Osgood Schlatters Disease Archives

Osgood- Schlatters

Hi
My son, Richard, is 13yrs old and has just been diagnosed by our GP with Osgood Schlatters. The GP has said that no action is needed and it will tend to clear up on its own. He says is is a self limiting desease with no long term concequenses - when the pain gets too bad, you stop because its too painfull to do anything else - and that management of the desease simply involves Ibuprofen gel and ice packs. He has also said that there is no need to give up sport - Richard is a very keen footballer and cyclist. Having read the bulletting board though, I am alarmed to learn that this is unlikely to be the case and that he will probably suffer longterm concequenses if he doesn't give up sport. What advise would you offer? Should we ask to see a specialist? Thanks

Follow Ups:

• Re: Osgood- Schlatter's (Archive) Dilemma? Walt Stoll 07:54:27 9/14/02 (0)
• Re: Osgood- Schlatters trudy 16:17:00 9/13/02 (0)

In Reply to: Osgood- Schlatters posted by Carolyn Crompton on September 13, 2002 at 07:21:38:

Here's what I lifted from a web site. They are less thrilled about exercising than your son's doctor. I wonder why the boney area is supposed to become not a problem...

Osgood-Schlatter's Disease

What is Osgood Schlatters disease?

This is a condition where the bony protrusion below the knee (called the tibial tuberosity) becomes inflamed. The patella tendon inserts here and through overuse can tug away at the bone causing inflammation. New bone grows back causing a bony lump. It mainly affects boys aged 10 to 16 years old.

What are the symptoms?

Swelling just bellow the kneecap.
Tenderness and pain pain on the tibial tuberosity during and after exercise.
Pain when contracting the quadriceps against resistance.

What can the athlete do?

Rest. This injury needs rest if it is to heal. You must only do as much exercise as it will allow you. Weight bearing exercise will make it worse. Keep your sessions few and high quality rather than train every day.
Apply heat and use a heat retainer.
See a sports injury professional.
A Doctor or Sports Injury Specialist can:

X ray to see exactly how much damage has occured.
Apply a plaster cast for three weeks if pain is severe.
Prescribe an exercise programme that will allow you to do as much exercise as possible and get the best results from your training.
Rehabilitation is not really what you need with this one, rest is! However if you have a good trainer or coach they should be able to manage your training to get the best results from what you are able to do. This is an unfortunate injury that you will grow out of as long as you don't over do it.

In Reply to: Osgood- Schlatters posted by Carolyn Crompton on September 13, 2002 at 07:21:38:

Hi, Carolyn.

If this were my son, I would seek a better opinion. I have seen many docs do this because they know that the individual will not "pay the price" for his advice for about 10 years when he (the doc) will likely be long gone. It takes much longer to fully explain this to a young patient than to do what this doc did likely (in my opinion) just to save time and time is money!

There have been several examples of what happens when this kind of advice is given (on this BB) just this week.

Find a sports medicine specialist (Any FP knows what to do if they care enough to take the time to explain it!) for a second opinion.

My youngest son, Scott, had a bad case of this which I managed like we are taught in medical school. Today he is a professor of medicine at Fort Worth Osteopathic Medical School and has never had one symptom since his bones stopped growing (He is now 40.)

Let us know what you decide. Children have a hard time delaying present pleasure for a future benefit but that is EXACTLY what has to be done here!

Walt