Sever's Disease in active kids

[bas71873]

Has anyone dealt with this? I know it's growth plate related and with time will heal, but DD is an active kid, not just with dance & volleyball, but just in general. She plays hard. Just wondering how long we might be dealing with this. "Resting" doesn't come easy for her.

 

[sophiagymgall]

It's very common in gymnastics, and does disappear after a couple months/years. Be very mindful of her footwear. There are a few heel protectors that are specifically made for gymnastics and are very useful (for instance, Cheetah cups) - maybe something similar exists for other sports?

 

[KimR]

All three of mine have had it and it seems like it went on for about a year or two. Have you tried anything to alleviate the pain? My oldest used heel cups (can't remember if it worked, it's been awhile), middle DD used cheetahs, while the youngest just prefers whining. Oh, and we've also dealt with (are dealing with) Osgood-Slaugther's, so don't be surprised if that rears it's ugly head too. My youngest has had more trouble with that than the Sever's.

 

[bas71873]

It's very common in gymnastics, and does disappear after a couple months/years. Be very mindful of her footwear. There are a few heel protectors that are specifically made for gymnastics and are very useful (for instance, Cheetah cups) - maybe something similar exists for other sports?

All three of mine have had it and it seems like it went on for about a year or two. Have you tried anything to alleviate the pain? My oldest used heel cups (can't remember if it worked, it's been awhile), middle DD used cheetahs, while the youngest just prefers whining. Oh, and we've also dealt with (are dealing with) Osgood-Slaugther's, so don't be surprised if that rears it's ugly head too. My youngest has had more trouble with that than the Sever's.

Thanks. Any suggestions on pain relief or quick recovery?

She's a dancer, also swims and has recently discovered a love of volleyball. Not to mention she's never sitting still. She's outside ALL the time playing. Right now, the doc said ice a few times a day, Ibuprofen (sp), shoe inserts and rest. DH picked up some athletic Dr. Scholl things today and DD said they feel good in her shoes and she's walking normal (vs. being on her tippy toes this morning). I will have to see what these cheetah and heel cups are? Her biggest fear is the dance. Tap is her favorite and there's no way I'm squeezing those inserts in those shoes. We are taking the week off from all activities and then will go from there. May send her next week but in her sneakers just so she can keep up with what they are learning.

Now, that Osgood-Slaugther's, maybe that's what I have . My knees kill me. I love a good step class at the gym, but I find myself backing off on intensity more and more lately!

 

[Marlea98]

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[JoBird]

Any time she isn't in dance shoes, put her in good tennis shoes with the supports. My son had Sever's disease on the right side--- he was in Nike tennis shoes constantly and we thought they were good on him. Nope. Changed shoes to a cushiony soled one and it helped.

Fast forward two years and he developed Osgood Schlatters too. Had MRI's, CT scans, you name it we did it. Changed shoes to Brooks (cost about $150- on a still growing foot, ouch) and it's much better but still painful.

Both can last for years. Rest, ice, elevate when at all possible.

My son is extremely active---- hates to be inside. Trying out for the HS soccer team tomorrow. His problems developed when he grew 6 inches in 6 months. Most of it in his legs, and his foot grew just as fast to keep pace.

Unfortunately rest and time are the only things that help these two problems.

Good luck-- it's hard to see your child in pain and have to limit their activities.

 

[KimR]

There are also stretches she can do that might help - you can google to get some suggestions. If you've tried all that and she is still having significant pain, you might want to ask your orthopedist about a treatment called iono-something or other. They use electrical stimulation to force anti-inflammatory medication directly into the affected area. DD had several treatments for O/S and it was the only thing that helped alleviate the pain. I'm not completely sure it can be used for Sever's although I would think it could be since the two are so similar.

 

[Liberty Belle]

My oldest had it. He did physical therapy, but had to quit track on doctor's orders. I really don't remember how long he had to do PT, but was off track until the next year.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Any time she isn't in dance shoes, put her in good tennis shoes with the supports. My son had Sever's disease on the right side--- he was in Nike tennis shoes constantly and we thought they were good on him. Nope. Changed shoes to a cushiony soled one and it helped.

Fast forward two years and he developed Osgood Schlatters too. Had MRI's, CT scans, you name it we did it. Changed shoes to Brooks (cost about $150- on a still growing foot, ouch) and it's much better but still painful.

Both can last for years. Rest, ice, elevate when at all possible.

My son is extremely active---- hates to be inside. Trying out for the HS soccer team tomorrow. His problems developed when he grew 6 inches in 6 months. Most of it in his legs, and his foot grew just as fast to keep pace.

Unfortunately rest and time are the only things that help these two problems.

Good luck-- it's hard to see your child in pain and have to limit their activities.

I'm sorry he had to go through that. Will's (my son) PT said he saw that coming next for him, but it never developed, thank goodness.

 

[left210]

My son had Severs for about 2 years. He went to a specialist who ordered custom inserts. He was growing so fast that he went through 3 sets of inserts in that time. He had to do stretches daily, ice, take pains pills, at times take steriod treatment depending on severity, and he wore medicated soft casts a few times during football season. We had to wrap his feet for every practice and game and he wore expensive new balance tennis shoes that provided more stability for his every day shoes. They were not ones you can get at big box stores like Kohls, etc. We bought them at true running shoe stores or direct from NB. He did have to give up basketball and football for 2 years because it was just too painful; however, he was able to continue with baseball. Our doctor said he would outgrow when he was around 15-16 years old. I am happy to report that he is almost 13 and his last xray showed his growth plates are in and fused where they should be and he no longer has any problems with running or sports. So there is hope.

 

[lorimay]

My now 21 year old son suffered through this around age 10. Doctor said his feet were growing faster then his tendons could keep up with.

It was so painful. He somehow played baseball through the pain.
We did over the counter pain relievers, inserts and lots of ice.

He now wheres a size 13 shoe. HUGE feet.

 

[clutter]

DD16 had problems back a few years. It would flare up every few months. Ibuprofen and "no running, no jumping - 2 weeks" would calm it down until the next flare up. She did use the heel cups when it felt like it was starting to flare up.

And yes, it's the bone growing faster than the tendons, so the activity gets them inflamed. They did calm down.

 

[bas71873]

Thanks everyone. DH bought some Dr. Scholl's on the way home from the doc yesterday, but I ordered heel cups and cheetah cups today from Amazon and we will see which she likes better. We are doing ice and ibuprofen and taking the week off from dance and will go from there.

 

[bcvprincesses]

Both of my girls have had severs from gymnastics. Here is a great video from Dr. Larry Nassar who is the US gymnastics doctor. His video gives some great info and helped my girls a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsaD5yN1j04

 

[kellyg403]

OP, I hope your dd feels better soon!

My son had this when he was around 12/13. Started one day in football practice. It took about a year for him to be pain free. As others have stated, some basic exercises, ice, ibprophen and rest are what helped the most. He did have inserts and we did make sure that he had a good shoe with a comfortable heel. His came from growing 5 inches over the summer!

Kelly

 

[HillPete]

DS11 has it, too. He is a soccer player and wears flat-ish heel cups (cushions without the sides) in his cleats. He doesn't need them in his regular sneakers during school/PE/recess, just for soccer when he's running a lot on a hard surface.

He stretches before and after all games/practices by standing on the bottom step and letting his heels drop below the level of the step. This is the exercise that seems to help him the most. He does a few other, fairly standard, heel stretches, but he seems to get the most relief from the heel drops.