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Original poster

Planter Fasciitus in an 11 yr old - Anyone else??

15 replies

mynaughtylittlesister · 15/07/2011 20:23

DD is 11 and today Dr told her he thought she had plantar fasciitus. She has been getting pain etc in her heel now for just over 2 wks.

She is not overweight, fairly active - dances 3 times a week, does rounders, netball etc....

Dr has recommended no dancing for at least a week and to do just walking rather than exercising. Also to take Ibuprofen 3 xs a day.

DD is really upset as she has an intense ballet workshop for 2 weeks starting on the 25 July. I am praying her foot will be better.

Does anyone have any tips for her - I thought it only happened to older people - how wrong am I! Sad

OP posts:
mrswishywashy · 15/07/2011 20:32

Ouch, it really hurts I had it after I came out of my cast for treatment of ruptured Archilies Tendon.

I made sure I took Nurofen, I iced it, kept it up as much as possible and massaged it. Mine was particularly painful if I was on it too long and had to take plenty of rests throughout the day. I read that Birkenstocks were good support for it so wear them. I've been out of cast for nearly 4 months now and it still can hurt if I am on it too much or if I wear barefeet. Good luck to her and I hope it heels fast.

dearprudence · 15/07/2011 20:42

It is horrible, poor DD.

I'm sorry to tell you that I had it for over a year before it started to fade off. The thing that really kicked it for me was wearing fit flops. I don't know why, but maybe because the sole was so thick and shock-absorbing it protected my heel. Doctor told me to wear supportive shoes (I had converse on the day I saw him - not suitable, apparently) like trainers or walking shoes.

Stretching exercises are also recommended, especially first thing in the morning.

Plantar f. is also known as 'joggers heel' - if she's doing a lot of exercise, this could exacerbate it. Although I've never heard of a child getting it. In the dancing, is she wearing thin ballet shoes and jumping up and down a lot? I think that would be very bad for plantar fasciitis. (Disclaimer - not a healthcare prof. Just someone who's had it, along with about 8 members of my extended family, so exposed to a lot of shared experience.)

scaredykatt · 15/07/2011 20:48

It may not be all doom and gloom. I have a very active 11 yr old DS who has suffered in the past with heel pain. A good physio/osteopath helped and we used heel pads, which you can get from any sports shop or online to act as shock absorbers which also really helped.

bluesky · 15/07/2011 20:48

I've had plantar F since Christmas, and am having physio and ultrasound on it, Birkenstocks have been recommended over fit flops, as they have a good fixed arch. Rest, rest, rest. And lots of exercises that physio can give you.

THEN at Easter my 11 year old ds had a bad foot/heel, the Dr diagnosed Plantar F, but after seeing the physio, they said it's SEVER'S DISEASE, which is much more common in children of this age due to them growing and it wasn't Plantar F. (a common mis-diagnosis).

Read up on Sever's, there is lots of info on the web. My DS had to be off PE for ages, much to his horror, exercises, stretching, bags of frozen peas on it, it's taken about a term to improve. Don't walk around in bare feet, especially if you have hard kitchen floor etc.

I hope your dd get's better soon, it's really annoying, frustrating and painful.

bluesky · 15/07/2011 20:49

scaredykatt posted the same time as me; yes definitely get the heel pads inside shoes, they really help, I got them from Boots.

Original poster
mynaughtylittlesister · 15/07/2011 20:50

She does ballet once a week and loves it! Yes she does wear the very flat ballet slippers - lets hope a week off from dance and exercise rests her foot.

I will also get her to wear flip flops as much as possible at home too.

OP posts:
Original poster
mynaughtylittlesister · 15/07/2011 20:53

Bluesky - just seen your comment - am just going to google Sever's. Lets hope that's not it, she is off to start her new sch in September!

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FloweryBoots · 15/07/2011 21:00

I got this when I was 6 and it did take a bit of shifting, but I think that was because it got quite bad before any doctors would take any notice. I still get it a bit now and then if I've been on my feet a lot, mut just be prone to it. I had ultra sound and physio but the thing that seemed to have most effect was ice/cold water. Soacking feet for 10 minutes twice a day in water as cold as she can stand. It honestly makes a world of difference to me. Also the heel inserts others have mentioned, you need ones made of sorbothane (not those gell pad thingies for uncomfy high heelsGrin). You can usually get them at Boots or chemists or sports shops. If you can find just heel ones instead of full foot ones they tend to fit in shoes better I find.

bluesky · 15/07/2011 21:03

don't have her in normal flip flops, they are too flat and unsupportive. She needs the cushioned FIT flops or Birkenstocks, or trainers. (M&S have started doing their version of the fit flop and start their sizing at a size 3). If trainers or school shoes, have the heel support/cushioned pads inside the shoe.

my ds is also starting new school in September, we were talking today about taking it easy this summer, so that his foot it fully fit for September. I don't want him starting and having to miss PE sessions, they are his favourite lessons!

scaredykatt · 15/07/2011 21:09

Just to add that my DS's heel pain did not stop him doing anything, even though it hurt! Physio said it's just a form of growing pain in kids. He no longer suffers, although he does now wear custom orthotics in his shoes. You may at some point want to get her checked out by a podiatrist who specialises in foot biomechanics.

Original poster
mynaughtylittlesister · 15/07/2011 21:17

Okay will take that on board about the fit flops and not flip flops!

Will also get her to ice regularly too.

Did look at sever's and that could be a possibility - will keep that in the back of my mind if the pain does not go away.

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ChessPiece · 15/07/2011 21:26

I would get her to a physio to show her some exercises. Worth the £40 or so if you can't get a quick nhs appt.

There's a couple of brilliant stretching moves that gets my feet mobile and fairly pain-free.

Hope she recovers soon.

nbee84 · 15/07/2011 21:38

I had this when I started a job that involved a lot of walking (used a pedometer a few times and on a busy 8hour day was walking 12 miles!) - giving up the job or taking time off was not an option. The doctor advised me that I could take ibuprofen and keep working - that to keep walking with it would not damage my feet, it would just take longer to get better.

Sympathy for your dd - it was very painful. First thing in the morning was agony until my feet had stretched out a bit, then it would be more bearable and build up to agony again through the day.

schroeder · 15/07/2011 21:54

You can buy small reusable icepacks (I think they might be called boo boo buddies) for toddlers bumped heads etc. I found these really good-15 minutes each evening (with socks on/covered in a flannel). I hated it, but I'm sure it made the most difference, that and always wearing footwear that is supportive and bouncy-so crocs around the house and good supportive trainers/walking boots the rest of the time.

Like someone upthread it took about a year for me to feel really better, but I'm nearly 40 and I would expect an 11 year old to heel much more quickly.

HTH

Original poster
mynaughtylittlesister · 15/07/2011 22:05

Thanks everyone , really appreciate all your comments and tips.

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