Osgood Schlatters Disease Archives

Osgood-Schlatter's -- Walt?Doc Dave?

Dr. Walt, or anyone who can help:

My 11-1/2 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter's "disease" on one leg. I took her to my chiropractor as he knows way more about structural problems than our family MD.

She has swelling below the kneecap, at the top of the tibia. The chiro has advised her to avoid jumping and running for a while, to take it slow on stairs etc., and to apply an ice pack 3x/day until the swelling is down. He also referred us to a pharmacy where we've ordered a knee support with a knee cap hole and an external patellar strap. The pharmacy nursed advised against just a strap as my daughter's legs are skinny (she has very little body fat anywhere. she's only 63 lb.)--ie. without a developed calf, the strap would slip down.

I haven't contacted my MD as I know he's going to say "wait and see" and perhaps prescribe something as he always does. I'm not completely anti-drug but want to know it's important to take a medication before doing so. The chiro feels that there's nothing "medical" about this condition. Another chiro in the same clinic examined her -- he had Osgood-Schlatter's as a child and has a knee deformity now because it was never diagnosed (his father is an MD... doesn't that say a lot!)

I've surfed the web for info and found a site that recommended 400 IU of Vitamin E and 50 mcg selenium 3x/day for people with Osgood-Schlatters. Would you recommend this for a slight 11-1/2 year old? What about glucosamine? She already takes a good quality multi-vitamin/mineral in a split dose each day.

I checked Rocket Healer's search engine for your site and couldn't find any references on your site for Osgood-Schlatter's. I'm also half-way through reading your book and can't find any references. I've tried to do research before posting my questions.

Do you have any other suggestions? The chiro said she should wear the knee support when she is active (skating, sports). This knee sleeve is not something she's going to be able to put on and off easily several times a day, especially at school. Is there harm in her wearing it all the time when at school?

Sorry this is so long. I'm trying to get my head around what this problem is and what we should do. It is troubling to me when one of my children has a problem.

Thanks for any information anyone can provide.

Rhonda

Follow Ups:

• Thanks RHJ. Read archives-still have ?? about doses etc. Rhonda 09:42:32 10/26/99 (0)
• Re: Use name: Osteochondrosis for better search results here RocketHealer Jim++ 05:57:46 10/26/99 (0)
• Re: Osgood-Schlatter's (Osteochondrosis) RocketHealer Jim++ 05:47:24 10/26/99 (1)
  • Re: Osgood-Schlatter's (Osteochondrosis) (Rhonda) Walt Stoll 11:40:23 10/26/99 (0)

In Reply to: Osgood-Schlatter's -- Walt?Doc Dave? posted by Rhonda on October 25, 1999 at 14:40:25:

Here is what the On-Line Medical Dictionary has to say about it:

Osgood-Schlatter disease

A common knee disorder in teenage boys, results from the chronic avulsion of the tibial tubercle, a bony prominence on the tibia.

Symptoms include knee pain with range of motion, especially against resistance. Knee pain is often worse after prolonged
physical activity.

Thrive Online says (edited down):

OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE
(Osteochondrosis)
DESCRIPTION

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a temporary condition of the leg
at the knee, characterized by swelling, tenderness, and pain.
The tibial tubercle, a prominence just below the knee cap
attached to a large thigh muscle connecting the bone of the
upper leg (femur) to the large bone in the lower leg (tibia), is involved. This disorder often affects both knees.

CAUSES
Stress or injury of the tibial tubercle, which is still developing during adolescence. Repeated stress or injury interferes with development, causing inflammation.

RISK FACTORS
Overzealous conditioning routines, such as running, jumping,
or jogging. Being overweight.

PROBABLE OUTCOME
Usually curable with treatment in 4 to 8 months.

TREATMENT

HOME CARE

Use heat to relieve your child's pain. Warm compresses,
heating pads, warm whirlpool baths, heat lamps, diathermy,
or ultrasound are effective.

ACTIVITY
Resting the child's affected leg is the most important
treatment. This is done with:
Crutches.
A leg cast or splint.
An elastic knee brace that prevents the child's knee from
bending fully. The child should not participate in sports during treatment. This is temporary, and normal activity can be resumed when inflammation subsides.

• What I found on it using Inference Find

Follow Ups:

• Re: Osgood-Schlatter's (Osteochondrosis) (Rhonda) Walt Stoll 11:40:23 10/26/99 (0)

In Reply to: Osgood-Schlatter's -- Walt?Doc Dave? posted by Rhonda on October 25, 1999 at 14:40:25:

I found in the knee problems archive what Walt had to say about it using the name osteochondrosis. See link below.

• Walt's answer in Knee Problems Archive

In Reply to: Osgood-Schlatter's -- Walt?Doc Dave? posted by Rhonda on October 25, 1999 at 14:40:25:

I appreciate RHJ's guidance where the archives are concerned. I should have used "knee" as a search word. The archive conversations deal with adult problems. This is a below-average weight girl (63 lb. @ 11-1/2 years). I still would like guidance for doses of supplements (eg. glucosamine) and ideas of treatment of this condition.

In Reply to: Re: Osgood-Schlatter's (Osteochondrosis) posted by RocketHealer Jim++ on October 26, 1999 at 05:47:24:

Hi, Rhonda.

RocketHealer Jim has done you a wonderful service here.

I would like to add my 2 cents though.

I had a son with Osgood Schlatter's in both knees so I learned about it early.

In MY opinion, the only cure for this is to support the knee, while not injuring the growth center (epiphysis) further by avoiding strenuous activity and sports (except swimming) until the epiphysis closes (at the end of puberty). I would like to talk to those who say they can cure this in a period of months.

Even if nothing is done, the worst thing would be that the tubercle would get pulled off completely and have to be surgically reattached. Of course, then there would be the risk of infection or permanently altering the growth characteristics of that bone---BOTH of which would be very serious.

If surgery is not required, doing nothing would only make this "tubercle" grow more and so there would always be a larger or smaller lump at the site when the growth center closes.

If she were mine, I would encourage her to go into swimming (if she is athletically inclined) and avoid all other weight bearing competitive sports until the epiphysis closes. NO deep knee bends, or unnecessary running or jumping AND giving her a main floor bedroom to avoid her having to use the stairs. Whenever she has a choice between the stairs and an elevator she should always use the elevator, etc.

Hope this helps.

Walt