bilateral talipes

[idontbelieveit]

Hi, my dd is 7 days old and has been diagnosed with talipes. We have a referral for 18th feb and i was wondering if there are other mumsnetters with children with talipes who could give me some advice/support?
TIA

Congratulations on the birth of your DD! No direct experience but my best friend's DD had this. She had a quite a severe case, so did have to have a couple of ops (which I think is unusual), in addition to regular casts, splints and some physio. Despite all this, her DD took her first steps at 18 months . I think it's more usual to have some sort of casts and/or special boots to wear overnight to help gently manipulate feet into the right position. there is a forum called STEPS that specialises in this condition and other related problems.

Hi, Do you know if it is structural (ie the bones are affected)?

My ds(2.7) was born with non structural bilateral talipes and we saw a physio from his birth, the physio showed us different techniques in which to stimulate his feet and they over time have slowly corrected his feet.

He has also worn piedro boots since the age of one, however this is more due to his muscle weakness and support needed in his ankles.

He started walking at 2.6 years.

My daughter was born with posital(sp) talipes. That just took a few minutes of manipulation every day for a couple of weeks.
As a toddler her ankles needed little extra support so she had to wear ankle boots.

Hi thanks for the quick response. just had a call from the orthopedic nurse and have our first appointment tomorrow.
pp don't know if it's structural or not. One of the consultants we saw said one foot seemed more "fixed" than the other which i assume could mean bones rather than just tendons and muscles but another consultant thought that the joints were flexible. We'll find out tomorrow i guess.

TC have had a look at that forum, thanks i'm waiting for them to register me!

x post CW that sounds hopeful, am trying not to think the worst until after the appointment tomorrow.

Hi,
I have no personal experience but a while ago I saw a great program on TV (I think by Robert Winston-Smith) about this and the UK program of splinting/casting. The kids needed casts (Ponseti Method) for only a few months and had fantastic results (walking no problems etc).

All the best,

My friend's DD had the Ponseti Method.

Hi, idontbelieveit, and congratulations on the arrival of your dd!

My DS2, now aged 7, was born with bilateral talipes and was treated using the Ponseti method which was brilliant. His feet look great now, you would never know he had had talipes.

The key question really is whether it is structural or not.

Either way, don't worry, it is an eminently treatable condition!

Very happy to help and provide more info if I can. Do feel free to email me, [email protected] .

thanks sixspot, good to speak to someon who's the other side of the tunnel iykwim. will email you after appointment tomorrow if that's ok excuse lack of punctuation, typing one handed with dd2.

That's great - yes, do email me. I am very happy to help in any way I can. Good luck with the appointment tomorrow and TRY NOT TO WORRY!

DS2 had talipes at birth but did not need treatment - but am assuming it was a mild case. I read a bit about it at the time and realised it is a very 'treatable' condition

DD2 had positional talipes when she was born. We had to maasage her feet for a few months and it righted itself (she walked at 10 months so didn't hold her back!)

Nobody seemed particularly concerned about it and I was given to believe that it is fairly common. We were never referred anywhere.

Hi and Congratulation idontbelieveit!

DS2 had the same, left foot we massaged and it was fine. Right foot needed 2 ops which were successful!!

Hi HM am really hoping dd2 will just need massage but i fear that because it's so severe it won't be so straightforward. Will be back tomorrow after appointment.