OT: Anyone's kids ever have had Sever's disease

[Queen of 3 princess]

My daughter has Sever's disease. An inflammation of the growth plate in her heal. She has had it for 3 weeks. Does anyone have any ideas on how she can get better? How long till she gets better. She has been on crutches to stay off it, we ice it, motrin, and a heal cushon. Only I just ordered a new heal cushion to see if a different kind would help more. She is big into soccer and this is right in the middle of soccer season. We would like her to be better by June 16, which is soccer try-outs. After that, she can then rest the whole summer. Please any ideas or experiences would be appreciated.

 

[hopesmommy]

Queen,

Sorry to hear about your daughter. Unfortunately, there is not a "cure". My DD also has it. We went to 3 different docs. You are doing everything they all said. You just have to wait until the growth plate solidifies, around age 14. Make sure her shoes are firm in the heel and stay away from flip flops. You can also stretch her foot and ankle. This did slightly help my DD. We have been dealing with it for over a year now. It comes and goes, mainly when she has been extremely active. She does dance and gymnastics. I keep motrin with me because I know she is in pain more than she tells me and she is only 7. I hope she feels better soon!

 

[clutter]

When my dd12 gets a 'flare-up', it's 2 weeks no running no jumping. You say she's had it for three weeks and is using crutches. Has she held off on sports, too? If she's been completely off of it and it's been 3 weeks, maybe she's got something else going on, too. But if she's been off of it except for sports, she's not letting it heal.

Our best cure was the time we went to Disney for 10 days. She didn't run or jump there, and let the inflammation heal. Maybe you could work that in?

 

[robinzkj]

my 14 yo son was diagnosed with it at age 11 or 12. He still has pain. He's 5'9 1/2 and not done growing. He plays football and the running just kills his feet. We have tried shoe cups, exercises, soaking feet, nothing works. One sports med dr recommended orthotics. That's our next step. Hopefully his growth plates will harden up soon.

 

[Queen of 3 princess]

She has pain when she walks too. Not just when she runs/jumps. We have just started the stretches this past week. Hopefully that will help. We have unfortunatly let her play in two games I am just a sucker for the whining I guess. But No practices, soccer class or gym. She did not have any games this past weekend, so she will be off a solid two weeks this coming up weekend. Which I refuse to let her play. But once it heals the first time and she has flair up's does she need to sit again or can she just play through the pain? I'm so confused about that. Does this mean no more soccer. She will be crushed. I know there can be no permanent damage, but I don't want her to be in constant pain till 14 either.

 

[woodkins]

My dd 6 has Sever's disease for about a year and a half. She wears AFO braces on her feet at night to stretch her achilles and also has physical therapy once per week. We need to stretch her out on a daily basis as well. We were told that the pain will increase with growth spurts until she is a teenager.

 

[Leajess99]

She has pain when she walks too. Not just when she runs/jumps. We have just started the stretches this past week. Hopefully that will help. We have unfortunatly let her play in two games I am just a sucker for the whining I guess. But No practices, soccer class or gym. She did not have any games this past weekend, so she will be off a solid two weeks this coming up weekend. Which I refuse to let her play. But once it heals the first time and she has flair up's does she need to sit again or can she just play through the pain? I'm so confused about that. Does this mean no more soccer. She will be crushed. I know there can be no permanent damage, but I don't want her to be in constant pain till 14 either.

I'm so sorry your daughter is in pain but wanted to say you are not the only "sucker". My daughter had her knee injured during soccer practice and I had let her play in her next game. She came out of that game in so much pain I have pulled her from soccer for the rest of the season. It has been devasting and I feel awful for having to pull her but it is best.

I would recommend pulling your daughter so she can heal up and maybe allow her to try out and then give her a break.

 

[clutter]

She has pain when she walks too. Not just when she runs/jumps. We have just started the stretches this past week. Hopefully that will help. We have unfortunatly let her play in two games I am just a sucker for the whining I guess. But No practices, soccer class or gym. She did not have any games this past weekend, so she will be off a solid two weeks this coming up weekend. Which I refuse to let her play. But once it heals the first time and she has flair up's does she need to sit again or can she just play through the pain? I'm so confused about that. Does this mean no more soccer. She will be crushed. I know there can be no permanent damage, but I don't want her to be in constant pain till 14 either.

Well, if she's whining to play, it can't hurt THAT bad.

Seriously, my dd's had numerous flare-ups. Some are bad, some are not so bad. I have no way of knowing (other than facial grimaces), so I let her determine if it's bad enough to sit out or play on. Generally, she only feels it when she runs or jumps, and for a while afterward. The first time, the no running, no jumping worked, so she sees it's value. It's a matter of whether the pain is an annoyance or pain.

 

[Queen of 3 princess]

Actually it really does hurt. I know because she volunteered to be goalie just so she can play and she HATES playing goalie. She has cried on the field and has had to come off the field and rest and just gets right back in. She is VERY into soccer. She plays travel soccer. She has soccer 4-5 days a week. Two practices, a soccer class, and games on Sat/Sun or both. She definatly has over-used her feet, which is probably why she is now injured. I have learned my lesson now though and she is not playing anymore games and is out for the season. I will let her do try-outs at the end of June but that's it for the summer.

 

[rsm1963]

Shoes are so very important! When my son first developed it when he was about 12, we went to a physical therapist and he literally took my son's tenny shoe and bent it in half and said, this is not what he needs. Apparently good ones don't do that. Back then he recommended New Balance shoes. In Fort Worth there is a athletic store called Lukes or Luke Locker. Idk if it's national or not. They are very knowledgable and take time to fit your foot. My son is now 21 and just went again last week for new shoes and we're just thrilled how much time they take fitting the shoes. Other than that, lots of time, advil and don't over do it. Good luck!

 

[clutter]

Shoes are so very important! When my son first developed it when he was about 12, we went to a physical therapist and he literally took my son's tenny shoe and bent it in half and said, this is not what he needs. Apparently good ones don't do that. Back then he recommended New Balance shoes. In Fort Worth there is a athletic store called Lukes or Luke Locker. Idk if it's national or not. They are very knowledgable and take time to fit your foot. My son is now 21 and just went again last week for new shoes and we're just thrilled how much time they take fitting the shoes. Other than that, lots of time, advil and don't over do it. Good luck!

Have you tried turf shoes instead of cleats? They spread the impact area out a bit more.

 

[Queen of 3 princess]

Is that indoor soccer shoes? She has a pair for indoor but she wears cleats for outdoor. I guess I could try her indoor shoes outdoor. I know the refs check their shoes but I think that is only for metal cleats, I don't think it matters if you don't have any cleats. I will have to check. She has a nice quality pair of sambas for indoor.

 

[Leajess99]

Is that indoor soccer shoes? She has a pair for indoor but she wears cleats for outdoor. I guess I could try her indoor shoes outdoor. I know the refs check their shoes but I think that is only for metal cleats, I don't think it matters if you don't have any cleats. I will have to check. She has a nice quality pair of sambas for indoor.

The problem with not wearing cleats is that the grass can become slippery when wet and the cleats give them the grip they need. Unfortunately this is a case of darned if you do and darned if you don't. I hope she gets her feet feeling better with rest and can go on to play hard in her future.

 

[shelly3girls]

My DD10 is a serious soccer player and also a competitive figure skater. Her flare ups seem to occur right after a growth spurt. She wears heal cups and stretches several times a day. The stretching really makes a big difference. I know when she doesn't do them b/c she is in more pain. She takes Motrin before and after practice and she ices after practice. The dr. told us to give her motrin regularly when she is in pain even if the pain is not bad. He also told us to allow her to play if she felt she could. I would not let her play if she was bad enough to be on crutches. One of the biggest things that helped DD was buying her a really high quality cleat. We bought her a very expensive pair of women's cleats with good arch support. Inexpensive cleats are made quite poorly and do not offer the support kids need when they are growing.

 

[taximomfor4]

My DD10 is a serious soccer player and also a competitive figure skater. Her flare ups seem to occur right after a growth spurt. She wears heal cups and stretches several times a day. The stretching really makes a big difference. I know when she doesn't do them b/c she is in more pain. She takes Motrin before and after practice and she ices after practice. The dr. told us to give her motrin regularly when she is in pain even if the pain is not bad. He also told us to allow her to play if she felt she could. I would not let her play if she was bad enough to be on crutches. One of the biggest things that helped DD was buying her a really high quality cleat. We bought her a very expensive pair of women's cleats with good arch support. Inexpensive cleats are made quite poorly and do not offer the support kids need when they are growing.

My dd's acts up more during/right after growth spurts as well. She has had to come out of dance practice early, due to pain flaring up, but her dr. has never told her to stop dance for any length of time. Definitely worth seeing someone in Sports Medicine, they KNOW the kid desperately wants to NOT stop playing, unless absolutely necessary. My dd's bones were cracked, thats how bad hers got before diagnosis. She was allowed to dance still, with ice, stretching, and just a couple of days off. She also now has custom orthotics. The dr had hoped they'd work in her dance shoes, but they don't. She wears them at all other times, though.

Be on the lookout for other related conditions. My dd started having her knee popping out of place (subluxation). This can have far-reaching consequences. It was partially due to super-tight hamstrings after a growth spurt...which also is one of the causes of the pain in Severs.