achilles and growth plate pain relief tips anyone?

[Legolas]

poor snowbrat has had pain in his ankles and heels all year.

It's now at the point where he hobbles everywhere and can't run (his true love).

With two days to go until zone carnival (100m, 200m, 800m and relays). Has anyone got tips on helping him get through it?

long term, I think we're looking at orthotics, heel wedges etc.

For now we are doing stretches, hot and cold packs and voltarin.

Anything else I can possibly do?

[ 16. August 2009, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: Legolas ]

[Xena]

Not much else - orthotics will help longer term. It'll go as quick as it came one day, reason unknown. You are doing all you can, methinks.

[tambo]

Wildman had the same thing. A gel, called Flexall (avail online) worked wonders, as did magnetic footbed thingys. We got both through the physio. At one stage he was having daily physio for a month, then twice weekly, then weekly, for about 3 months in all. The good news is that he is fine with snowsports, but once summer comes, it all returns.....

[Pistonbroke]

I had issues with my feet several years ago after a few days skiing. Went to the podiatrist who played around with heavy strapping & a few other things but then looked at alignment etc. Decided that footbeds (orthotics) were all that was needed to raise the arch of my feet. I haven't looked back. Depending upon where you are in Syd, there is a good one at Morrison Rd Gladeseville (she used to teach at TAFE). Booking in to see one may take a few weeks though.

[Coopski]

I suffer from this. If you are after something short term (mind you I have used long term) until you can go to a podiatrist you can find in pharmacies a range called orthaheel. They have a half insert specifically for heel pain (the whole range says ankle, heel , foot pain etc) but these ones are specific for heel pain. I get the pain from running and its at the insertion of the achilles tendon. These inserts have worked wonders for me and I can now run/hike etc as normal. The only other way I found I could get relief was with a certain way of taping the ankle joint which would be a little tricky to describe as it requires splitting the tape half way along into a y shape.

[Coopski]

Actually what the hay. If you can understand the description it will work wonders for him. You use a single piece of tape that runs from one maleolus to the other (the bony bits of the ankle). Start the piece of tape from just below the bony prominence on the inside of the ankle. You want the tape to be firm but not cutting off blood supply ;)
Pass the tape under the foot and as it emerges from the other side the tape needs to be split. The tape also needs to be long enough to reach back to the other side (so roughly half its length is split in half hence it looks like a Y)
So with your split pieces the front one goes over the front of the ankle and the back one passes over the back of the ankle (over the achilles)to attach back to the start if the tape under the inside bony prominence. This will work to neutralise the ankle joint and stop excessive roll through the foot as you plant the heel running (often the cause of the problem as it rubs excessively at the back).
Hope this makes sense. Sorry for the long post ppls.

[skijacski]

Legs, the best is to see a physio, they usually give relief while the growth spurts are in with regular sessions, also exercises they give.

Also some physios are using acupuncture, this can sometimes help.

Go to a sports physio - Tim Neville Physiotherapist Phone 9744 6133 Fax 9744 2525 47 Burwood Road Concord 2137

or on
Mr Tim Neville
Orthosports Physiotherapy
47-49 Burwood Road
Concord NSW 2134
Telephone: 02 9744 2201
Fax:02 9744 2525

He should be able to help or put you onto the right person to help Snowbrat - tell him you ski, his brother lives in Jindy, but Tim is a lovely guy and will tell you what to do or who to see.

hope this helps
graemlins/snow.gif

[Legolas]

thanks all.

coopski. that sort of makes sense. I'll try the taping and will look up orthaheal (I did get him gel heals, but they've done nothing). A pic would help smile.gif

pistonbroke we are about three minutes from Morrison rd!! would you mind to pm me the name?

Jax, Concord is a little far for regular trips, but I'll look into a sport physio closer to home perhaps. There is a good physio up the road who does use acupuncture so I might give him a call.

Tambo we actually noticed his pain was much worse after our week skiing :( . We wondered whether his boots being borderline too small had just pushed him over the edge and now we are wearing the consequences :(

Thanks again all

legs (funny name for the topic!)

[ 16. August 2009, 03:09 PM: Message edited by: Legolas ]

[TVC]

Legolas,

How old is snobrat?
Our eldest boy turned 10 in May. He has had heel pain all year, as has a few of his mates.
Invariably they are all the tallest boys.
Spoke to the doctor. He said it was growing pains caused by disparate growth rates between tendons/muscles and bones. Causes increased tension on the Achilles tendon resulting in increased tension on the heel bone and consequent pain.
Our bloke is growing at 5mm a month at the moment. We can't keep him in shoes.
They grow out of it.
I'm a Vet and we see this type of thing in rapidly growing large breed dogs all the time. The treatment for them is starvation i.e. slowly their growth rate. I'm NOT recommending that for kids, but it definitely relates to growth rate. You slow the growth rate down and the lameness goes away.

We found a dose of Nurofen before the Athletics carnival did the trick.

[Coopski]

I will try and take pictures of the taping for you and will post if I get a chance. I have a 5 and a half month old so it may not be today but will try to do tomorrow ;)

As for the insert a big pharmacy will have them. I use this one but there is also a gel version that seems good too.
http://www.orthaheelusa.com/men/orthotics/pain_reliever.html

Cheers

[Legolas]

Originally posted by TVC:
Legolas,

How old is snobrat?
Our eldest boy turned 10 in May. He has had heel pain all year, as has a few of his mates.
Invariably they are all the tallest boys.
Spoke to the doctor. He said it was growing pains caused by disparate growth rates between tendons/muscles and bones. Causes increased tension on the Achilles tendon resulting in increased tension on the heel bone and consequent pain.
Our bloke is growing at 5mm a month at the moment. We can't keep him in shoes.
They grow out of it.
I'm a Vet and we see this type of thing in rapidly growing large breed dogs all the time. The treatment for them is starvation i.e. slowly their growth rate. I'm NOT recommending that for kids, but it definitely relates to growth rate. You slow the growth rate down and the lameness goes away.

We found a dose of Nurofen before the Athletics carnival did the trick. graemlins/big_laugh.gif

yes there is many a day when I threaten to stop feeding him and to put bricks on his head and to bind his feet if he doesn't stop growing.

He's not ten yet but he is comfortably taller than the rest of his class and (much to my digust) nearly as tall as me!!

Yes, your doc said much like our advice as well. Just thought the forum might have a few extra tips (the taping and sports physio sound like the way to go until he does grow out of it! which I know he will do because he's growing out of everything else!!! including the fridge and pantry... :rolleyes: )

[Podlettte]

there's one not far from us on morrison road legs, not sure what it's called though......

[Officer Schmenz]

if you get limited results with the physio.. you could see a sports chiro and get them to "normalise" the foot. this may help. the hips and knees may be contributing too so their alignment would be important.

[TVC]

Sorry, but it's not alignment laterally that's the problem.

If you look at the leg from the side the shin bone is growing faster that the calf muscle and Achilles tendon is growing resulting in increased tension pulling up on the heel bone and subsequent pain under the heel.

Orthotics elevating the heel may seem like a good idea to relieve this tension, but they are counter-intuitive because the temporary relief of tension in the Achilles by raising the heel allows the tendon to shorten. When the orthotics are removed the tension is even greater.

Stretching exercises can also result in greater pain.

TIME is the healer with this one - just like a good race horse.

[tammiodo]

I would be wary of taping anything until after you've seen a physio or sports doctor who shows you how to do it properly... it may be similar pain you're describing, but a totally different problem to someone else who has used taping in the past. Unless you know you're taping the foot into the right spot, you might exacerbate the problem.

[Officer Schmenz]

avoid taping if possible..

the muscles adapt to the constant pressure and stop firing, and then lose all strength. taping for long periods is bad as you have to then build up to the stability you had before, and it can be very hard to get off the tape. (he is young so its not so bad. but i would try and avoid it still if possible)

legs where in sydney are you from?

PIR a type of stretching may help as PIR is gentle and down out of the pain range and lengthens the muscle.

[ozgirl]

Originally posted by TVC:

Spoke to the doctor. He said it was growing pains caused by disparate growth rates between tendons/muscles and bones. I was talking about this on the weekend with a fellow snowatcher.

When i was in my early teens the dr said this was the exact reason for all my knee issues. My bones were growing too fast for my muscles. My knee used to give way when walking to school. As I got older and it didn't go away it was described as skiers knee... I was still under 20 at this point. I used to wear a knee guard when ever I skied.

I have been going to a chiro now for about 2 years on and off and haven't worn a knee guard skiing since then.

When i stand my left foot naturally turns out (like a ballet dancer) this stems from in my hip. This all puts presure on my knee (being locked in a ski binding doesn't help).

Not that my prob is the smae as your son but my point is go and see someone who is a sports phsyio or chiro. Dr's are very quickly blame this stuff on 'growing pains' and it is not always the case.

My Chiro is awesome and is based in Balmain. He will help you with strapping etc. I had a suspected broken hand and after 3 xrays and 2 dr visit he was the one who helped the most. Just a simple straping to imobilize it.

[Officer Schmenz]

legs if ur anywhere near me i can try some pir to release the muscles. it would be pain free and free!

but i would agree with ozgirl and go to a sports chiro / physio.

MD's just dont study this stuff in enough detail and use what they did study regularly enough. (MDs are great.. but what i mean is go to someone who is specialised in the area)

[Coopski]

Apologies. With regards to the taping/insert I was strictly referring to utilising for the actual cross country race etc and not using for lengths of time. I myself only use it for actual sporting events etc.
I could not agree more with the above posts. Whether it be physio/chiro/acupuncture whatever you choose to go with for snowbrat, have a talk to those around you and have a listen to those posting here as it is always best to find someone with good experience/focus in the specialty you are looking at ie someone who has a focus in kids (and hopefully sports). TVC is correct in the sense that what snowbrat is going through is developmental and would be treated very differently to say you or I where the same issue would be more a structural issue ie I have suffered extensive damage to the ligaments in the ankles and years of jogging 7kms a day took its toll on the achilles ;)

[Legolas]

thanks coop, I knew your intention was just for the race today.

Popped a voltarin into him this morning and he was pain free!

off to regionals smile.gif

I will try the sports physio you recommend pistonbroke.

thansk all.

legs

[ 18. August 2009, 07:44 PM: Message edited by: Legolas ]

[Boardingbuny]

hey legs.

I had the same problem as a kid. Same passion (running) and it was horrible, 3 times a week I was having physio before school, cos it was at the point where I couldnt walk. Orthotics, stretching and yes voltaren all help..

Just to make you feel better (and him) I ended up at the Institute of Sport, so he will be able to continue running..

A good physio will do the world of good smile.gif

[Officer Schmenz]

spoke to my rehab coordinator today about it... funnily enough he had it as a kid too.

not much you can do unfortunately.. if its not tender to the touch you can stretch it (pir style)

but another handy hint was he found that applying pressure around the heel at the sides relieved the pain.(around the calcaneous)

give it ago.. it cant hurt!

hope he is feeling a bit better!