Anyone know anything about congenital hand deformities?

[IntergalacticWalrus]

DS2 is 4 months old, and was born with 3 fingers missing from his right hand. He has a little finger and a thumb, which he should be able to use as a pincer type thing.

However, we have noticed over the last month or 2, since he has started to hold things, that he moves his right arm a lot less than his left, and the circulation in this arm seems quite poor. Are there any exercises we can do with him, or any good ways to encourage him to use his arm more?

Any other info would be good, as the consultant we saw at 6 weeks was a bit abrupt with us, and I didn't feel we could ask him anything.

IW....I have no advice but i would ask for a different consultant, your consultant should be aproachable and you should feel you are able to ask whatever you like... @ consultant on your behalf.

He's one of those guys who is very good at his job, but he has all the charm of a bin bag.

We see a different person in a few weeks I think.

i have no experience but would second the suggestion of a different consultant and possibly a request to see a physiotherapist to show you some excersises...best asking now incase there is a delay in getting the appointment
best wishes

Do you think I should ask my HV about physio or my GP. Haven't got a clue about this sort of thing tbh

Ask your GP for a referral to the paediatric physio team. Shame your consultant was so crap, sometimes with the 'brilliant but no bedside manner types' its better to go in with a list of questions that you fire off and they fire answers back (take notes if you want)...the whole consultation is over quickly but at least you've asked and hopefully found out what you wanted to know. Only a complete shit will refuse to answer your questions....then I would definitely ask for a new consultant...and probably make a complaint as well.

Thanks FT. I'll get onto it. It would be a shame if he doesn't use his right arm when the fingers he does have are prefectly useful.

No problem, a paed physio will be able to give you loads of advice/strategies for getting his arm moving...kids are so amazingly adaptable (and extremely determined!)your ds should be able to do pretty much everything he wants to with his hand.

I'm not too worried about it tbh, I've just noticed that he's not really moving it much. He'll have to have surgery on his hand in the next couple of years but I'm not thinking about that yet.

I've just been looking on the reach website and you can get one handed recorders. (I'm a muso, you see, and my first thought after he was born was "He'll never play the cello" How awful is that?)

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Not awful at all...it's totally bizarre the way our minds leap to really irrelevant stuff when faced with a stressful/upsetting situation....when my dd1 fell off a church pew and split her lip open 5 mins into dd2's christening my first thought was 'glad I brought her cardigan, that will cover up the massive blood stain on her dress'.
I'm sure there are tonnes of gadgets out there for people with hand deformities (hidden away in online shops in America I imagine).

Intergalactic walrus - he could also do trumpet! Or French Horn. I know players of both those instruments with fingers/arms missing.

Thank you both,

It sounds like I need to do some nagging then. We are due to see the consultant in March when DS2 is 6 months, but I will try to push for somthing sooner if I can.

He could still play the cello.

You hold the bow in your right hand, which he could do.

(Not that I'm desperat for my sons to join me in Cello land, you understand)

Aren't cello's REALLY expensive...I'd push the old recorder if I were you!

Deffo get some physio Walrus. Dd had some problems with her leg and had physio pretty much as soon as she stood. I've recently met someone whose ds has a similar problem but didn't have any intervention and the difference is significant.

Do you think he has a degree of palsy in his arm?

What about the drummer from Deaf Leopard? He only has one arm!

Although if I had to choose I think I'd much rather my kids practiced cello in their rooms than drums.

Saggars, I have really no idea. It's something that's not really occurred to me, but I suppose it's a possibility.

As for DS2's future music career, he won;t be doing anything percussion related, if I have anything to do with it.

Message withdrawn

It is amazing isn't it? I have a friend who has the whole of her right forearm missing and she's an amazing artist.

DS will be fine, I am sure. I just want to encorage him to use his arm a little more

Hey Walrus - Brother's DSS's girlfriend was born with her right arm missing and is a really fantastic florist - now I'm sure the Ds's aren't "floral" as such - but just to echo the fact that really - there's not so much that can't be achieved !

Definitely get a referral for physio asap - If you have concerns then the RUH should be acting upon them in a timely manner!

Anyway - gearing up for your birthday ??!!!

Yes, sort of! Gearing up to get bloody ratarsed on Saturday.

Are you still about then btw?

Hopefully - DD's at a pals we're at an early dinner at the Blathwayt - could stroll down the hill !!!!

We are thinking of a Desh, because it's cheap and withing stumbling distance, and then we'll probably sit in the pub at the top of C Road (where I worked when I was in impoverished student) So it'll hardly be a night of glitz and glamour

Oh the Crown is it just up from the Desh - God I love the Desh !!

I'l call when I have more idea of times etc and maybe we could meet at the pub!!

Incidentally DSS is having his hair cut off for charidee on Sunday afternoon in the village local if you fancy a trip up the hill !!