Hatrack River Forum: For Those Who Need A "Mooselet's Health" Fix

This is topic For Those Who Need A "Mooselet's Health" Fix in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=032946

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

"Because you ARE interested in my Son's Feet-- :-)" *

So*, we saw the orthopedist this week. I'll skip over the stuff about waiting for an hour and having to change Superstation's diaper on a cold linoleum floor because they don't have changing tables and all that.

Point #1: The feet. Mooselet's feet look great. The talus and calcaneus (or remus and romulus or something) bones are lined up as they should be in both feet. No more braces for Mooselet, even at night. Unless we untrained layparents notice something really wrong, we don't see the doc for another six months, when we'd like him to say "10 bucks for a co-pay, and I'll see you in another year."

But we don't really expect that, and not just because the co-pay is gone long before we see the doc.

Because there's point #2: The legs. The legs turn in a bit at the hip, and a bit more at the knee. Neither by itself would definitely necessitate correction, but together they may be a problem. The legs just don't set quite right. They pivot a little unevenly -- about 30 degrees out and 50 degrees in, as I recall (or I guess it's 50 out and 30 in -- not sure how they define which is which, since he was on his tummy when they did it). Anyway, uneven.

Now this can be dealt with at a later time, since at this point, according to the doc, it's kinda more aesthetic than functional. It wasn't clear to us whether it would remain that way, or if later in life when he might, say, want to play sports or something, it could be a problem. It kinda looks like it could be. But as long as it's before he starts school, we're probably ok.

The reason for before school -- wheelchair. I thought he called the surgery a "tibial osteotomy," but when we looked that up it didn't sound like what he described. But the phrase also sounds like just about anything that involves cutting the tibia. Anyway, the theory is basically that he would cut through the tibia, twist the bottom part, then reconnect the bone. Mooselet would be in a wheelchair for about a month, then in casts for another 4-6 weeks afterward (though he has proven in the past that walking with casts on both legs is really not a problem).

So yeah, there's a little fear and concern mingled in with our happiness about his feet, but such things have become par for our course it seems. Right now, we're focusing on the good -- his feet.

--Pop

*Appropriate credit for phrases where due

Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :

Thank you for the fix. And hurray for no more braces.

You should get Superstation a wheelchair too and they could have races.

Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

Thanks for the update. It's [Cool]

that he doesn't have to wear the braces anymore.

[ March 23, 2005, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: Derrell ]

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

I'm really happy for you all, and especially Mooselet re: the braces. I have to ask, does the doc hold out the hope that this next procedure (1 month + 6-8 weeks) will be "it" for Mooselet? If so, it's not bad at all. Mooselet has gone through a lot more time and trouble than that and he's come through it as about the best kid in the Universe as far as I could tell.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Yay for feet! [Smile]

The surgery sounds kinda scary, but at least the recovery doesn't sound much worse than a regular broken bone.

I have a kid-sized walker, and it's yours if/when you want/need it.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

Man, good for him. [Smile]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

That is great news.

Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :

Ahhhh, Mooselet health fix.

Posted by LadyDove (Member # 3000) on :

Mooselet is amazingly fast and agile even with the braces. I can't imagine what he'll be like without them. Dad, have you invested in a good pair of running shoes?

As long as we're on health, has he had anymore UTI problems or is this on the happy shelf of history too?

Please give hugs to Carl and TBS for me.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

My right leg turns out about 30 degrees, Papa. It's not too inconvenient, but I've found over the course of my life that there are two big downsides:

1) Uneven wear on shoes. This is more annoying than it sounds, especially if you buy cheap shoes. If only one half of your heel wears down, it's like standing on a ramp.

2) Increased injuries. I've sprained, twisted, and broken my right ankle several times.