A while back I posted on how Beck was being evaluated by a PT and would then start PT to help correct his Torticollis...the muscles on one side of his neck are shorter than on the other. So he's been working with an OT for the past 2 months and his movement and range of motion have improved greatly. However, even with this improvement nothing has changed with the flat spot on his head, like the doctors were hoping.
So I took him to an Orthopedics office and had him evaluated. They diagnosed him with, what they call, Deformational Plagiocephaly...meaning he has a flat spot on the back, right side of his head. 
Our insurance wasn't happy with this flat out ruling (no pun intended), so we had to also take him to a Pediatric Plastic Surgeon in Pittsburgh to rule out something called craniosynostosis, which is a premature fusion of the sutures in his head (meaning his soft spots in his head have closed, no longer allowing room for him to grow, thence causing a weird shaped head). And the only way to fix the craniosynostosis is by having major surgery. To our relief he didn't have this and they confirmed that he indeed needed to wear a helmet to correct the shape and growth of his head.
Our insurance wasn't happy with this flat out ruling (no pun intended), so we had to also take him to a Pediatric Plastic Surgeon in Pittsburgh to rule out something called craniosynostosis, which is a premature fusion of the sutures in his head (meaning his soft spots in his head have closed, no longer allowing room for him to grow, thence causing a weird shaped head). And the only way to fix the craniosynostosis is by having major surgery. To our relief he didn't have this and they confirmed that he indeed needed to wear a helmet to correct the shape and growth of his head.So now on Tuesday, the 16th, we're heading into the Orthopedics office to have a cast mold made of his head to they can make his helmet. After this it will take about a week or so to have it made and then he'll have a fitting and we'll be on the road to a round head. Beck will have to wear the helmet 23 hours a day for, up to, 3 months. After this he'll be reevaluated by the orthopedics office as well as the plastic surgeon and will most likely only have to wear the helmet to sleep in for another couple months
. 
This is what the helmet will look like, though his will be open on the top as his flat spot is in the back.
This is what the helmet will look like, though his will be open on the top as his flat spot is in the back.It makes me sad to have him have to go through this, but I know he wont even remember it and in the long run this is what is best for him.
So, I'll keep you all posted and continue to update the situation with pictures too.
(isn't that baby cute? I hope Beck looks that cute in his helmet! haha)
10 comments:
He'll be a little rugby player!
Just make sure you take PLENTY of pictures, so when he gets older and therefore rebellious, you can blackmail him with them...
Poor beck... My nephew wore one and honestly it was no big deal!! He will do great with it and down the road he will say thank you to you and steve!!
I will gladly pay for this...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NFL-San-Diego-Chargers-VINYL-BUMPER-STICKER-DECAL-0_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50452QQihZ024QQitemZ370066935284QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
He'll look way cooler than that kid in the picture!
Thanks Jeff....I think Steve had another team in mind though, haha!
He will be cute no matter what!!!
that is sad... cute little beck. Please keep us posted and good luck with everything
Laura....He looks sooo dang cute in that helmet! You were really blessed not having to go through major surgery like that. As a mother your heart goes out to your child with medical needs. Although your are much less major than Braxton's....I totally understand how you feel! Don't you just want to take their place sometime!
Insurance can be such a pain sometime!!!!
Glad to hear that he just needs a helmet. And im sure he'll be stylin!
Oh sad! So that's why kids wear helmets. Adelin kind of has a flat head but her Dr. didn't say anything about it.
I think he will be so cute! and I really do think it is like th best time to have it as far as crawling/walking misshaps!
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