Conference moira::parenting_v3

Bonnie,

Evan has *often* had large lumps on the back or side of his neck.  I have 
always thought of them as lymph nodes and just watched him to see if he needed
additional help (medication) to get well.

It's good to hear it from the doctor, though.  I don't think we ever did 
that (not that we didn't see her for everything *else*!).  :-)

     Carol

Often a hard enlarged lymph gland means your body is fighting off a
viral infection.  Every time I get a cold the nodes in my neck under my 
jaw joint swell up so much I sometimes look like a chipmunk...

--bonnie

    My pediatrician pointed two such lumps out to me at my daughter's
    two month check up.  She said that first-time moms are always calling
    up and asking about them.  They are just glands...of course you
    should check with your doctor to make sure, but they sound like
    they are normal.  My pediatrician said that they get bigger and
    smaller depending on whether or not the baby's body is fighting
    off an infection.  (it doesn't mean the baby is sick though)
    
    Sheryl

    It turns out that the lump was due to a muscle spasm. The spasm
    was caused by a small piece of embryonic tissue that was left
    in the muscle. Holly told me what it was called but I didn't 
    write the name down. They will see a specialist tomorrow and
    Canaan will probably have to have surgery.
    
    Bonnie

    It turns out that Canaan has a birth defect called a torticalis (sp).
    The specialist said that it can't be operated on, but that they
    have to stretch the muscle or she'll grow up deformed.
    
    Holly and Michael are understandably upset about this and the
    solution they were given. I told them I'd ask here in the file
    if anyone had heard of such a thing and how succesful treatment
    by streching is.
    
    Bonnie

<             <<< Note 712.5 by WMOIS::B_REINKE "bread and roses" >>>
<                                -< Torticalis? >-

Bonnie, you should also check the Medical notesfile.

Thanks for the update.  Please continue to keep us informed!

     Carol

    I have Carol, thank you ;-)
    
    Bonnie

    
    This is the information that I got from the Medical file. Canaan's
    condition is definitely an example of the birth related condition,
    and we are hopeful that physical therapy will take care of the problem.
    
    Bonnie
    
    
              <<< VMSZOO::FOLKD$:[NOTES$LIBRARY]MEDICAL.NOTE;1 >>>
                       -< MEDICAL questions and answers >-
================================================================================
Note 915.3             Torticalis (sp) Muscle abnormality                 3 of 4
VMSZOO::ECKERT "Flunking afterlife"                  37 lines  11-MAR-1991 23:19
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    Bonnie, here's what I could find in the Merck Manual:

    Etiology varies and often cannot be defined.  The congenital variety
    is often associated with with injury to the sternocleidomastoid muscle
    on one side at the time of birth during a difficult delivery, and the
    muscle's transformation into a fibrous cord that cannot lengthen with
    the growing neck.  Minimal deformity may be seen at birth but, within a
    few weeks, a firm swelling occurs in one sternocleidomastoid muscle,
    which then contracts.  Neck muscle contraction in children may also be
    secondary to ocular muscle imbalance or defects of the cervical spine
    or musculature.

    In infants, the neck should be inspected for asymmetry, abnormal
    structures, or masses.  A hematoma of the sternomastoid muscle
    [sic - sternocleidomastoid?  JAE] may be seen within several days
    of delivery (usually breech) and may become fibromatous in subsequent
    months.  Similarly, other pathologic processes in the neck must be
    ruled out by history of trauma, dysfunction, and by radiologic studies
    of the cervical spine, including x-rays, CT scan, or MRI.  A history
    of encephalitis or evidence of extrapyramidal disease may be present.
    Electromyographic, neurologic, and physiologic studies usually are
    negative.

    Prognosis is good for correctable pathologic processes in the neck or
    head; neurologic and psychiatric processes [usually associated with adult
    onset  JAE] are more difficult to treat.  The spasm can sometimes be
    temporarily inhibited by physical therapy and massage modalities; eg,
    applying slight tactile pressure to the same side of the jaw as the
    head rotation (sensory biofeedback technics).  In general, however,
    medical remedies are useless. 
    [...]
    Congenital torticollis should be treated within the first few months
    of life, initially with intensive physical therapy measures,
    including daily passive stretching of the shortened muscle for at
    least one year.  If physical therapy is started later in infancy
    or is not successful, operative division of the contracted
    sternocleidomastoid muscle and soft tissues may be indicated.