Hi All
I have found this website through Google, and it looks really good and helpful.
I am in the UK, and was looking for some advice following an appointment today with our peadeatrician at our local hospital.
My son is now 9 years old and was born with a left clubbed foot. He had all the plaster casts when he was a baby and also had his tendon cut and lengthened when he was 1 year old.
This restricted him somewhat through his development, and he has also recently had physio, as he kept falling over all the time, because he was not picking up his left foot as he was running, hence it was catching the floor and making him fall over.
I believe the operation was inappropriate but however, may have been the only option available at such time (2002?) - I dont know. Can anyone shed any advice please?
I have also read that:
Extensive surgery may lead to scar tissue developing inside the child's foot. The scarring may result in functional, growth and aesthetic problems in the foot because the scarred tissue will interfere with the normal development of the appendage
My reason for posting this topic was to understand why my sons right foot is now a 4G (very flat footed), which is 25cm, and his left foot is a 2 1/2 F, 23.5cm! Quite a difference and now I have read the above I am even more concerned. The doctor today told me that there was nothing he could do about it, but I dont believe his left foot is growing at all???
Can anyone else who has gone through a similar situation help/passify me please?
Thank you
Sue
9 year old with left clubbed foot and development issues - help please!!
(4 posts) (4 voices)-
Posted 8 months ago #
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Hi Sue
I have an 11 year old who was also born with a left club foot. He too went through the normal corrective surgery at approximately 9 months old after ungoing unsuccessful physio twice a week from the moment he was born. Surgery went well until at approximately 3 years old we noticed that he kept falling over. His left shin bone had twisted inward causing him to fall over his own foot. To correct this he had further surgery on his leg and the bone pinned in the correct place. He has the normal problems of getting footwear to fit and the wasted leg calf muscle but so far he has taken everything in his stride. His feet have grown at varying rates and in fact at one stage his left foot was a size and a half smaller than the right, although this varies greatly and sometimes there is very little difference in size. You mention that your sons smalllest foot is a size 2 1/2 and that you are concerned that his feet are not growing. My son has only just gone into a size 3 (right foot only) and is two years older. I don't let this worry me though as some of his friends are the same size! I try not to read too far in advance what problems he may face in later life as I may find it too distressing! He enjoys a full and sporty life and regularly wins his races at sports day so it certainly hasn't affected his speed. The only concern I have at present is that from time to time he complains about pain in his left ankle. This is something I now need to deal with - will he have to learn to live with this or can something be done? I am sure you will appreciate that I do not want to put my child through any unnecessary surgery but at the same time I want to ensure that he has every opportunity to live a full, happy and painfree life.
I hope that this will be of some help - at least to let you know you are not alone!
HelenPosted 8 months ago # -
hi guys just read about you lads.
im 28 years old and i wear six 6(adult)one thing you will find is that they will adapt everything they do to compensate i know i did. sue mentioned about the little one does sports days etc. ankle pain is to be expected our feet arent the same as most. there are things that can be done!! is it worth it maybe. if its a case of the bones in the top of the foot being broken and reset in my opinion no. yes it does mean the foot looks closer to "normal" but in the long term it means increased chance of arthritis which is some thing you dont want. ive always has small feet i trained to be a martial arts instructor, learned to fly plains(i was in the air training corps),2 kids with another on the way. yes scare tissue does make things look/act differently as the skin has been cut and essentially stuck back together. one thing i will say is dont second guess your choice to have the op you done what you thought was right at the time. 2nd guessing will mean you regret it for the rest of your life when you were trying to do what was best for your baby and thats something no one on the planet can blame you for so dont blame yourself. and 1 thing i will say he's 9 that means he has another 11 years to grow. if hes like me he wont have big feet. what that means to me is i dont have to fork out alot of money on big shoes. theres always options out there and yes his left foot will always be different unless it causes problems leave it be. one day i guarentee he will turn round and thank you for doing everything within your power. i hope this helpsPosted 5 months ago # -
Hi Sue and Helen.
I just thought I'd drop you a line...
I'm 32 years old and I was born with two club feet though my left was much worse. Like Tom I have small feet with my right being a size 6 and my left a size 4 1/2 and he is right about it being cheaper on shoes/trainers lol. I never suffered from ankle pain like your son has but at his age and still my feet felt a kinda stiffness in the mornings, my father used to joke I looked like an old man getting out of bed, though after a minute or two it goes. I can't give you medical advise but Tom is right it really doesn't hold them back, I mean yes they probably won't be Wayne Rooney but let's be honest that's not a bad thing. I play lots of sports and found the one that suited me best was golf as the footwear was supportive and if my feet ever got sore theirs always buggies :) Im now playing off a 12 handy cap though when I was younger a 6 so not far off pro level.
When I was at school I used to hate wearing two different size shoes as kids can be cruel at times, so after a while I started wearing the same size. To be honest my mother was smart on that one so brought me a pair of cool Nike air trainers then over night kids stopped thinking of me being the lad with odd sized shoes and a slightly different walk to the kid with the coolest trainers :) don't know if what I have said helps but if you would like to know more just ask.
David
P.s Just though there is one bad side to having small feet, the girlfriend pinches your Nikies lol
Posted 5 months ago #
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