Leg Length Inequalities/achilles Tendon/flat Feet/cerebral Palsy

Sounds like the traveling specialist should have explained cerebral palsy a little more...before starting braces etc., you might seek a second opinion of a different specialist, one who could explain this better. We went to Anthony Kahn in Austin, Texas who is also a pediatric orthopedist near Children's Hospital here.

When we went in we were concerned about bowl legs and maybe one longer than the other. The dr. pointed out an indentation above the rectum that might be a sign of spina bifida but didn't have us do braces or anything except to watch for signs that he didn't want to walk because of pain. Dr. Kahn was very good at explaining answers to our question and calming our fears. So far no problems, and our son is amazing in his athleticism.

I think this definitely calls for a second opinion.

I just wanted to suggest you take him to a Shriner's Hospital for evaluation. there's one in houston, not sure how close that is to you. all their care is free, so it could save you a bundle on orthotics, specialists, etc.

His differnce in leg length can simply be his hips or lower back may be subluxated. A pediatric chiropractor can give him a quick and inexpensive exam. My office sees it alot! Orthodics for his flat feet will help him tremendously. I myself have flat feet with the tendon not long enough. I was advised by a podiatrist to have a tendon transplant, which I elected not to do. I stretch regularly and always wear orthodics. I cannot walk properly without, due to severe overpronation (fallen arch or flat feet) If he is treated as a child and wears good shoes with orthodics, he should be ok. I use Footleveler's orthodics. They are custom molded and would cost around $100 for a child. Your chiropractor can mold or scan his feet.

Its like you just wrote my childhood!

I went through everything you just described. My recommendation is for the pediatric orthopedist to become the main caregiver. He can offer orders for PT, shoe inserts, braces, etc.

The benefit of having the insert have the leg length adjustment is that its portable to new shoes, and your son can where the current fashions.

I have had the shoe braces, both day and nighttime, PT for achilles tendon, 3 surgeries, etc. My achilles surgery was when I was 17 and basically done growing.

Another recommendation of mine is to have your son visit a chiropracter to see if there are any alignment issues since there is a leg length descrepancy, and to have him be in some sort of overall PT maintanence or stretching routine to keep the muscles limber.

Hugs
M.

My youngest has had this!!! But he has very high arches and had one leg longer for about a year. It was causing great hip and back pain for him...that's how we found it. And my son was a "toe walker" for years and that shortened his Achilles. Stretches can help with that, if it's not too severe.

Get a second opinion. Have the legs measured well by a doc/ PT who has experience doing this. Every time we have something new come up, I do online research. So research : leg length discrepancy

Not everything on the internet is true about medical situations (duh....) but I use the research to help me ask many and better questions about my kids.