Physical Therapy

Well, as most of you can probably see, Tristan's neck is torked to one side……poor baby.  I guess that's what he gets for staying breech and smashing his head up into my ribs.

Nick and I noticed it right after he was born actually, in the hospital.  So since he has been home, we have been trying to get him to turn his head the other way, always correcting him when he is in his swing or sleeping.  But at his first doctor's appt, Shelly recommended we see a physical therapist and get him started with treatment.  He has a pretty bad case of torticollis, which is where the muscles and tendons on the one side of his neck are very tight and covered with scar tissue.  It's kinda gross, when he cranes his head back, you can see the scar tissue bulging out of his little neck.

The therapists were very nice and helpful.  They did an exam to see just how bad off he was, and then showed us some at home exercises to get us started.  He wasn't too excited about any of them…..until we offered him a bottle, then he was just fine.  So we have to do therapy probably for the next 4-6 months, maybe longer if necessary.  I feel bad for him, he really hates it when we mess with his head.  But it's better than having his head leaning on his shoulder perpetually when he is 20.

The good thing is, we wore him out so much he napped for a full two hours when we got home!  Best day ever.