beginning 5th wk post mod quad have some ???? PLS help

[mom_2x_2002]

Hello Hannah just finished her 4th week post mod quad. We are not seeing any significant changes from before her surgery. I don't want to sound like I am being selfish and wanting these results instantly. I am just concerned that I might not being doing things correctly. Her therapist doesn't seem to be much help. I will tell you what she is doing. Well we are following the protocol sheet we got from TCH. I am moving her arm for her; for the following excersises. Wrist, fingers, elbow, jumping jack one, marching soldier, and stop sign one. Is she suppose to be doing them by herself without my help??? She still only raises her arm up to shoulder level (which was the same prior to surgery) she acts like her arm is not even there. She was able to help assist with taking her shirt and pants off before surgery. Now she doesn't even want to help. When she is laying on her back she can seem to get the full range of motion. She has been very resistive in doing the ROM. She fights me almost everytime. Not because they hurt but because she doesn't want to do them. And how do you stop there good hand from being a helper hand when you really don't want it to be one. Or do I let the good one be a helper?

I know we have to be creative in what we do with them at age 3 or they will get bored. I just don't want to be discourage. I guess if some of you could tell me when you seen over head movement it might help me to understand.

Dr. Nath said I should see results right away. I quess some of you might say that I need patiences. I have a little.

Could some of you just tell me your experience with mod quad??? you can email me if you would like to

nicki@g2a.net

Nicki

[m&mmom]

Matthew didn't want to use his arm at all for the first few days (maybe longer) when we took the splint off. He also ignored the fact that it was there. It took a little while before he started using it. I would try to play two handed things with him to "reintroduce" the arm to him. Playing in the bathtub was excellent. This September will be one year that Matthew had mod quad and a couple of months ago he finally started bringing his arm up and in back of his head. He just started supinating a couple of weeks ago. Sometimes things just need time.
Cindy

[mom_2x_2002]

Jennifer,

What kinds of things do you work on in the water? we just recently got a membership to our fitness center that has a pool.

thanks

[peyton's mom1]

after Peyton's Mod Quad, which was quite sometime ago, she didn't have much movement before mod quad (just straight out in front of her) well that came back gradually and we saw change little by little over time. You know what's awful, is that we want to see change when WE WANT IT, You know? But my husband and I look at the BIG picture from where peyton started at birth up until now (tomorrow she will be 3), it's amazing what they do over time. You know what I'm saying. We all are so impatient about wanting to see improvement so fast, but after three years we are so happy at what Peyton can do ( she is definitely not up to 100%). Be Patient w/ time and it will happen. Don't PUSH therapy. We have to make sure we make almost everything we do therapeutic instead of labeling things "THERAPY". Peyton seems to get turned off when I push the word "Therapy". I hope I helped in all this mumbo jumbo i just typed.

[admin]

This was exactly our experience! I was so disappointed. I was half hoping half expecting immediate results when we took the splint off too, Dr. Nath also told us we would see immediate results. We are 6weeks post mod quad now and have really started to see some amazing stuff. I think some of us just have to work harder and longer to get there. She still hasn't gotten up over her head yet but is able to straighten her arm and reach out to the side with it strait which she has never done before. She is doing more and more every day. I know it is hard to be patient I am the same way. Don't give up keep working and it will come.

[claudia]

Nikki-
Some kids take off that splint and reach up and hug their parents for the first time. Some don't.
After Juliana had mq, she needed a lot of prompting to use her arm. When encouraged, she could do much more than she ever had. Remember, for weeks Hannah has not had the ability to use that arm and has done just fine. Add that to the limitations it had before and probably decreased sensation and it adds up to a brain that just doesn't seem to connect with the arm. So, more that "therapy" you need to help her reconnect with her arm. We used tub paints. In the pool we used songs like 'insy weensy spider' and used cups so she could pour water over my head or her head..

And, I am sorry, patience is in order.

Good luck,
claudia