Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeon

[sparkleymum]

Can anyone recommend a good paediatric orthopod anywhere around the Birsbane area?
Thanks

[LivinOnAPrayer]

Hi. My DD Alex sees dr Donald, Orthopedic surgeon, at the royal childrens hospital Brisbane. He's so great and takes public patients. You just need a refural from your GP and he'll see your little one.

[sparkleymum]

OK, thats great thanks. Does he have much of a waiting list? I dont mind having to go private to get Aimee seen quicker if it makes a difference.

[LivinOnAPrayer]

Hi. I dont think its any more than a few weeks, but then it depends on the severity of the issue. Whats the problem with Aimee?

[sparkleymum]

DH has a problem with both his feet, they are flat but the boney structures that form the arch have fallen so it looks like he has flat feet with and extra bit of foot which purtrudes out the side. It's difficult to describe but they are sort of deformed looking so he cannot wear alot of shoes he has to try loads and loads to find ones with a high enough side and back, otherwise his foot comes out over the shoe.
When he was a child he was brought to specialists and they had never seen anything like it and there was nothing they could do.

Anyway I was always worried that Aimee could have the same thing. Over the last few months I thought I could notice something but when I looked closer I couldn't see it.
I bought her a pair of clarks sandels last month and had to throw them out as her feet were all cut up and sore. i thought then when she was wearing them that her feet looked like they were going a bit like DH's. So I bought a new pair of sandels last week from myer and yesterday I put them on her and I saw it. It looks like the start of what DH has on one of her feet.

I am sure there was been vast advancements in medicine since he was seen 30 years ago so I want to get her seen now when maybe its the early stages and they can do something.

I know there are such worse things that can be wrong but it would be horrible for a little girl to not be able to wear sandles or strappy shoes and have her feet look deformed.

[LivinOnAPrayer]

I know what you mean. I myself have problems finding a decent fitting shoe (I have a very high arch and very boney) and i'd hate anyone to go through that if it can be helped. Dr Donald is great and he is really well resected by other dr's.

My DD alex has realy flexible joints ect and has only just started weight baring (at 15 months she started) and she is really struggling with foot placement so we're going back to dr donald in march (its 850k to brisbane for us so we go when we have heaps of appointments all at once).

[Leeny]

My god, I thought we were alone. Dh's feet sound just like your dh.. His are servre.. He ended up seeing an Orthopaedic surgeon at the PA who refered him to someone else.. He's had orthotics made for him, but he's in agony with him so he's just let it go. Needless to say, he cant wear shoes, cant walk for more then 20 minutes or so without pain.

Dd's feet are identical to his, and we also bought clarks shoes which tear up her feet. That's all we've been told to buy. We were also told that we had to wait until she was ATLEAST SEVEN OR EIGHT before anyone is willing to look at her. Either way, Im not happy about that at all.. We dont have private cover, so I didnt know if I could ask to see a peadiatirc ortho... I think I'll investigate further... This is a weird question, but do you have any photos of your dh's or dd's feet you could pm me? They really do sound exactly like my dh's and dd's..


DH has a problem with both his feet, they are flat but the boney structures that form the arch have fallen so it looks like he has flat feet with and extra bit of foot which purtrudes out the side. It's difficult to describe but they are sort of deformed looking so he cannot wear alot of shoes he has to try loads and loads to find ones with a high enough side and back, otherwise his foot comes out over the shoe.
When he was a child he was brought to specialists and they had never seen anything like it and there was nothing they could do.

Anyway I was always worried that Aimee could have the same thing. Over the last few months I thought I could notice something but when I looked closer I couldn't see it.
I bought her a pair of clarks sandels last month and had to throw them out as her feet were all cut up and sore. i thought then when she was wearing them that her feet looked like they were going a bit like DH's. So I bought a new pair of sandels last week from myer and yesterday I put them on her and I saw it. It looks like the start of what DH has on one of her feet.

I am sure there was been vast advancements in medicine since he was seen 30 years ago so I want to get her seen now when maybe its the early stages and they can do something.

I know there are such worse things that can be wrong but it would be horrible for a little girl to not be able to wear sandles or strappy shoes and have her feet look deformed.

[Leeny]

Oh I thought I'd add, that dh's feet actually turn out like a ballerina... he cant actually turn his in. Its because his feet were left so long, and his hips are now turned. Dd now walks with her feet out the same, and we're finding that she wont walk for very long herself anymore, she wants to be carried. Does your dh have any problems working because of it?

lex11, I had a question for you... Do I ask my gp for a referral to see Dr Donald specifically?... Can she actually refuse to give me a referral? Does it cost public patients, or is it covered by medicare?

[sparkleymum]

Leeny, yes Dh walks with one foot almost facing west and one almost facing east, is the best way to describe it.
I would be really upset if I was told to come back when she is 7 or 8, that is too long, by then her feet will have formed and the arches fallen and it would be past the point of help, wouldn't it?
I will let you know how I get on but I will definitely be getting her assessed by someone.

[Leeny]

Leeny, yes Dh walks with one foot almost facing west and one almost facing east, is the best way to describe it.
I would be really upset if I was told to come back when she is 7 or 8, that is too long, by then her feet will have formed and the arches fallen and it would be past the point of help, wouldn't it?
I will let you know how I get on but I will definitely be getting her assessed by someone.


I totally agree.. we're not impressed at all.. I've been trying to find out where to go from here, but I had no idea I could request to see a peadiatric ortho... Does your dh get alot of knee pain, and alot of servere leg cramps? DD's always complaining her legs hurt already, so I just cant understand waiting until shes 7 or 8 ("atleast")... I know that they still have soft cartlidge in thier foot until about the age of 5, so Im not sure what can be done, but im still interested in a 2nd and 3rd opinion.

[sparkleymum]

No, DD hasn't complained of pain, but then again when her feet were being cut up by the shoes she didn't complain.

I am certainly going to push to get her seen, I am lucky that if the GP wont refer her DH can as he is a Dr. I will be chasing it up next week so I will keep in touch and let you know what is happening.

I really feel for you, I just cant believe they think its ok to leave a child in pain and not offer a specialist opinion. Good for you, you are dead right, you have to do what is right for your little girl, if she's in pain then you need to get her checked out. She's lucky to have a mum like you looking out for her.

When i listen to DH's story I feel that his mother didn't do enough for him when he was a little boy to get him the best care and the Dr's that he should have seen, now he is left with these strange looking feet. He lives happily with it but its the first thing you notice about him is his feet pointing outwards (and in thongs or crocs you see that they are sort of deformed looking). I dont want Aimee to be in that position, and as a girl I am sure its way worse, and to look back and think she might not have been in this position if I had pushed to get her seen by a specialist. I told DH i will travel to see someone if there is someone somewhere that can stop her getting feet like his I will spend all our money to get her there and fix it.

OK I am being major dramatic but I feel its that important, its about quality of life and having a happy carefree school life where she wont be teased cause she is different.

[LivinOnAPrayer]

Hi ladies. If your gp wont give you a referal, find a better gp. It costs them nothing to refer and medicare will cover it for you. I reakon i'd ask specifically to see Dr Donald at the royal, but i guess if his list is too long your gp could find another ortho.

My DD Alex walks with her feet out and drags them (although she cant stand solo yet so her walking is only with a walker). Dr donald said he wants to see her in march (6 months since last appoint) if theres no improvement so i've got the appoint booked already. We've alreadyt discussed surgery but she was too young at 14 months. At the moment she has special shoes that are ment to support her foot and keep it straight by pulling the heel back, but we're waiting for new ones as shes grown out of hers. So in the mean time, we gotta grin and bear it. She puts her feet at the most akward angles, its actually pretty gross.

[Leeny]

Thanx alot lexi!.. I'll be making an appointment to see my gp tomorrow. DD's look alright when shes sitting, its when she stands or walks that theres problems. An orthopeadic surgeon has seen her, but not a peadiatric orthopeadic surgeon. All we got from the last guy was a "yeah, they're fine, wait until shes between 7 and 9"...

Sure, so lets wait 9 years for the problem to be terrible, instead of stopping it from getting bad in the first place :rolleyes:

I'll ask specifically for Dr Donald too.. Cant hurt to ask... Do you happen to know his first name?

[LivinOnAPrayer]

Dr Geoff Donald. I think. Its not fair, if us parents KNOW theres something wrong, dr's should listen to us. And dr donald was so good, he listened to my concerns and really checked Alex out. Are you in brisbane? we travel from central qld (blackwater) to see him (and other dr's). Also suggest that your little miss should see the physio team at the royal, as they deal with the club foot kids and also see patients like my Alex. Its worth a try.
The physio # is 0736368506. Ask to speak to Wendy Poulsen. Shes the co ordinator of the feet kids. Hope all that helps. But i dont have dr donalds fax or phone anymore.

[Leeny]

Thanx alot for the info lexi, I appreciate it :) Yep im in brisbane, so it'll deffinately be great for us if we can get in with him. Thats a long way to travel for dr's appointments.. Do you make it a trip over a day or 2, or stay for a week or so?

Deffinately a big help, thanx!

[LivinOnAPrayer]

Hi! We see a cardiologist, general peads, respitory, ent, speechy's and now ortho's so we stay at ronald mcdonald house for the week as each specialist generally only have appoints on one day. We're so lucky to have ronald mcdonald house. And all the doc's in one place! (cardiologist travells over from the prince charles hospital). I dont know what we'll do when everything moves to the mater though....not really any accomm over there

[Pauline70]

My DD had a severe positional turn (talipes) in her right foot at birth. She sees Dr Bartlett at Brisbane Private, Wickham Tce. He attends bubs 1 day per month there (Tuesdays). He is great and we are at the stage now where we only see him every 6 months and physio every 3 months :smiliedance:
His fees are quite reasonable also, only a little more than physio.

[Leeny]

Wow you certainly have your plate full! Its great that you can stay at the ronald mcdonald house.. It must be a big help instead of paying for accomodation... When do you move to the mater?... When shes a certain age?


Hi! We see a cardiologist, general peads, respitory, ent, speechy's and now ortho's so we stay at ronald mcdonald house for the week as each specialist generally only have appoints on one day. We're so lucky to have ronald mcdonald house. And all the doc's in one place! (cardiologist travells over from the prince charles hospital). I dont know what we'll do when everything moves to the mater though....not really any accomm over there

[sparkleymum]

I saw Ronald McDonald house prety much accross the road from the Mater, is thatthe one you stay at? Can you not still stay there when you have to attend the Mater? I am sure they will help you some how.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I will post again in a few days when I have been to the GP.

[LivinOnAPrayer]

The whole childrens hospital is being moved to the mater. The staff from prince charles are going too so every specialist is in the same place. Apparently the childrens is being turned into a pediatric cancer hospital. The thing is, the ronald mcdonald house over at the mater is so small compared so I dont know how that'll work...its a bit stressful cause we really do rely on RMH for our stays. Its so great they're there.

Pauline70, thats great news that you've been able to get such great help for your little miss. :yes: Im glad she's doing so well!

[sparkleymum]

Lexi, I hope they can help you out, maybe with the hospital moving they will expand that ronald mcdonald house.:fingerscrossed: I hope it works out for you.

I am off to the GP today to try and get a referral fro Aimee.

[LivinOnAPrayer]

Hi! How did you go with getting that referal for Aimee?