh I’m so relieved I thought he had posteromedial release surgery instead of the Ponseti method. Although I am surprised that you had to soak off the casts (as we did) That isn’t done with the Ponseti method as they don’t want the baby going without the cast even over night.

Hi Stephanie,

Welcome to the Clubfoot Club. I so wish that you had joined before your baby had surgery. I’m sorry to tell you but there is a non-surgical approach to clubfoot treatment that has wonderful results. Many here, including my son, had surgery but now the Ponseti Method is commonly used method of treatment. Read this Is your Doctor using the Ponseti Method? for more about this method. The picture at the top of the wrong casting method is my baby Evan.

Hi Leah,

Welcome to the Clubfoot Club!

I recommend that you read the Ponseti Checklist so you understand the proper treatment for correcting clubfoot. Many of the people here were treated surgically, before the Ponseti method became widely used. With the Ponseti Method there aren’t the problems that there are with surgery.

Feel free to ask any questions.

~ Ruth

Kathryn,

Welcome to the clubfoot club!

I wish I could give you a lot of great advice but my Evan didn’t have these boots as he was treated old methods including surgery that are no longer used. Other parent have mentioned that their children get used to wearing the dbb in time. It is so important that they be kept on!

There is a newer type of brace and I hear it is easier for compliance as it allows the baby to have more range of motion – The Ponseti Brace. Look on YouTube for videos I’m sure I’ve seen some.

Let me know how it goes….

~ Ruth

Hi Rich,

Welcome to the Clubfoot Club. Thanks for sharing your story!

~ Ruth

Yes Simone this is now available at Sick Kids. According to the list of trained Ponseti Doctors it is Dr. Unni Narayan that you want.