Jennifer's Story
I was born with bilateral club foot. Seems like my treatment was similar to others. I was born in 1974 and immediately casted for several months and then had a major surgery to manipulate my bones and correct the clubfoot. I have scars halfway up my casts and on my heels where pins were inserted. I have always been self conscious of my scars but have learned to live with them. It seems that I have not suffered any other effects that I have read about on this and other sites. My calfs are equal and not noticibly smaller and my feet are a size 8. It has only been recently that I've started to have aching ankles and some tightness in my Achilles tendon. I never had pain at all in my feet until I became pregnant and gained weight and have no recollection of pain as a child. I sometimes have aches at night after working all day (as a first grade teacher who is constantly running around with the kids). My first 32 years of living with corrected club foot have been great. I hope to continue this trend. Any suggestions to help with some tightness would be appreciated.
I've never done any research on clubfoot until I became pregnant with my son and found out (through ultrasound) that he too was going to have bilateral clubfoot. I had time to mentally prepare myself before he was born. But since I lived through this affliction and have had a great life, I figured it would not be too hard for him. My husband and I met with a wonderful pediatric orthopedic surgeon (located at DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE) even before the baby was born. He explained the steps of treatment - Ponseti Method - and also some of the side effects (smaller feet and calves). I was surprised to hear about this since I myself did not have this problem. 10 days after being born, my son went for his first casting. He was casted weekly until his tendon release surgery at age 2 months. Casting again for 5 more months and then by age 7 months, he was finished with the cast and fitted with braces that he continues to wear daily. We last saw the doctor when my son was two and at that appointment, the doctor said that the progress was great and we need not come back until one year later when my son turns 3. At that time, we'll discuss the possibility of a crossover surgery.
My son is now a quite active almost 3 year old. He stated walking at the age of 14 months. And has not slowed down since! He is very athletic and is constantly on the move dribbling the soccer ball around or hitting baseballs off of his tee. I've not ever heard him complain of any soreness although the skin on his feet does seem to be sensitive.
We have been very lucky and have had great success with our clubfoot corrections. I wish all others the success and happiness that we know.
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