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Torticollis

I have a 8 mos old baby who goes through episodes of head tilting.  She will tilt her head to the left for a 7-10 day period then straigthen her head up for a 7-10 day period.  We have done exercises for the torticollis, which have not been helping.  Her neck muscle is not tight on either side.  We have been seeing a physiotherapist since she was 4 mos old.  She has had a C-spine xray done which was normal and her vision checked which was also normal.  She sits well unsupported.  She was 4 weeks premature and weighed 6lbs 10oz at birth.  She is a very fussy eater.  I spent months fighting with her to drink her bottle.  She was checked at 10 weeks old for pyloric stenosis which was negative.  She would vomit with almost every feeding.  My family doctor states that this was due to a reflux and build-up of gas, a very poor burper.  The vomiting has improved 100%.
  The physiotherapist thinks she may have benign paroxysmal torticollis.  Can you help?  What is this?  What is the outcome? Is there anything we can do to help?  Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks from a concerned mom.
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Avatar universal
Hi Tina,
Babies are put though much stress during childbirth with alot of it focused on the neck. Minor irritation to the cervical spine and spinal roots causes changes in the muscles of the neck contributing to the postural changes. Because the baby goes thourgh periods of head tilting, it would seem that a cause continues to reappear over and over.I think that an evaluation with a Chiropractic Dr. who specializes in children would be appropriate. Very gentle techniques are used without force being used to create a correction in the motion and function of the spine.
Good luck, I hope this helps!
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Avatar universal
Dear Tina:

I am sorry that you have had a few rough months with your young child.  The most worrisome things sound like they have been ruled out, such as an eye problem, weak muscles, dystonia, spinal abnormality, infection etc.  Usually these events of benign paroxsymal torticollis are only for 2-3 days and not for a week at a time.  If these events are the benign torticollis variety, they can vary of the side of involvement.  They will eventually disappear.  Some of the children will grow up and have migraine headaches.  From your description, I would think that your daughter has the benign type.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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