Walking to Crawling.................

Brielle had serial casting of her legs one and a half weeks after botox for a total of 4 weeks. May 1-May 28. She was a trooper!! She only asked a few times to have them taken off and it really was not a big deal. We put plastic bags rubber banded on her feet and proped her feet up on dads shoulder or up on a stool in the tub. Then we filled the tub with a little bit of water to let her “soak” a bit and wash her up. That was her baths for 4 weeks. She did so well considering this girl likes her baths! So here we are 5 days shy of a month out of casts. Brielle has REALLY been struggling to walk. Very stiff legged and just this week has started to crawl again because she just cant walk. We have tried epsom salt soaks, heat and ice packs, massages, resting, stretching, water, we just do not know what else to do for her. Tylenol wont even touch it. So today, I went to her therapy, I had to work last week, and I walked in in tears. Miss Lisa and I talked since her new PT has only seen her like this so she doesnt really know what “normal” Brielle looks like. She did however say that she is much worse than last week. Lisa took one look at her and said ya something is going on for sure. She suggested we go to our pediatrician and get an xray for a possible stress fracture. I had 2 appointments set up for Green Bay today (35 min drive one way for us) so I spent the hour of therapy on the phone with the pediatrician, who squeezed us in his schedule like always! Rearranged the new AFO fittings, so we had to make the hour trip back to Green Bay (Which turned into much longer since I was super stressed and went about 20 miles past my exit! Each time!). The Xray did not show a break or a fracture. But from what I understood, they can not see a stress fracture on a Xray. They need to do an MRI or a CT scan. Her pediatrician said that she is definitely favoring the right foot, which is not normal for her usually its her left, and that she will definitely NOT put weight on that right foot so he referred us to an Orthopedic Surgeon who we go see tomorrow at 2. This has been going on for the good part of the month she has been cast free. I chalked it up to her having weak leg muscles and she just needed to gain them back. So keep stretching, keep strength training, keep working at it! It will get better. The last week it has gotten much much worse. A week ago Thursday she was running! Very twisted, but she was running. That lasted 2 days. Then all of this started. She asks to be carried, not like her At. All. Shes crawling. We set her down on her feet and she cries out OWE and falls to the ground. She says all day long her feet hurt her. Its exhausting for her. Its heart breaking for us as parents to watch. I feel like we have exhausted all of our resources an noone knows what is wrong with her. I pray this Doctor can help her. Obviously I dont want anything to be wrong but I also just hope he finds something tomorrow so that we can have a plan and get her pain free. This is noway to live. She has been thru so much already at her young age of 4. This isnt fair. She cant enjoy being the kid that she should be. I got an email from her sweet sweet teacher this morming. Sent me straight to tears. She said she is struggling in school to keep up with her classmates. She also said she is in visible pain. I know. I just dont know what to do! Its serious stuff. Its gut wrenching to watch. But we have to stay strong for Brielle. Crying takes place in the shower. Somehow she realized I was crying because she ratted me out to her therapist lol. She said “My mom was crying like a baby. Like Tayvah.” Gee thanks kid!