It Worries Me, That's All.

It's called idiopathic toe walking.

My son walks on his toes. Not just sometimes. Always. I took him to he doctor last year to have them look at the problem, and peds promptly sent me to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, (granted he didn't speak very good english and he was 4 towns away), who assured me he would "grow out of it". Thats was over a year ago. He has been walking this way for so very long now, it is hard to remember when it started. In 2 days he will be starting first grade, and in 2 short months, he will be seven years old. The doctor said since he can walk normally when prompted it is nothing to really worry about... Of course a year ago, when prompted, his normal walking was far more...normal looking.

So, you did go to medical school, right doc? Any idea of when I can expect my son to be able to walk normally, or is i likely you bastards will put off doing anything about it until he ruins his calf muscles and tendons, and has to end up as the class retard in Forrest Gump leg braces? AT what point does it go from habit to problem requiring intervention? Maybe you think the peer pressure of a sound ass beating from other kids making fun of the way he walks will help him out grow it?

He can't run either. As he runs on his toes, he can be bested by a 4 year old in a foot race. He falls down far more than he should. It is certainly not a lack of trying on our part. One might think we are nuts by listening to our household throughout the day. "Toes. Toes, Brenden. Toes. Heels first. Walk flat. Toes. TOES. TOES!!!"

I am at a compete loss of what to do about it. He started soccer last week, and it was emotionally painful for me to watch him be out run, and out kicked by every other little boy on the team, because he lacks the necessary balance of using his whole foot. My upset is not something he noticed. He was having a great time. We were the smiling, waving, supportive parents across the field.... Our quiet discussion to each other was far different.

Something has to be done, even if I have to choke out every doctor in pediatrics, orthopedics, and neurology.... and I will, too.