Osgood Schlatters Disease Archives

osgood-slatter disease

Dr. Stoll:

Please help my 16 year old daughter has been diagnosed with osgood-slatter.she has been having severe pain in her knee. She's a dancer and spends 15-20 hours a week in practice. After reading many articles of this condition I feel there is little help out there except accept it. I don't understand a few things. First many articles state this occurs during adolecents. she is 16 and 5'7 and I thought she stopped growing 2 years ago. Yet all the info states that the child is still growing for this to happen? Second question is their any treatments besides ice/advil? what about vitamins,therapy, heat,etc. Any input would be helpful.

Follow Ups:

• Re: osgood-schlatter disease Rhonda 22:12:45 9/10/01 (0)
• Re: osgood-slatter disease (Archive.) Walt Stoll 08:16:34 9/10/01 (0)
• Re: osgood-slatter disease Brenda 08:08:18 9/08/01 (1)
  • Re: osgood-slatter disease (Archive.) Walt Stoll 08:20:02 9/10/01 (0)

In Reply to: osgood-slatter disease posted by A Dancer's MOM on September 08, 2001 at 00:10:39:

Hi, my son was diagnosed with this when he was 13 and playing a lot of soccer, he gave up the soccer because it was too sore, the condition did ease. However as the mother of an Irish Dancer also, I know if u suggested giving up, she would have a canary. Apparently this is more common in boys than girls, there is an operation u can get but .....this would be severe and she would end up not dancing again anyhow. What about ice packs or deep heat or physio? Other than that, rest really is the only cure.
Brenda

Follow Ups:

• Re: osgood-slatter disease (Archive.) Walt Stoll 08:20:02 9/10/01 (0)

In Reply to: osgood-slatter disease posted by A Dancer's MOM on September 08, 2001 at 00:10:39:

Hi, MOM.

The final solution to this condition is when the epiphysis of the tibial tubercle fuses---NOT when the growth spurt ceases. Other than surgically pinning the epiphysis to the tibia with wire sutures or screws--something that no surgeon would do unless the tubercle had actually separated--the only rational management is for her to stop dancing (sorry to say).

If you have read everything in the archives (and in those notes not yet archived--use search engine) you will have a better understanding of her options AND the complications of her NOT taking the strain off this joint until it fuses. There was an good example just this past week. See an orthopedic surgeon. She will tell you the same thing.

Let us know what you learn.

Hope this helps.

Walt

In Reply to: Re: osgood-slatter disease posted by Brenda on September 08, 2001 at 08:08:18:

Thanks, Brenda.

The management of this is NOT fun but, perhaps, one has to have gone through it to know. By that time it is too late.

My son's Osgood Schlatter's was managed so well BECAUSE his dad was a practicing physician and could fully explain it to him.

Walt

In Reply to: osgood-slatter disease posted by A Dancer's MOM on September 08, 2001 at 00:10:39:

Hi Dancer's Mom:

I was a figure skater's mom, and my daughter continued to figure skate through her O-S by wearing a special brace designed for this condition. There are simple, thin straps that can be worn around the leg below the knee cap, however my daughter needed a full knee-brace with a built-in strap, because her calf was too skinny to keep a simple strap on. Use an internet search engine to search for braces for Osgood-Schlatter's and you'll find several retailers. My daughter's brace was fit by a drug store nurse who specialized in braces and other supports. The strap presses down on the inflamed tendon and brings a lot of relief. Icing is very critical too. Your health professional may know what sort of support (if any) is appropriate for your daughter. Doing nothing to take care of that tendon during the lengthy healing process can lead to long-term serious problems, so do take this seriously.

Good luck,
Rhonda