URGENT HELP - PIEDROS

[HugAndRoll]

Hi all,

DS2 got his piedros yesterday, I couldn't go to the appointment. DH went but doesn't think to ask if he can put the boots on DS so just lets the orthotist do it (they went on easily apparently). Orthotist said DS2's feet had grown since the measuring but there was still plenty of room.

Fast forward to this morning and I can't get the sodding things on his feet! I have taken all the laces out down to the last bit, pop his toes in, try and push his heel down/boot up and his ankle just buckles and his foot doesn't slide in.

I tried for 10 mins this morning before having to go to work, pulled out the insole and measured it against his foot as DH said his feet must have grown overnight and it was fine.

I will be ringing the hospital today to try and speak to the orthotist but is there a special way you have to put them on? Needless to say, DS2 is shoeless today (which he was before yesterday anyway but that's not the point - he has the footwear he needs I'm just too blinking cack hypermobile handed to get them on).

I'd go back. Insist that you are seen ASAP. Have you tried kickers? We had a lot of success with those.

Does DS have spastic diplegia? This can cause difficulties getting the shoes on if he is in toe pointing mode.

If when you look at his foot it is toe pointing you need to do some stretches to loosen the ankle and foot enough to get the shoe on. In effect break down the spasticity.

The alternative is to have night splints to keep the foot in the proper position overnight. When sleeping the tightness in the foot/ankle cranks up making the morning shoe routine difficult.

If he wears them and is on his feet all day then at the end of the day they are easy to put back on, it's probably tightness.

There no magic trick or technique with shoes unlike AFOs which is a skill to learn!

It could also be going into spasm. Toes spread open and foot rigid and arched? You just need to massage and wait for it to go.

Were his toes scrunched? That will make it impossible.

He is hypermobile and doesn't spasm (has no stiffness about him, not even a little bit which I think is the problem here).

I'm not sure if his toes were scrunching but even they're hypermobile and bend in all sorts of directions so you may have hit the nail on the head there - I will try again later.

I am wating for a call back from his orthotist but nothing yet. I wish I'd gone to the appointment now but it's my last two weeks in before I leave (going to stay at home as between my two DS there are too many appointments, exercises and therapies for me to work) so I couldn't.

It's prob me being awkward with it as I am not very coordinated. I struggle to put boots on me let alone bendy boy.