Dear Dr. Stoll,
I have a 10 year old daughter who has been dancing ballet since she was 7 years old. Just recently she was complaining about pain above her heel in her tendon which she gets after she does jumps and then tries to walk. The pain isn't constant and she says it goes away after she stops dancing and comes back every once in awhile when she walks. I approched her dance instructor and informed him of the problem and he said to just put ice on it when she watches television and to make sure that she warms up well before she dances. He mentioned tendonitis but said she is too young to have it. Is she too young? In the beginning I was worried about her phalanges and maybe getting arthritis in the future so before she went on pointe shoes I took her to a foot doctor. He said that as long as she tapes up her toes and takes her vitamins her feet should be fine. Tendonitis never even crossed my mind. Is it something I should be concerned about?
In Reply to: Achilles Tendonitis in children posted by Concerned Parent on July 13, 1998 at 02:49:11:
Dear Concerned,
She is NOT "too young" for tendonitis----------especially with what she is trying to do.
Unfortunately, her symptoms are also a warning of a possible impending much greater problem (rupture of the achilles tendon). That would be a disaster that would lay her up for a long time. The ice is good advice but will not prevent a greater injury. The ice needs to be used whenever she has symptoms: not just when it happens to be convenient ("watching TV").
What "vitamins" is she taking? It is true that micronutrients will help her have stronger tendon tissue (IMPORTANT). However, none of the commonly used multivitamins for 10 year olds have what she would need. Besides, at that age, she would have to have either a TERRIBLE diet OR a long standing leaky gut syndrome that kept her from absorbing the 70+ trace minerals needed for a growing tendon.
I would see a good local Naturopath and see which of these things are going on & what digestive enzymes would be needed for her to absorb a good trace mineral supplement (be sure to use "ionic" or "crystalline" trace minerals).
In the meantime, I would take it easy with her practice till she has no more symptoms for a couple of months. I had a hobby of sports medicine for more than 15 years and was team physician for our local teams all that time. I have seen this before &, were she mine, I would be concerned about not letting it go till it became something worse.
Let us know how she does.
Walt
I was diagnosed with bicep tendonitis about a year ago. I had one cortizone shot and took some anti-inflammotories. Since then, my tendonitis hasn't gotten any better. I did play volleyball occasionally but been resting my arm now for 7 weeks. I tried to throw a softball (lightly) this past week and discovered that the pain is still there. What do you recommend?
In Reply to: bicep tendonitis posted by melissa on July 13, 1998 at 04:55:11:
Is the tendonitis on the origin or insertion, in other words, is it at the elbow or in the shoulder?
In Reply to: Re: bicep tendonitis posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on July 13, 1998 at 21:47:44:
Dear Doc Dave,
I just knew you would be of help here. I will look forward to learning from you as well.
I would also suggest Melissa look at the response I made today to the Concerned Parent with the ballet 10 year old. Exept for the serious risk of rupture (achilles), many of the same factors should be considered for ANY chronic tendonitis. Of course, in an adult, chronic bracing should also be considered as a contributing factor.
Namaste` Walt
I have recently been diagnosed as having tendonitis in my shoulder...where the large bicep muscle attaches. I have tried pain and anti inflammatory meds and limiting activities as much as possible. I really don't want to subject myself to an injection of cortizone if it can be avoided. Any other suggestions ? This has been ongoing for about six weeks.
In Reply to: Tendonitis posted by Joyce on July 20, 1998 at 10:14:07:
Dear Joyce,
If Doc Dave does not reply ot this, put it in again with his name in the title to draw his attention. The most common thing that MDs neglect with this is the structural component.
Also, people with total body "bracing" tend to get this a LOT more than others and it is more likely to be hard to treat & a lot more recurrent. Low intracellular magnesium & B6 are also contributory.
Walt
In Reply to: Tendonitis posted by Joyce on July 20, 1998 at 10:14:07:
Tendonitis usually is a result of overuse or improper biomechanics, OR BOTH. Most of the people I see with the symptoms you describe have a shoulder girdle(scapula, clavicle, humerus) that is turned forward. (Like you are hugging yourself) The result is a sulcus(groove) that the tendon runs in being at an odd angle and the tendon rubs along the side of that groove instead of down the middle.
Most people find relief if they can stretch their shoulders back a few times a day, not slouch their shoulders, stop sleeping on that side so often, of course decreasing the amount of lifting they do with that arm, and allowing the problem to heal. Tendons do not have a very good blood supply so even when you are doing all of these things it still takes a week or two for the tendon to repair itself.
If you stick with the stretches after the problem goes away then you can help avoid a reaccurence of the problem in the future. Strengthening the muscles of the back can also be of benefit as they help support us as we sit at a desk all day or stand at an assembly line all day where our work is right in front of us and we just keep rounding ourselves into a little ball.
Hope this helps you out.
In Reply to: Re: Tendonitis posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on July 21, 1998 at 13:41:09:
Thanks again, Doc Dave!
Once again I am humbled by what you know that my profession absolutely denied me.
Thanks for being here.
Walt