Orthopedic appointment - 7/7/16

Ryan had a follow orthopedic appointment with Dr. Beckish last week and got a good report.

Ryan at the doctor's office

He wasn't taking steps 6 months ago with minimal assistance, as he does now. It's hard for me to notice all the progress that he's making since I'm with him every day, but seeing a doctor every 6 months puts a timeline on some of the great things that Ryan is doing. Dr. Beckish was impressed with seeing Ryan take steps on his own, while only holding on to the doctor's hands and thinks it looks promising that he will walk.

According to Dr. Beckish, there are three things involved in walking - strength, cognitive ability to move one foot in front of other, and coordination. He has mastered 2 out of 3 (the strength and cognitive ability to take steps) and the progress he's showing indicates that he may be able to get the coordination part down as well. At some point he will plateau in his developmental progress. We have to hope that happens plateau happens AFTER he starts walking.

Sweet boy!

Dr. Beckish commented on Ryan's braces and asked a few questions about them. He told me that he's unsure of the benefits of AFOs. He was saying that the AFOs don't change the development of the foot and remarked that therapists love braces. He said almost all kids in therapy come in with braces (and was actually wondering if there is a kick back reward for therapists to do it). The AFOs could attribute to atrophy in the calves as the braces are helping to create the strength that is needed for standing and walking. The same way your calf would lose muscle if you wore a cast on it, the braces are partially acting as the muscle for Ryan, which doesn't allow his muscle to develop as much as it would without the brace. Dr. Beckish said that he leaves it up to the parents as to whether we should use them or not. If we feel like he walks better with them on, wear them, but if not, don't wear them. He said he wouldn't have his kid in them, which made me think about it. On the flip side, I've also heard really great things about the AFOs and what they're doing to help Ryan from his PT, Ashley, and from the orthotics place and rep that that we used to get the braces. Confusing much? Anyway, I know Ryan is used to wearing them, but he doesn't always like them, so I may start splitting time with and without them on to give him some time to be on his own and moving without them on. I know Ashley wouldn't mind as well because she's commented at one point that he doesn't have to wear them all the time.

After the appointment, Ryan and I had a little lunch date. I would have won the "cutest date" award at lunch that day. :)

Time for lunch!

I have a crush on him.
I think he likes me, too!