[JoMarch]

Hi all,

DS (4 months) has plagiocephaly & a trip to the GP yesterday has started the ball rolling for possible treatment. The GP we saw has personal experience with it as both his babies needed helmets.

The next step (if we decide to go ahead) is to get X-Rays done then see a specialist for (possible) fitting of a corrective helmet.

The thing is, I do *think* that it is getting better on its own (we work hard on head positioning etc), but then if it doesn't fully correct, I don't want to leave it too long to go ahead with treatment...

Has anyone else had experience with treatment or has their little ones plagiocephaly corrected on its own? Should I get a second GP opinion first maybe? DH just goes along with what I think (I'm the researcher LOL) so I feel like I need more info first.

Thanks.

This post has been edited by **Lucy**: 05/12/2012, 08:02 AM

[tick]

My 5 month old has torticollis without plagio but we see a paediatric physio for it ...... I would have thought this would be a great place to start before going straight into helmets as they are very experienced with the problems that cause plagio in the first place! If you're in Melbourne, I can recommend a great paed physio clinic.

Some people also like to see Osteopaths or Chiropractors, I actually saw both a couple of times but wasn't so impressed so took it up a level with the physio. Not cheap, but definitely has been worth it.

ETA: First person I saw about it was a paediatrician actually, who totally blew it off and said it would resolve on it's own in time. Time passed and I got nervous so I took matters into my own hands!

This post has been edited by tick: 05/12/2012, 08:20 AM

[JoMarch]

Thank you! I was a bit surprised that the GP suggested a corrective helmet first as well. Maybe I will see another and ask for a referral to a paed physio. Not in Melb, unfortunately.

[AvadaKedavra]

The GP is not saying your baby WILL get a helmet, he is just talking about his experience and suggesting that this may happen. The final decision is up to the specialist. Any specialist you see will work in conjunction with paed physios etc.

The referral is a good idea, go see the specialist, tell them what you've said here, and it may be that all you need is a bit of physio and monitoring.

Don't bother with another GP - it is much more likely that a specialist will know the best paed physios than a random GP.

[JoMarch]

The GP is not saying your baby WILL get a helmet, he is just talking about his experience and suggesting that this may happen. The final decision is up to the specialist. Any specialist you see will work in conjunction with paed physios etc.

The referral is a good idea, go see the specialist, tell them what you've said here, and it may be that all you need is a bit of physio and monitoring.

Don't bother with another GP - it is much more likely that a specialist will know the best paed physios than a random GP.

No, he didn't say that DS would definately need a helmet, I guess I was a bit surprised that he didn't suggest (or even talk about it as an option) physio first, but maybe this is just the order that the process is done (I have no idea, which is why I'm wanting to hear about others experiences). You're definately right, the specialist will know where to go after the X-Rays. Thank you MsN, great advice

[shopgirl76]

I'm seeing a chiro with my 9 week old who has plagio. They sell special baby pillows that are meant to help keep the pressure off the flat spots, and are apparently SIDS safe, etc. You can check out Mimos baby pillows. Your practitioner may be aware of them, maybe not. I haven't used one though, so can't really testify to their success.

I would definitely try seeing a paed physio or chiro/osteo before anything else. And you usually don't need a GP referral.

The website for the Mimos pillows also has some suggestions about keeping the head off the flat spot that may be of some help.

(*NO I do not represent the company!)

[Loz07]

Hi, as an ex-physio, I would think that unless your baby has severe plagio, conservative management with a physio etc should be your first step.

A specialist should work with a paed physio, but won't always...

You can see private paed physios without a referral, and this may actually be quicker than waiting for a specialist (and it certainly isn't going to hurt to do conservative treatment while waiting for a specialist review/ x rays). If you can't afford private, then you would need a referral to your closest hospital with a paeds department, and they could tell you over the phone if they take GP referrals or specialist only. There would likely be a wait for public treatment.

If you are looking for a physio, you can go to the australian physiotherapy association website and use the find a physio feature - it allows you to search for paed physios. Look for one who is a member of the paeds special interest group or has paeds qualifications.

In the meantime, extra tummy time, cuddles, time in a sling etc

Hope this helps

[shopgirl76]

Hi Loz07 - just out of interest, would a chiropractor be treating babies in a similar way to a physio? As in, much of a muchness as far as who you get to treat your plagio?

Not questioning at all, genuinely interested as we've just made a foray into this area in which I am fairly 'narrowly' educated, so hoping I've made the right decision.


Edited for clarification!

This post has been edited by shopgirl76: 05/12/2012, 11:43 AM

[JillyJellyBean]

We went to a physio too, as the paed blew us off. It has to be pretty severe for a helmet to be used apparently. DS head still sint perfect (2.5 yrs) but has improved dramatically since he reduced his sleeping times!

[Loz07]

Hi, I have never been to a chiro, so any bias I would have is purely professional, and I'm not familiar with what they would offer. I'm also not a paeds physio expert, so my knowledge of what they offer is from my uni days... But it should be along the lines of positioning, exercises, alternative activities/modifications (eg, napping upright in a sling) and possibly providing assistive products (eg, pillows or wedges)

I would also think it should be something you shouldn't need much 'treatment' for... An initial assessment and advice, then just a couple of follow ups to see how you are going and to monitor progress