Metatarsus Adductus
What's Metatarsus Adductus?
Metatarsus Adductus (Varus) is a foot deformity. The bones in the front half of the foot bend or turn in toward the side of the big toe.
Babies are sometimes born with Metatarsus Adductus. Depending on severity, the feet usually straightens out as the baby grows. Very few babies will have corrective measures used, such as a Wheaton Brace, serial casting and or surgery.
To my surprise as a baby, I also had Metatarsus Adductus. My mom was told to put my shoes on the wrong feet. It worked just fine for me as a baby.
My daughter on the other hand has, Moderate to severe Metatarsus Adductus. She has been crawling since 4 months, pulling herself up and cruising around the house. She's been wearing her braces on and off for about 2 months.It only took her 2 days to learn to take her braces off. If she had no progress after her 2-3 month mark, we would move on to casting. I was determined to avoid surgery if I could.
So, naturally for about a month now, I've been slowly dreading taking Somya to get cast on both her feet. She's so advanced and I didn't want to hinder her, from doing what she wanted. I was nervous that every week we would have to take her in, to have a cast cut off just to put another one on. She's so afraid of the vacuum, how would the saw make her feel?
I hate making the hard decisions. I went in to today's appointment knowing I wanted to make this an easy adjustment for her. Do we cast one leg first? Do we cast both, and get it over with? Would they consider casting her below the knee so she could crawl?
Thankfully she got no cast today. We have a new game plan for her braces. And if nothing by her 1st birthday we will adjust our plan and move on to casts. By then I would feel better about making all the hard decisions.
How did I come to this decision?
I used my B.R.A.I.N!
B - Benefits. Ask yourself, what is the benefit to choosing to do this?
R - Risk. Ask yourself, what are the risks involved in doing this?
A - Alternatives. Ask yourself, are there any alternatives to doing this?
I - Instincts. Ask yourself, what is your instinct telling you to do?
N - Nothing. Ask yourself, what if you do nothing right now and revisit the idea later or another day.
Seeing all the children in the office today really tugged at my heart. Lot's of parents and doctors coming together to make the best decisions for each individual child. Decisions that require thought, communication and education.
We all want the best for our children. My way, may not be your way. However I'm confident that we're both doing what's best for our individual families.