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Hi.My name is Sue and I have a wonderful son called Miles, who is 5 and a half. He was diagnosed as having Right Side Hemiplegia just before he was 3 years old, as he was walking on his toes on his right leg.
Subsequently he's had the Physiotherapy, 1 lot of serial casting and 1 botox injection, and wears an AFO - none of which are having little or no effect.
He's now set to have the achilles tendon lengthening operation, cutting a "v" shape into the back of his ankle, will be in and out of hospital in a day, will have a full length cast (toes to buttock) for 6 weeks, and will have to have intensive physiotherapy for a long time afterwards.
What I would like to know is how successful has this procedure been? The Consultant seemed in too much of a hurry to be able to answer my questions, but was very concerned about the deterioration in Miles' right leg. However, the waiting list is 6 months and I am now considering going private with the help of Miles' Great Grandparents, to move things along.
I've read all the postings I can find on this site and wondered if anybody had recently had this procedure done - successfully or unsuccessfully - and could get back to me with any information or advice about it.
Please get back to me as I'm concerned about it going wrong, or whether there is an alternative, or whether it was better to leave it until Miles was older
.Thanks for reading,
Lotsaluv,
Sue B.
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My name is Ema, and i'm guessing by now Miles would have had the operation. My 9yr old son Jacob has mild right sided hemi and he had his achillies lengthened when he was 3. The op was a success although if it wasn't for the AFO he wore for 4years after or the Lycra sock he now wears he would still be putting alot of weight on is toes. The scaring is quite bad and can be painful for a while after. You have to watch what kind of shoes he wears and also make sure he has socks on to stop any sandles rubbing. Even after all this time Jay wil complain the scar is sore expecially in hot weather,
Over all i am glad we decided to go ahead with the op, as he is now able to play football, ride a bike and most of all not feel so different from his mates.
I hope Miles is well, and that you were not too stressed when it came to the op.
Love to all
Ema xx
My name is Jackie. My son, Dean, had this op when he was about the same age as your son, he is 17 now! Over all I was plaesed witht he outcome of the op, I think he would be still walking on his toes if he had not had it, (we went throught he same pre op procedure as you described - physio, splints etc.) The only problem we have noticed is that over time Deans heel started to drop, (if you can imagine the opposite problem to walking in toes) and his toes consequently curled over to try and compensate, his foot became over arched and at the age of approx 12 years he had to have corrective surgery to striaghten his foot. I believe this was becuase the achillies tendon was lengthened too much. His foot is now good and he walks reasonably well. I don't think any too children are the same, it's a really hard decision to make. If you don't have it done you may blame yourself if things get worse, if you do have it done and it's not successful you will blame yourself for going ahead. I think you have got to do what you feel is right at the time. Good luck, let us know how you get on.
Jackie.