Experience with Torticollis?

crystalknpp · November 2012

Has anyone's LO had this issue? The pediatrician today noticed that Ben is favoring one side of his head/neck. She said more than likely the cause was in utero from him being such a big baby and me being so tiny causing him to be squished so to speak. She told us to do certain exercises with him and more tummy time to try and get him to start looking towards the other direction and strengthen his neck/back muscles. The muscles on the right side of his neck are tight and causes him to favor the opposite side and it makes it more difficult for him to turn his head in that direction. If it doesn't get better over the next month he will need physical therapy and worse case scenario is surgery.

The pediatrician said it's common so I was wondering if any of your LO's had this issue? What did you do that worked? I'm really hoping to avoid PT or surgery if possible! Thanks ladies!

Junebug060609 · November 2012

D did. There are a bunch of other kiddos here that did, too.

Stretches and extra tummy time were the main things we did. D had a few months PT as well.

Junebug060609 · November 2012

I second just going to PT now. Babies that get in sooner improve faster. Plus by getting in now you may prevent further issues, such as plagiocephaly, that commonly come with torticollis. Also, it's a helluva lot easier to do the stretches with a baby that can't resist much.

ETA: D's tort led to plagiocephaly as well. Thankfully his was minor and resolved on it's own without needing a helmet. I'm glad your doc is noticing this now. I know it sucks to hear that there might be something 'wrong' with your kid, at least I know I felt like crap about it, but in the scheme of things this is minor and can be treated.

Missa_g · November 2012

I agree with PP, get PT now. Both my sons have tort and have been receiving PT since coming home from the NICU. Despite the PT, frequent tummy time, and stretches J's has caused plagiocephaly. We're in the process of getting him a helmet.

weddedwife · November 2012

DD had it. Pedi noticed it around 2 months. She also favored one side and had a head tilt. They said it could've been positioning in utero but FWIW she was only a 6 lb. 15 oz. baby.

I agree- get into PT now. If you deal with it now you won't even have to go anywhere near surgery. It took us months to jump through the insurance hoops to get PT approved and in the meantime she developed a flat spot on one side of the back of her head (plagiocephaly). We tried EVERYTHING to get her to look the other way- we switched her diaper changing table and she would just stare at the decals on the wall instead. We tried using rolled blankets to position her head the other way in her crib, didn't work. We switched the side the car seat was on- no dice. She started PT at 5 months and got a helmet at 7 months (a cranial orthotic). I'm sure you've seen babies around with those helmets. I felt so guilty and horrible that she had to wear a helmet, but it worked wonders and honestly was not that bad. Everything was covered 100% by our insurance. She wore the helmet for 4 months and graduated from PT at 1 yo. I know if we had dealt with it earlier she might not have even needed the helmet, and definitely less PT.

crystalknpp · November 2012

Thank you girls for all of the advice. The pediatrician gave me a Rx yesterday before we left to see a physical therapist if we choose to go that route now or we can wait until she sees him at his 4 month appointment. The Pediatrician said the Torticollis isn't effecting his hips or any other part of his body and she thinks the exercises she showed us and increased tummy time will help. DH and I talked and we're going to give the exercises and tummy time a chance to work for 2-3 weeks. If by 3 months there isn't any chance I'm going to call a PT.

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