Conductive Education - worth a 100 mile round trip?

[Jenkeywoo]

Dilemma - DD has Hemiplegia - we have been largely unsatisfied by the NHS physio and are looking at Conductive Education - we are in Bournemouth, there is one centre 18 miles away in Brockenhurst but it seems very old-fashioned and has not answered several of my enquiries. It also costs £45 a session. There is another centre 'The rainbow centre' in Fareham - totally different kettle of fish, seems really up together and costs £15 a session too. But... it's 50 miles away.

My mum is really keen to take DD to the Fareham one but DD gets very distressed in the car and after more than about 30 mins ends up screaming until she vomits. I don't think it is worth the pain of the journey for the conductive education but my mum is really hassling me. I know there are some people here who have seem fantastic results with CE, does anyone have experience of the centres in Fareham or Brockenhurst? Any info or opinions appreciated. Thanks!

My friend's daughter (aged 4.5 with CP) has been going to Fareham's Rainbow Centre for a few years now with great results. They are chuffed to bits with it, and with her progress. She now attends the nursery there a few times a week also.

Website is here: Rainbow Centre

It is a long way to go. Could you have a trial couple of sessions for free (I imagine they would do this for you) before committing regularly, and see how she copes with the journey?

Also some charities will fund CE - some other friends had 2 years of CE funded by a charity for their son.

dd went to school for parents in billingshurst. it is free.

My ds went to CE when he was 2yo, and attends the school there now. It is 40 miles away, but he is ok with travelling. Thoroughly recommend CE, they understand CP so well, and my ds made progress. However, if your dd hates travelling I'm not sure she would be up to doing a session of CE after travelling as it is quite intense, the children work really hard for the whole session, and they are gently pushed into achieving more, which menas the children sometimes dislike it.

Would it be possible to put a DVD player in the car with a favourite programme to take her mind of travelling?

I've been told it helps mild to moderate CP but it didn't help my severe quadraplegic daughter at all.
Could you catch a train? My DD (3) screams in cars but is ok on trains and buses.
One probelm I've heard about with CE is that its is a lifestyle thing and you have to do it every day and relentlessly. Some families find this hard and many kids resent it. The other thing is when they have a growth spurt they can 'forget' it all with longer bones and muscles and often go backwards.
Good luck if you do try it though.

dd was only 3 when we did it. She HATED it (so did I) but i have found that although we only did it for a year I used a lot of what I had l;earnt about how to treat he ctc for years.
a lot of people traveled a long way and at billingshurst they have accomadation for you to stay over.

Well we've just had another useless physio session - it's once a month, dd screams throughout, physio says I just have to leave her to cry, she spends an 30 mins holding her upright whilst she cries. Then in two mins at the end when I'm calming down dd, tells me stuff to do for the next month.

So I think we need to do something else - I think we will visit both CE places and see what they're like. TBH I am worried about the rigidity of having to do a certain amount everyday, particularly if it's something she doesn't like but I have also heard that this is the time to really push it as when they are still very young the brain can evolve better.

Jenkeywoo, we use to live in Weymouth and travelled 2 mornings a week to the centre in Fareham - if it feels right for you and the family, and if you can - do it!

Conductive made a big difference to our lives, and as a parent being part of your childs therapy is great, as you can carry on all the exercises at home - they dont even seem like exercises after a wee while.

Yes its tough, and some children/parents never take to it...but worth a try.

As for the travelling...after a session your child will sleep, they will be shattered -So thats going home sorted. In-car dvd players are a great invention.

Good luck...

Thanks Mulsey - I'm feeling a bit more inspired today. I cannot stand by and rely on the NHS physio so we will make that journey whatever it takes and at least see whether it's right for us all. We're visiting Fareham on Monday and then will arrange to go to the Brockenhurst centre too. I'm feeling quite apprehensive as dd cries throughout physio and is easily freaked by new things so I'M worried about how traumatic it could be. Am I also right in thinking that it's best not to mention where we're going to, to the physio? I have heard that conventional physio's are a bit anti-CE.

I would highly recommend CE - my son is now walking thanks to it (after physio told us he never would!)
I would not tell your physio if you can help it - ours hates it, and is now threatening to withdraw services (we will see about that!)
Good luck with whatever you choose, but I should imagine CE will greatly help your daughter!