Osgood Schlatters Disease Archives

Osgood Schlatters

Hi
I have read the archives on Osgood Schlatters. Thank goodness I found them! I have a very active 10yr old who was recently diagnosed with Osgood Schlatters. I have had conflicting advice about the condition - very few people in the UK seem to have detailed knowledge. Despite having had 21/2 weeks of 3 daily doses of Voltaren to reduce inflammation & pain my daughter says that she is in mild pain all the time. She was diagnosed 6 weeks ago (she couldn't bend her knee at all for over a week)and after 3 weeks when the swelling was almost gone(the doctor said it was OK) we went swimming & the next day the knee was swollen & she was in agony again. - that was when she was given the Voltaren. I then had my daughter referred to a children's physiotherapist who has told us that she must do no sports for 12-18 months. She made no mention of not taking stairs.
I am confused as to what to do -
1.if my daughter's knee flares up again as soon as she comes off the anti-inflammatories (3 days away) should I have her referred to a specialist & ask them to put her in a cast? they did consider it the second time it flared up.
2.When can she start to swim again? - she likes swimming a lot & I'd really like to give her a channel for her energies which until now have been centred around cycling, skateboarding, roller blading, ice skating & pole vaulting - none of which are suitable now. I've learnt that my previously easy going daughter can moan for England!!!
3. She normally spends the summer vacation sailing - I've vetoed this because it involves a lot of scrambling around, but I have said she can canoe as her legs will be out straight. Is this OK?
4. I have read that manganese supplements can help Do you know anything about this?
5. what relation does flat feet (which she has) have to knee problems? I asked the physio but she didn't think they would have any relation to my daughters knee problems Is this right? as I have seen references on this site which would seem to suggest otherwise.

Thanks in advance for your comments. I have learnt that in the UK in general you have to go to any meeting with a doctor forearmed with knowledge as we are not very interventionalist. I had no idea of the serious consequences of mismanagement of this disease until I read this site - I definitely need all the advice I can get!

Follow Ups:

• Re: Osgood Schlatters (Archive.) Comprehensive program. Walt Stoll 07:18:25 7/29/03 (0)
• Re: Osgood Schlatters Gen 13:59:43 7/28/03 (0)

In Reply to: Osgood Schlatters posted by Rachel on July 28, 2003 at 06:21:26:

Try castor oil packs. It may help with circulation and healing of tissue. Edgar Cayce Yahoo groups is a good place
to read about people being helped with this safe and cheap treatment. Good luck.

In Reply to: Osgood Schlatters posted by Rachel on July 28, 2003 at 06:21:26:

Hi, Rachel.

What do you understand is going on here (from the archives)?

Both your doc and the children's physiotherapist are wrong in my opinion. Your child is going to have to reduce the pull on the patellar tendon's attachment to the tibial tubercle (epiphysis) until her growth stops and this epiphysis fuses with the tibia (about age 20). There is no way that 12-18 months is going to do any permanent good.

In order of your questions:
1. The only reason for the cast would be to discourage her from putting strain on the tubercle. IF she will not cooperate with this directive you may have no choice. However, the cast will have to stay on for 10 years if this is the course you take. The best thing is the discipline to avoid activities that put a strain on the tendon.
2. IF she avoids the strenuous things (even walking up and down stairs) the swimming will not flare her up and she can put all her sports energies into competitive swimming. That kind of concentration can produce a champion.
3. Yes.
4. No. Let us know what you have learned.
5. There IS a relationship but I am just now learning about it. See the new link to Dennis Dennings discoveries (link page). Let us know what you learn.

Walt