Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

I took my lil man to the dr yesterday for his 3 month shots and i mentioned how his head always tilts to the right. After her evaluation she decided that he needs Physical Therapy for it.

Torticollis (wry neck) is a symptom that causes a child's chin to be rotated to one side and his head to the other side. It is sometimes the consequence of injury to the muscle during delivery, although it is also thought that it may occur prior to delivery and be a contributing cause to a difficult birth and not its consequence

Has anyone experienced this? I'm so upset! I know it could be so much worse but its still upsetting

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

no experience, just wanted to send you some huggies! Did you have a difficult delivery?

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Posted by bonitachyc

no experience, just wanted to send you some huggies! Did you have a difficult delivery?

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Alexa has had it since birth.... hers was so severe it pinched a nerve in her neck and its why she wasn't able to breastfeed right away. THe nerve pinched was responsible for her opening her mouth.

We don't do PT but have been gong to cranio-sacral therapy since she was born... She is soooooo much better!

Don't worry Marie, He will be fine!!!

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

I know a few moms on here have experience with this, I'm sure they'll give you some great advice.

Good luck, I'm sure he'll do great!

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

DD had PT for torticollis also. It's actually fairly common and not a big deal if treated quickly. She started in PT 2x a week and we were given a few home exercises to do as well. We also had to rearrange some furniture at home to make sure she wasn't "favoring" one side over the other.

It sounds much worse than it is, I promise.

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Posted by Karen

DD had PT for torticollis also. It's actually fairly common and not a big deal if treated quickly. She started in PT 2x a week and we were given a few home exercises to do as well. We also had to rearrange some furniture at home to make sure she wasn't "favoring" one side over the other.

It sounds much worse than it is, I promise.

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Posted by nbc188

I know a few moms on here have experience with this, I'm sure they'll give you some great advice.

Good luck, I'm sure he'll do great!

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Posted by MrsP747

Posted by Karen

DD had PT for torticollis also. It's actually fairly common and not a big deal if treated quickly. She started in PT 2x a week and we were given a few home exercises to do as well. We also had to rearrange some furniture at home to make sure she wasn't "favoring" one side over the other.

It sounds much worse than it is, I promise.

Thank You! I can't wait to get him to PT so we can get started with the exercises! Is there anything you can suggest I start at home?

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

DD had it, very mild case and we did PT for 3 mos. Plus we did some exercises at home,PT gave them to us.
Here is the website I found for you, it has list of things you can and should do with a child who has Torticollis(I didn't want to miss anything so this website gives you good info) and this is pretty much what we did with DD.
One thing I can tell you is do not do any stretching until you start the PT and they tell you exactly how to do them, but you can start doing other things any time.
DO NOT WORRY YOUR DC WILL BE JUST FINE. FM me any time if you have any questions

link


you know what, just in case the link doesn't work here it is:
#1

Speak to a trained physical therapist who can guide you in specific ways to handle your baby. Learn about safe stretches, ways to feed your baby and how to position your baby in a way that promotes posture and symmetry during this important stage of motor development.
#
Step 2

Help your baby to stretch the affected muscle, after you have been properly trained by a professional physical therapist. This treatment consists of 15 to 20 stretches, 5 or 6 times a day. While the child is lying on his back, the head is tilted away from the affected muscle, and the face is turned in the opposite direction just enough to apply a gentle stretch.
#
Step 3

Keep your baby active to promote exercise of the neck muscles. When playing, hold toys to the opposite direction of the tilt, bottle feed so the baby must stretch the affected muscle and place your baby in the crib so that stimulating pictures and activities are in the opposite direction of the tilt. Strengthening the opposite side of the neck, as well as the upper body and arms, can also help to stretch and relieve the affected muscle.
#
Step 4

Carry your baby in a position facing away from you, so that the non-affected side rests against your forearm. Place your opposite arm between your baby's legs to support her body. You should carry your baby in this position as much as possible.
#
Step 5

Frequently apply gentle massage to the affected muscle to help relieve pain and allow the muscle to relax. Massage and stretching exercises should never hurt, so only use as much strength as your baby can handle comfortably.

Message edited 5/12/2009 3:27:30 PM.

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

My Frankie had it slightly too, but I did the exercises at home and did not have to go to physical therapy. I had a c section and it was due in part to the weight of his head and the fact that he was always lying in his swing or bouncey seat. I was also feeding him with the same arm. I did his stretching exercises when I changed his diaper so that it was easier for me to remember. I switched arms when I fed him, alternated sides when I put him to bed and began doing more tummy time. As soon as I put him in his activity center, his neck became stronger within a week or so. It's pretty normal in infants.

Message edited 5/12/2009 3:38:17 PM.

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Don't be upset this is 100% fixable. My son had it and he is totally fine now. He qualified for PT through EI and it didnt cost me a cent.

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

My Liam had it. He was turned to the side in the womb and I think that was the issue. We started PT at 4 months old, every week, then after three months he gradually cut back to 2x a month, once a month, and finished at 10 months old! We also did exercises at home with him>

He is now 15 months and you would never know that he used to have the tilt. he didn't mind the PT- he enjoyed flirting with the attractive physical therapist. GL!

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Posted by tatuka

DD had it, very mild case and we did PT for 3 mos. Plus we did some exercises at home,PT gave them to us.
Here is the website I found for you, it has list of things you can and should do with a child who has Torticollis(I didn't want to miss anything so this website gives you good info) and this is pretty much what we did with DD.
One thing I can tell you is do not do any stretching until you start the PT and they tell you exactly how to do them, but you can start doing other things any time.
DO NOT WORRY YOUR DC WILL BE JUST FINE. FM me any time if you have any questions

link


you know what, just in case the link doesn't work here it is:
#1

Speak to a trained physical therapist who can guide you in specific ways to handle your baby. Learn about safe stretches, ways to feed your baby and how to position your baby in a way that promotes posture and symmetry during this important stage of motor development.
#
Step 2

Help your baby to stretch the affected muscle, after you have been properly trained by a professional physical therapist. This treatment consists of 15 to 20 stretches, 5 or 6 times a day. While the child is lying on his back, the head is tilted away from the affected muscle, and the face is turned in the opposite direction just enough to apply a gentle stretch.
#
Step 3

Keep your baby active to promote exercise of the neck muscles. When playing, hold toys to the opposite direction of the tilt, bottle feed so the baby must stretch the affected muscle and place your baby in the crib so that stimulating pictures and activities are in the opposite direction of the tilt. Strengthening the opposite side of the neck, as well as the upper body and arms, can also help to stretch and relieve the affected muscle.
#
Step 4

Carry your baby in a position facing away from you, so that the non-affected side rests against your forearm. Place your opposite arm between your baby's legs to support her body. You should carry your baby in this position as much as possible.
#
Step 5

Frequently apply gentle massage to the affected muscle to help relieve pain and allow the muscle to relax. Massage and stretching exercises should never hurt, so only use as much strength as your baby can handle comfortably.

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Posted by Karen

Posted by MrsP747

Posted by Karen

DD had PT for torticollis also. It's actually fairly common and not a big deal if treated quickly. She started in PT 2x a week and we were given a few home exercises to do as well. We also had to rearrange some furniture at home to make sure she wasn't "favoring" one side over the other.

It sounds much worse than it is, I promise.

Thank You! I can't wait to get him to PT so we can get started with the exercises! Is there anything you can suggest I start at home?

Check that a lot of his stimulation is not forcing him to look the same way. We realized that between the changing table, her crib toy and where we put the bouncy seat, she was looking the same way 99% of the time. We just had to switch some stuff around, not a big deal. We also dangled some toys from her swing that forced her to look the opposite way.

The ped and therapist also strongly recommended crib sleeping for everything. Bouncy seat, swing, car seat - all force an unnatural sleeping position which can cause or worsen torticollis.

Hope that helps!

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

And thank you to everyone else who responded! You girls are awesome! I knew posting on here would make me feel better

Re: Frankie needs PT for Toticollis! Anyone's DC ever have this?

Yep we're going through it now. It's not bad at all.