| Kristen,
I could be wrong, but I thought it took awhile for babies
to stretch themselves out. They were curled up so tightly
in the fetal position for such a long time.
I have a book at home called "The First Twelve Months". It
explains what the average baby should be doing. At the end
of each chapter there is a chart - it covers motor skills,
how the baby relates to their own environment etc. Some
babies may be doing more or less of what the chart indicates,
and that is okay too.
It sounds to me like you baby is normal but it might not be
a bad idea to ask the Pedi about it when your son has his
next check up.
Jeanne
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Well here is an update....
I took my baby to the pedi....after she explained on the phone
how she looked him over thoroughly at his well-baby visit and
they probably just need to be worked...and there is no problem.
I insisted that she look at him and once she did, she decided to
go ahead and call an orthopedic hand specialist. She mentioned,
again, how she doesn't see how she could have missed this problem.
The ortho wants to see him and ordered x-rays....
It looks like his ligaments might be shortened...I see the
ortho on Tuesday so we'll see what he says...I'm praying to god
he only needs therapy and not any kind of surgery...
Will keep you posted...
VMSSG::KILLORAN ...thanks for the input but his fingers definately
have something wrong with them..especially when you compare them
to other babies' hands.
Kristen
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| When my first born daughter was 15 months old I discovered that she couldn't
extend her right thumb beyond a curled up 45 degree angle. I was horrified.
My wife was even more horrified because she hadn't noticed it at all. In
fact, she was amazed that I even picked up on it. Of course, we had no
idea how long she had had this condition.
There's a whole other story as to the pediatrician's inability to diagnose the
problem. He literally had her on Tylenol for two weeks. When he finally
refered us to an othopod, this guy said instantly, "She's got what's known
as 'Trigger Finger'...and there's a simple, minor surgical proceedure to
correct for it". While we knew that surgery was a possibility, we were
petrified by the prospect. And before we were going to put our baby under
general anethesia and a doctor's knife, we wanted to hear the need for it
stated twice by two separate, knowledgable physicians. When we went back to
the pediatrician to say that we wanted a second opinion, he said we just had it.
Needless to say, he's not our pediatrician any more.
The second orthopod, which we paid for, confirmed the diagnosis, "Trigger
Finger". It's a condition where the tendon restricts the movement of the
ligament, or vise-versa, (it's been 8 years now, and I just turned 40... and
I'm showing/feeling my age). Anyway, the doc said it's usually a condition
contracted mostly by, believe it or not, upholsterers, who, by constantly
using large scissors to cut thick material put an inordinant amount of
pressure on ligament (or tendon?). When kids get it (no idea as to the cause)
this restriction can ultimately cause some diformity and limit the function of
the hand as the bones grow. That was all we needed to hear to convince us
of the need to go through with the proceedure.
In a nutshell, the proceedure was pretty traumatic on my wife and I, but
practically a cakewalk for my daughter, Julie. The kind of special, tender
loving care she received at the hospital was really heart warming. Everyone
there knew how special she is and showed it openly. We brought her in at
6AM and had her home after lunch. She barely skipped a beat.
The saddest thing was seeing the other kids in the pediatric ward with real
serious problems. It left my wife and I both thinking 'there but by the grace
of god go I (we)'. And, after 8 years and two more daughters, that remains to
be our most trying medical experience as parents.
And if turns out to be the same for you, and it will, you're very lucky, too.
So, don't worry so much.
- Bill
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| Well here's an update....
Finally made it to the orthopedic...he took Mitch's hands in his
and turned them and played with his fingers....after about 5 minutes
he says..."hmmm" Then gets up and says, "I'll be back in a minute
after I look at the x-rays."
Of course we are going crazy wondering what he is thinking.
10 minutes go by and he comes back in.
He said there are no bone/joint problems and that it is either
ligament or soft tissue problems. He mentioned the 'trigger
finger' but he said that is usually only in the thumb. He
is too small (3 months) to put splints on, too.
He gave us a few exercises to do with his fingers and said
to come back in 3 months. I asked him if his fingers were straight
do we need to come back and he said, "don't worry they won't be
straight yet." Can't believe it will take so long.
I'm relieved there is no need for surgery *yet* and I'm hoping
the exercises will work. He doesn't seem to mind them.
Will update you to his progress..
Kristen
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