Torticolis

Does anyone else's DC have torticolis? If so, when did you begin physical therapy?

The reason I ask is because I called to make an appt with Early Intervention and the earliest she can come to do the INITIAL visit is in March. And she said the processing takes up to 6 weeks before we even begin therapy! My DD is 2 months old today. Im just worried that the longer we wait, the worse it will get? Any helpful info or tips for me? TIA!!!

Re: Torticolis

You can also go with PT through your insurance.

Message edited 1/26/2011 8:18:30 PM.

Re: Torticolis

My son has tort and we started PT just around 4 months through our private insurance while we waited out the whole EI process. I did not want him to not receive PT while we were waiting and certainly there was no guarantee that he would qualify for services (which he did.)

Re: Torticolis

My ped. told me she saw signs that DD has a SLIGHT case of torticollis. She was favoring looking to the right. I didnt even notice it till the Dr., pointed it out, all day looking to the right.

FIRST thing I did was do everything I could in my own house, EX:

1. Put the changing pad on the opposite side of the dresser to get her to look the other way at me.

2. Put her the opposite way in the crib.

3. Put all her toys in the opposite direction.

4. Sit in the opposite direction when she is in her swing so she faces me.

So, my DD was always looking to the right. I put everything so that she is forced to look left. I saw a big difference in about a month. Unfortunately she already made a flat spot on the right side of her head

She is 5 months old now, we might need a helmet.

WHich side is she favoring?

Re: Torticolis

DS also had a moderate flat spot and we saw a cranial specialist around the four month mark. Some things he told us to do was stop using the infant car seat to transport him, put away the snap and go, make sure he was always upright or doing tummy time unless he was sleeping. From that point on, we barely had him on the back of his head. He was either on his tummy or in the bumbo. His head improved fantastically on it's own and we avoided the helmet altogether.

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we started PT and wearing the helmet at 6 months old

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awww mines not showing a flat spot, just favoring her right side. i noticed it instantly bc i have it also on the same side, and needed surgery when i was 8yo for it... just want to avoid that at all costs!

Re: Torticolis

FM qtdimps23. Her son had torticollis.

Re: Torticolis

Posted by d-h2008

My ped. told me she saw signs that DD has a SLIGHT case of torticollis. She was favoring looking to the right. I didnt even notice it till the Dr., pointed it out, all day looking to the right.

FIRST thing I did was do everything I could in my own house, EX:

1. Put the changing pad on the opposite side of the dresser to get her to look the other way at me.

2. Put her the opposite way in the crib.

3. Put all her toys in the opposite direction.

4. Sit in the opposite direction when she is in her swing so she faces me.


So, my DD was always looking to the right. I put everything so that she is forced to look left. I saw a big difference in about a month. Unfortunately she already made a flat spot on the right side of her head

She is 5 months old now, we might need a helmet.

WHich side is she favoring?

Re: Torticolis

We started PT around 2 months and still going...she has improved a lot! We were able to make an Appt. right away we used Metro Physical Therapy.

link

Tips:

-Massage the neck...you will see a lot of redness and thats where your LO's muscles are tense.

-Put musical toys on the left side

-Tummy time

Message edited 1/26/2011 10:16:53 PM.

Re: Torticolis

We started at 5 months. I requested EI at 2 months old.

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My son, Twin A, Ant has torticollis.

He was diagonosed at 3mths and I called EI as well but was told it can take 2wks to see someone so I took it upon myself to start private PT.

Ant started to develop a flat head in the back.

EI came and he qualified, we get it 2x a wk.

He also did develop, plagiocephaly-flatness of head due to the torticollis, where Ant now wears a helmet.

I agree to do the same, continuing tummy time as much as you can.
I had twins and def had a hard time of doing the above and they def spent time in their bouncers or laying down.

Ant was a twin that was head down in the womb and fighting for space.
I had the mommy instinct and knew something was not right.

HTH

Re: Torticolis

Georgie has it too. My insurance covers PT so I found a great PT who specializes in babies and started taking him there. He's been going 2x a week for about 1.5 months and it has made a huge difference.

(Let me know if you want the contact info for the PT that we see. She's really wonderful.)

He also has a helmet now bc of his flat head.

He hated tummy time and always slept in the same position. Lesson learned-----tummy time is SO important.

I agree with the others....stress tummy time as much as possible!

Re: Torticolis