Advice from those who have had SDR - Cerebral Palsy Message Board

batty · 08-22-2007, 03:14 AM

HI there,

We are in the process of beginning assessment for SDR for my 6 year old son.
I wondered if anyone can describe the types of exercises/therapy post-SDR. Reason I am asking is it looks like compliancy and behaviour is going to provide a barrier to him getting put forward for this surgery by his paediatrician, and I need to know what type of exercises patients have to do in order to see if my son will do these. He is currently doing Conductive education where they do exercises, walking practise, stair climbing, wall-bar exercises, stretching etc all day long and he has no problem and no fuss doing any of this, because it is an established routine. But anything new, ie a new situation, he "plays up" and moans until he is used to the things he is told to do. Once this becomes a routine, he is fine. At the moment he even asks me morning and night to do his exercises with him, he loves it so much! Because we make it fun for him. But anything unfamiliar, he struggles with until he gets the gist of it.
I need to find out what he will have to endure, and see if I can get him ready for this, in order to convince our paediatrician to put our case forward. He is one determined and strong boy, who knows what he wants, and we want the best for him. I guess if I can practise these things, and show on video that he has no problem with this.
Any ideas??
Many thanks.

nwmom · 08-23-2007, 07:22 PM

If you're considering going to St. Louis Children's Hospital, you could call and ask if they'd send you the handouts of pre-op and post-op exercises so you could look them over. I'm pretty sure they would send them to you. We did not do all of the post-op ones. Some were to hard for our son and we eventually just focused on the key ones for Noah. Hope this helps.
nwmom

batty · 08-26-2007, 02:43 AM

thanks nwmom - unfortunately we are from NZ and they don't do this surgery here, so are looking at Australia to have it done. Just any overall idea on the sorts of things that need doing would be fine.

nwmom · 09-12-2007, 07:59 PM

inner thigh squeezing, sit to stand, scissor legs lying on floor, lift buttocks off floor while lying on floor, lie on tummy and kick leg to buttocks, hamstring stretches...that's all I remember off the top of my head. Will try and check the booklet soon. Have you heard any more since posting?
nwmom

batty · 09-22-2007, 12:46 AM

Thanks so much - we have just videoed all of these things actually in preparation to send over to Aussie for assessment - we have had no problems getting my son to do this and have had contact with a lovely physio from Aussie who has given us some ideas of what sorts of things are involved, which parallels what you have just written.
So at the moment in the process of sending over all of this information to then hopefully get a formal assessment. We have struck some barriers so far from a physio here who has expressed concerns over my sons behaviour to do the exercises etc but she doesnt know how to handle my son and only sees him 6 weeks after each botox and we have now refuted this with videos to prove how happy he is to do all this therapy/eexercises EVERY day at his school (he attends Conductive Education)

Many thanks for all your input newmom
What was your child's recovery rate like??
We have been told 6 weeks inpatient in hosp then another 6 weeks living in accom close to hosp and attending therapy every day then we may be able to go home and do therapy in NZ after this for up to 1 year.

Cheers
Batty

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwmom

inner thigh squeezing, sit to stand, scissor legs lying on floor, lift buttocks off floor while lying on floor, lie on tummy and kick leg to buttocks, hamstring stretches...that's all I remember off the top of my head. Will try and check the booklet soon. Have you heard any more since posting?
nwmom