Sever's Disease

[hopesmommy]

First I wish they did not call this a disease. From what I gather it is inflammation of the growth plate on the back of the heels.

My DD6 has been dealing with this for the past 6 months. Her heels hurt most of the time and doing everything! Her doc just told me that if we do not get it under control soon, it may not stop hurting until the growth plate become solid at AGE 14!!!

Has anybody else had to deal with this? We are taking her out of dance and gymnastics, and no PE or recess at school. The problem is we are going to WDW in August.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[hmdavid]

I am so sorry that your DD is going through this.

I would get her a stroller while at Disney so that she can be comfortable. The rental prices are a bit outrageous, but they are very sturdy and should accomodate a 6 year old. I saw kids that were at least 8 riding while there on our last trip.

I wish you all the best!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I would definitely take a stroller. Trekking around WDW is difficult enough for any 6 year old, let alone one with persistent foot problems. You might want to post on the disABILITIES board for ideas. You might want to consider a Guest Assistance Card so that you can use the stroller as a wheelchair. This card would allow you to take the stroller into ride lines and the buildings that strollers are not allowed to go. You still have to wait in the lines, but your DD would not have to stand the whole time you wait.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I would buy a stroller instead of renting one. The rental prices are pretty high and you could almost buy one for the price of a rental. Then you have it for other trips or you can resell it when you get back. If you rent one at the parks, you are without it for the trip back to your hotel (and it can be a long walk).

 

[Kailey's Mom]

Hi!
Our daughter has been dealing with this same thing for about 8 months. The Orthopedic doctor she saw said she will probably have pain off and on until she is 13 or 14 when the growth plate finally fuses with the heel bone. She wore a "boot" (aka removable walking cast) for 6 weeks with no PE, softball or soccer. She was able to swim, though. She now wears gel pads in her shoes to help with the daily impact and she has not complained of any pain. She is back to playing softball and has the gel pads in her cleats.

I would see if you could possibly get a walking boot for her. I also agree with getting her a stroller if need be! Don't want to be dealing with heel pain while at Disney I know when we go to WDW in October her "boot" will be going as well!

~Julie

 

[alanburger88]

Hi

Our daughter dealt with Severs for about a year up until aprox. June 2007. She wore a some kind of orthopedic boot which imoblised her foot for about 2 months. Since then she has been just fine but we pay special attention to her in terms of stretching before any activity.

We went to Disney in Dec of 2007 and walked a ton with no problems. Just do stretching exercise daily and that should help.

Hope you come right.

 

[PrincessParty]

My DD has this. She is 11 so only 4 more years!!!! (I was told at 15 the pain would stop.) She has had this since about age 8. She has worn the braces at night, done PT, rolled the can with her foot....nothing helps. Good shoes replaced every 3 months do help, the MD laughed when I needed a doctor's note for my DD not to wear all white shoes to school! Anyhow, we have done disney 4 times and we just take it slow with lots of breaks. Enjoy your trip. Take your ques from her and have a great time.

 

[PrincessParty]

I got a tag! (Just noticed.) Thank you tag fairy. I do believe, I do believe!

 

[Perditamarie]

So sorry your DD has to go through this. A Maclaren stroller will hold up to 55 lbs, so that may be a consideration. Also, I believe there is some type of camping gear that is a walking cane that converts to a little 3 legged stool- that could be handy for lines. Like this:

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___41111

I hope your DD finds some relief and you have a great trip!

 

[PlutoPony]

DS had it when he was around 10. It was diagnosed by a Sports Medicine doc who was very knowledgeable about things like this. She gave him exercises to do that essentially stretched the Achilles Tendon and told him to do them daily as well as just before sports practice/games. Also suggested we add cushioned insoles to help absorb impact.... a lot of his problems came from running long distances in soccer shoes, which aren't known to be the best in terms of cushioning. Think we may have iced the heel when there was pain after games also. If it didn't get better, the doctor said rest and time were the only good options. Fortunately the exercises and good insoles helped a lot (plus we upgraded his school athletic shoes) and the problem got better in a few months.

 

[Terry36]

DS had it when he was around 10. It was diagnosed by a Sports Medicine doc who was very knowledgeable about things like this. She gave him exercises to do that essentially stretched the Achilles Tendon and told him to do them daily as well as just before sports practice/games. Also suggested we add cushioned insoles to help absorb impact.... a lot of his problems came from running long distances in soccer shoes, which aren't known to be the best in terms of cushioning. Think we may have iced the heel when there was pain after games also. If it didn't get better, the doctor said rest and time were the only good options. Fortunately the exercises and good insoles helped a lot (plus we upgraded his school athletic shoes) and the problem got better in a few months.

DD(9) has been dealing with knee and heel pain in both feet for over a year now so I too took her to a sports med. doctor who indicated she did not have SD but she needed to stregthen her muscles. He gave her excercises to do 2 x a day which helped eliviate the pain. He also recommended she not wear flat shoes either. When the pain stopped she stopped the excercises so now it is starting again.

I hope your DD feels better soon as well. Please take her to a SM doctor as well. Ours was amazing and seemed to know more than the foot doctor did.

 

[hopesmommy]

Thanks everyone for the responses. We have been going to an orthopedic pediatric doctor. She did give DD the heel lifts about 3 weeks ago and an anti-imflammatory. Yesterday, doc said there were exercises DD could do if DD was tight. But since she has been doing gymnastics for 4 years, DD is pretty limber and doc did not think they would do much. Doc did say the next option was a cast. I do not want to go that route. DD is not happy that she can't even dance at home, but she is tired of the pain. However, doc did not say anything about always wear shoes. That will be the biggest issue. We all go around bare foot.

 

[Terry36]

Thanks everyone for the responses. We have been going to an orthopedic pediatric doctor. She did give DD the heel lifts about 3 weeks ago and an anti-imflammatory. Yesterday, doc said there were exercises DD could do if DD was tight. But since she has been doing gymnastics for 4 years, DD is pretty limber and doc did not think they would do much. Doc did say the next option was a cast. I do not want to go that route. DD is not happy that she can't even dance at home, but she is tired of the pain. However, doc did not say anything about always wear shoes. That will be the biggest issue. We all go around bare foot.

I forgot to add DD has been in gymnastics since she was 4 however within the last year she has moved up to more strenous routines and has also started competing. Per the Sports Medicine doctor, the lack of strength training and/or real physical education class at school and the new routines are causing DD's pain in her feet and ankles.

 

[carone0318]

Thanks everyone for the responses. We have been going to an orthopedic pediatric doctor. She did give DD the heel lifts about 3 weeks ago and an anti-imflammatory. Yesterday, doc said there were exercises DD could do if DD was tight. But since she has been doing gymnastics for 4 years, DD is pretty limber and doc did not think they would do much. Doc did say the next option was a cast. I do not want to go that route. DD is not happy that she can't even dance at home, but she is tired of the pain. However, doc did not say anything about always wear shoes. That will be the biggest issue. We all go around bare foot.

Sever's and Osgood-Schlatters (same as Sever's, but in the knee) are very common for gymnasts. Just because she is limber doesn't mean that she shouldn't stretch the achilles. Very important to do and competitive gymnasts are stretching this area all the time in the gym. Dd's coach wants them stretching while waiting their turn for vault and you will see many girls stretching their achilles while they wait to tumble. Some girls also wear the heal cup due to Sever's. I would suggest running shoes at all times with gel inserts to absorb some of the pain.

I think that you have a long time ahead of you dealing with this pain as I have never heard of a 6 yr old who had Sever's it is usually a puberty-type disease.

Good luck.

 

[Terry36]

I got a tag! (Just noticed.) Thank you tag fairy. I do believe, I do believe!

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