Severs disease or similar

[Remmy123]

My son has been complaining of foot pain when he walks or puts pressure on it - it radiates from say his arch to the back of his foot.

It also hurts on the sides of his foot near the ankle.

A podiatrist we went too wasn't great and 'thinks' it's severs.

Anyone have any experience? He often complains of pain so I feel v sorry for him and he has had to stop football for now.

Thanks

My DS suffers with Sever's, diagnosed when being investigated for something else. His pain is mostly around his achilles tendon area at the back of the heel. He does have pain elsewhere but that is due to hypermobility and flat feet - he has orthotics from the hospital to treat the arch pain. Did they recommend anything to help?

She strapped it last night but that had fallen off by the morning!

And is sending exercises

That's it!

She wasnt even sure it was servers. He has had this for around 6 weeks and I had to wait that long for an appointment!

.... he has slightly flat feet but she said that wouldn't cause this pain?!

I would ask to see GP. They should be able to confirm if it is Sever's or if there is something else going on. My DS was on naproxen for the pain for a few months until it settled initially. You could ask GP to refer to physio but around here they aren't seeing anyone in person still! Also proper orthotics make a difference to most foot pain in my experience.

Thanks - I have got him some insoles to support his feet better but still has heel pain

How long does severs pain go on for it's been weeks!

My ds's first flare of this lasted months, I'm sorry to say. He got exercises but they were pretty useless. The best things are rest, ice and insoles. You may have to try a few insoles - we did. He also switched to wearing trainers including for school - decent trainers are much better for feet than dress shoes and will accommodate insoles better. Don't let him walk barefoot around the house either. Again I got trainers - a lighter pair - for "indoors".

It flared up a few more times after big growth spurts but none of them were as bad as that first one.

Do get a diagnosis if you can.

See if you can find a physio, ime much more effective than a podiatrist, and will look at everything about the way she moves to help work out what’s going on. Sever’s does last a while though, in flare ups, until they stop growing.

@SkintSingleMother thanks so much!

he is allowed to wear trainers for school now

He doesn't want to play football matches or even try as he said he will find it too hard.

We have a physio also booked so will see what they say

I blame lockdown and him not being in trainers for months 😬

He needs to stop all impact activities until it settles down, trying to carry on will make the inflammation worse.
If the tendons/ligaments continue to pull on the bone and joint he could develop bones spurs.
My DD developed severs at around 8 and had to stop all sports and even running around at play time for about 4 months until it completely went the first time it happened.

Stretches are very important, even when there's no pain, if DD gets tight calfs and doesn't stretch it soon leads to more pain in the heels.
If you can get stretchy bands great if not use a towel, anything he can hook underneath close to the toes and pull gently towards him and hold, then rest and repeat.

As others have said each flare up seems to be better than the first, but it can continue until the growth plates fuse in the mid teens.

Thanks - really good advice!

My brother had it when he was a teen - he hasn't had any trouble from it since he finished growing!