7yo boy with a sore heel for 6 weeks.

[LadIsInPain]

I noticed about six weeks ago my 7yo oy was walking/running with his left foot on tip toe.

The pain is right at the very back of his heel. It hurts to press it, but he seems able to stretch it.

No sign of swelling or bruising.

He can't put weight on it running or walking. He can stand with weight on it.

He seems the have full range of movement of the ankle.

The thing that I assume is the achillies tendon does seem to hurt him - i can squeeze it. (But the site of the pain seems to be where I'd guess the tendon joins his feet.)

Pharmacist was unhelpful, but said it wasn't appropriate for Minor Injuiries or A and E.

Doctors appointment is still two weeks away. (Booked two weeks ago. 😡)

We've (half heartedly) tried everything on the NHS website except resting it which isn't going to happen.

What is it? Are there things to try that might help a diagnosis? Is it worth finding a private GP?

Could it be Servers disease? (Growing related) Link here my 8 year old has similar and this is what the doc suggested it was.

That's exactly the site of the pain, thanks.

Could it be a heel bone spur? I don't know if it's likely in children.

Have you checked his shoes for damage, lumps or anything where his heel sits? Checked carefully for splinters or glass in his foot?

All I can think of.

We have been doing stretches and it’s started to help him. He’s shot up too so makes sense.
I found them here Link

Yes. It took us a long while to think of that, but we (eventually) checked his feet carefully and all his shoes.

Thanks!

Thanks, I don't like to second guess the doctor but it seems absolutely typical. I really appreciate your post.

We're going to have to bite the bullet on getting him to rest it. We'll also be a bit more committed to the stretches now. (We'd been doing similar off and on.)

Dd had this last year and it was her shoes, they looked fine, seemed to fit fine but within a few days of new trainers the heel pain was gone. Only thing we could think was that maybe the back came up further on the old ones and was causing pressure in the wrong place.

My ds had severs disease. Ask the GP to refer to paediatric physio. They should be able to help.

I had pain like this at about that age and I remember the paediatrician saying that it was something growth related. I think the pain lasted for under a year. I don't think that I had treatment of any kind, beyond some leg/foot stretches.

Sounds like Severs Disease to me. My daughter has it. Is he very active? It’s more common in athletic children and tends to flare as they grow. A decent physio or osteopath will be able to treat it.
We have a series of stretches we do when hers gets sore and then take her to our local osteopath for a treatment. Easily manageable once you know what you’re dealing with!

Just ring around, you’ll find a private physio who’ll be able to see him more quickly than your gp, at least it’s something. Obviously keep your doctor’s appointment for two weeks time

All five of my kids had Severs ! It can last for months and months . And can go and come back .
Rest and ibuprofen is recommended but with sport mad kids this is hard !
Eventually went for good when they hit teens .

Yes, he's insanely active. Non stop bouncing up and down and he's not willing to make any compromises for his sore heel. Insisted on doing Parkrun this morning. Limping along at 500mph.

We've started stretches and we've managed to keep him on the sofa all afternoon. Now we have an inkling what we're dealing with we'll be much more disciplined about rest and stretches.

Does ibuprofen help much?

It helped mine get through their rugby/football/ gaelic matches so that was when we used it .

@LadIsInPain he needs to be seen by someone. No one can diagnose over the internet. Non medics can’t, and medics simply wont without an examination.

Yeah, whatever happens we're seeing a doctor in two weeks. (And we're going to try to get a sooner appointment.)

Maybe we'll find a private physio. Undecided yet.

In the meantime stretches and rest are totally in line with the NHS website, whatever the problem is and seem pretty harmless to me.

It has to be said the symptoms and site of the pain is totally consistent with Severs disease so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what the doc says.

Gel heel inserts. Get them on amazon ebay for a couple of pounds.

They won't do any harm whilst you wait for an appointment but for me and lots of people I know they worked for their kids and teens, it seems to be linked to growing.

I'm unsure about heel inserts. All the shoes he wears regularly have very soft soles so I'm not seeing the benefit.

What do others think?

It isn't to do with the softness of the shoe, but the position of the foot. I was skeptical about them but four of mine used them and it stopped the heel pain.

Tbh I don't see what there is to lose, they are cheap, removable and will either help or not.

Heel inserts work by lifting the foot (a bit like really low heels!), thus shortening the achilles tendon. Can bring relief in the short term but can cause issues long term as the achilles doesn't stretch back easily!

Thanks to all. Doctor diagnosed severs.

Mumsnet wins again.

Thanks to this thread we've been taking the stretches seriously, we have heel pads and he's been chugging children's Ibuprofen.

No improvement yet but I'm optimistic.

Good news, it’s solvable