Growing up with AFOs

Hils78

Hi all, I’m new to this but my 2 1/2 year old daughter is going to be in fixed splints after some casting over the next few weeks. She has bilateral talipes but unusually she has stronger eversion than inversion, evidently because her tibalis anterior (??) muscle isn’t working - she has very little range and can’t dorsiflex or invert either foot at all. She’s not been wearing her Ponsetti boots and bar for a few months now and she’s not relapsing, but despite physio she can’t get either heel down and she’s high stepping to compensate - hence where we are now. 
My feeling is that if tib ant (physio lingo apparently!) just doesn’t work, she may need splints most of her life. I can find really helpful practical info out there about shoes, socks, repairs etc, but nothing so far on the emotional side. I’ll keep following all leads of course to improve things, but also will have it completely normal. That will be fine until someone out there is mean to her, or it’s obvious at PE that she can’t do the same things, or she wants to wear heels, etc etc. What are people’s experiences? Any advice to make the emotional path as smooth as possible? 
Thanks xx

steve51

Hi @Hils78

Welcome to our community, I do hope that we can help/support you with this ????

I have attached some info below for you !!!!!!

Please please let me know if I can help you further ???

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/33127/afo-shoes-for-children-with-cp

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/36304/afo-s

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/32471/caliper-splints-and-shoes

Hils78

Hi @steve51, thanks so much - really useful links! If there’s any more info out there about the emotional experience, tips to handle difficult situations as a kid at school etc, that would be brilliant too. Thanks!

steve51

Hi Hils78

That's my pleasure it's great to help !!!!!!!!

Yes I can sort some more info !!!!!

Please leave it with me !!!!!!

I'm on the case straighaway if that is ok ????

steve51

Hi @Hils78

I have found you some more info, please let me know if I can help you further with this ?????

https://blog.scope.org.uk/2014/02/22/emotional-support-from-face-2-face-danielles-story/

https://blog.scope.org.uk/2013/09/30/groups-offering-emotional-and-practical-support/

https://www.scope.org.uk/about-us/contact-us

https://blog.scope.org.uk/2013/09/30/groups-offering-emotional-and-practical-support/

https://www.scope.org.uk/support/families

Many thanks.

Hils78

Thank you, that’s perfect - lots of things to follow up! 
Much appreciated!

steve51

Hi @Hils78

That's great news !!!!!

Please Please let me know if there's anything else that I can help/support you with ???????

Stayce

Hi @Hils78

This children's book touches on the emotional experiences you describe in your first post

Hope it helps

http://www.hemihelp.org.uk/support_us/shop/hands_up_for_andie

 

Hils78

Hi Stayce, that’s spot on, thank you so much - I’ve ordered a copy. Hils x