My 9yr old daughter has pain in the balls of her feet advice

[raphaelbutler]

hi

i wonder if anyone else has experienced this. for 3 months my daughter has had pain in the balls of her feet and i am so worried.

she has just started wearing orthotics made for her (only 1 hr a day) and she is having pphysio - to build up her thigh muscles but i feel they dont really know whats wrong - they said she has had a growing spurt but the pain is making all her sunshine disappear any tips on how i can help her

thank you

s x

[raphaelbutler]

she has had some breaks in the day she says its only when she thinks about it - does that mean its getting better x

[raphaelbutler]

is there anyone who has had this x

[raphaelbutler]

hi just getting out my anger so dont worry if no one reply. went to see dd2 headmistress they are now going to give children the option to wear footwear when they do indoor pe. i said that fine but my dd2 was not doin dance or movement she was doin circuit training and when my dd1 did it she did it outside. headmistress said well it was raining and we dont put mats down and suggested there must be something wrong with dd1 bones - i did say there wasnt as she has had scans because of this and her bones are strong except where she has been injured - asked to see goveners - will it do any good prob not - but i am so angry who would let a child d o bunnyhops on a conrete floor barefoot anybody?

[raphaelbutler]

bump x

[raphaelbutler]

thank u its breakin my heart x

[alibobins]

Hope you get some answers soon it must be so hard seeing her in pain.

[raphaelbutler]

I am so angry that niamh is in pain cos she did cicuit training barefoot in the school hall - they think she has damaged her sesamoid bones by doin this - i am at my wits end there must be some relief for her tryin orthotics from hosp this time - x

[raphaelbutler]

niamhs has been 6 months x

[alibobins]

It took about a month for dd to be able to walk on that foot properly there was talk about putting a cast on to help the process.
She still has to take it easy during pe and had to give up jazz dancing

We have to make sure she wears good fitting shoes much to her disgust.

[raphaelbutler]

thank you alibobins im sorry your dd has had probs but i am glad things r startin 2 improve how long has it taken to show improvement. dd got hers late feb after doing cirucit trainin in the hall - no mats down and repetitive star jumps, bunny hops skippin, in her science book she put my feet hurt then my feet really hurt - so it could be a bone bruise i just dont know what to think - it doesnt seem to get worse with activity the doctors say it might be her sesamoid on her feet but she doesnt have the typical symptoms - i have seen the headmistress to ask why mats were not put down i work there and i am so angry she has had to suffer because they didnt put mats down - if it wasnt that it was a big coincidence cos it happend almost straight after wards - i want to scream and shout i wouldnt let her jump up and down on the street repetitively barefoot til her feet hurt x

[alibobins]

Don't know if this will be any help but DD who is 9 got diagnosed with Sever's disease or Calcaneal apophysitis it's to do with the growth plates in her feet. She was in agony and the only cure is pain killers and rest.
Its really improved but dd does struggle if she has had a very active day.

Hope you get to the bottom of the problem soon.

[raphaelbutler]

hi i didnt do very well at hospital. I didnt ask all my questions i feel i have let dd down. Miss hulme thought niamh might have sesamoditis. She suggested orthotic with cut out. but i didnt ask about physio or if it is a bone bruise and before when i went to hosp niamh said it hurt all over when dr touched her foot and this time i told her to know the difference between a push and pain and maybe i confused her because she said it didnt hurt only in the one area but on her mri of 1 foot it did show imflammation of her sesamoid. i just feel it was her only chance Miss hulme said it is difficult to get rid of she must not to any activity and get the orthotic changed and hope it settles she is on nurofen for the last month and should continue. i feel awful and tearful i suppose i wanted her to say do another mri on the other foot and i didnt even ask x

[raphaelbutler]

hi dd came home and said heel hurts 2day hopefully that just a passing thing I am just so sad. dont know how 2 pick myself up. she said it was a bit better yesterday and now another part hurts. i feel ive let her down cos i went private for an orthotic and they havent been any good and the manufacturer has had them since aug 5th now he wants to put a dome under the balls of her feet where the pain is and i just feel it is wrong i have to contact them tomorrow. hospital thurs x

[raphaelbutler]

thank u pushki made me feel so much better. still nervous about next week though x

[pushki]

Yes, I would take the previous XR and MRI - will be helpful for her and may prevent the need for any further XR etc. My best advice is to be completely honest about why you have felt frustrated/ confused etc about your management so far - and that you really want some reassurance etc. As I say I know of Miss Hulme - and from what I know she is a good listener and good communicator also, so make sure you feel you say what you want to say, which will allow her to know the whole story and then be in a position to diagnose what might be going on.

Good luck!!

[raphaelbutler]

dear pushki and danthe4th thank u both for your help - I feel relieved about goin to see Dr Hulme thank you for saying she has a good reputation - should i take the old xray and mri of 1 foot the consultant i saw before said it might be better to start with a clean slate but I dont want to give the wrong impression and leave them at home. We will think about the trainers it sounds a good idea. My dd went out with friends to the park the pain was quite constant but when she came home she had shooting pain in her big toe - now I think should we have gone to park but i just wanted her to feel normal and have fun with friends - because i dont know exactly what is wrong its hard to knwo what to do for the best - just hoping get some help reassurance next week xxxx

[danthe4th]

My 12 year old daughter has had this problem on a nd off for several years now, its much worse after sport to the point she will limp for a few days but i've always put it down to growing and find if she wears really good supportive shoes for sport and school she is much better, but she tends to live in crocs or go barefoot the rest of the time and by the end of the day her feet ache. She has large feet 7.5 H and they are still growing but I still put the aches and pains down to growing and would be interested if I should have her checked out, but then what can they do until she stops growing. I would definately let your daughter carry on with sports but get her trainers fitted at a proper running shop where they can watch her on the treadmill and see what type of trainers she should whare to support her feet properly, this was the best thing we did, unfortunately I had to pay a fortune for the trainers but its worth it.

[pushki]

thats great that you have an appointment - I know of Miss Hulme, she's excellent - have no doubt that you will get a thorough consultation and hopefully either find out what is wrong - or at least the right way forward in terms of treatment/ management - explain that you have had some conflicting /confusing messages and need some reassurance. Good luck - I will look out to see how you get on at the appointment.

[raphaelbutler]

thank u so much for your reply. x. we are going to see an orthapedic paediatric consultant dr hulme at chelsea and westminster next thursday. she had an mri which showed edema on her 2nd metatarsal bone marrow and on her sesomoid but the initial consultant said everybody can have this. She has been having nurofen for the last two weeks to see if it helps. I just dont know what to do for the best should I let her play do sports or stop her. I dont want to make things worse - thank you so much for taking the time x

[pushki]

Just come across this - I'm a paeds physio and reading your post about the physio your daughter has received started to make my blood boil.... poor communication skills to say the least!

Really difficult to give you any specific idea what it is , and wouldn't be right to speculate - have you seen a Paediatric Orthopaedic Consultant or a specialist paeds physio? Has anyone actually given you an idea what the problem is yet? Soemtimes it doesn't help if you are getting confusing messages from physio/ Dr and no clear understanding of what they feel is going on - even if it doesn'e have a specific diagnosis. A lot of pains are often to do with the mechanics of growing, and can be frustratingly persistent initially - but if you are given a good reasoned explanation and why it is important to persevere with the exercises etc at least you can feel reassured that she is getting the right treatment.

With the children and parents I see, I spend a long time explaining, reassuring, and encouraging communication and I would want to know if things weren't feeling better or if you had any worries/ or were posting on Mumsnet!! May be worth at the next physio appt, saying you remain very concerned what is wrong - a good physio should respond to this.

[raphaelbutler]

hi my daughter says the balls of her feet feel bruised all the time but they dont seem to be affected by the amount of time she is on her feet they feel bruised all the time please anybody have any ideas x

[raphaelbutler]

just bumping this incase anyone can helpx

[raphaelbutler]

any advice x

[raphaelbutler]

hi she is not getting any better please any advice i am so desperately worried

[raphaelbutler]

hi i am not dealing with this very well niamh is doing her exercises wearing her othotics and shes not feeling any better i just want to cry