Osgood-Schlatter "disease" Knee Pain

[BLUEDOVE3]

Has anyone had experience with their own child having this knee problem?  I thought after a month or so of resting, it might get better. But it hasn't. The doctor just said give him pain relief meds and rest. Says as long as he is growing he may have to deal with this problem.

[j_dog]

Has anyone had experience with their own child having this knee problem?  I thought after a month or so of resting, it might get better. But it hasn't. The doctor just said give him pain relief meds and rest. Says as long as he is growing he may have to deal with this problem.

I doubt that rest will have much to do for it.  It took me at least a year or two to mostly "grow" out of it, and it never totally goes away.  But one can live with it, that is the good news.  At least you know what it is.  When I was a kid my dad just told me it was "growing pains".

[BLUEDOVE3]

Has anyone had experience with their own child having this knee problem?  I thought after a month or so of resting, it might get better. But it hasn't. The doctor just said give him pain relief meds and rest. Says as long as he is growing he may have to deal with this problem.

I doubt that rest will have much to do for it.  It took me at least a year or two to mostly "grow" out of it, and it never totally goes away.  But one can live with it, that is the good news.  At least you know what it is.  When I was a kid my dad just told me it was "growing pains".

Thats what I've been reading lately that it's due to growing pains.

[HillGuy]

My daughter suffered greatly with it in 8th grade basketball and track.  We tried pretty much everything our research found, but it finally faded away this past summer.  There ARE some vitamin supplements that MAY have helped.  She saw some relief about 30 days after beginning a daily regimen of them.  She also took "Oscon" we ordered over the internet.  I'm not sure whether these actually helped are she finally just grew out of.

Agree that rest really didn't seem to help.  Just had the ice pack ready after every game and workout.  Not sure if the O-S knee bands helped relieve pain...at least occording to her.  Good luck...its miserable while it lasts.

[j_dog]

I think it has nothing to do with "growing pains".  It has to do with the knee joints somehow not lining up correctly and the resulting friction causing excess calcium deposits being laid down.  Unfortunately, this process somehow exposes and/or inflames nerves in the knee.  The fact that it has a name indicates there is nothing normal about it as for as "growing pains" are concerned.  I was grown before I learned that I had a "disease", or a health condition.

I used to hurt so badly I could hardly walk, let alone run.  That is a serious problem for a junior high kid, especially when you have to run to get a good seat on the bus. 

[jesusfreak]

Osgood-Schlatter is a benign condition that causes no harm other than discomfort and possibly some mild bony deformity just below the "kneecap".  Here's some info that might help.

Sincerely,

jesusfreak, MD

What is Osgood-Schlatter disease?

Osgood-Schlatter (say: "oz-good shlot-ter") disease is one of the most common causes of knee pain in young athletes. It causes swelling, pain and tenderness just below the knee, over the shin bone (also called the tibia). It occurs mostly in boys who are having a growth spurt during their pre-teen or teenage years. One or both knees may be affected.

What causes Osgood-Schlatter disease?

It is believed that Osgood-Schlatter disease results from the pull of the large powerful muscles in the front of the thigh (called the quadriceps). The quadriceps join with the patellar tendons, which run through the knee and into the tibia, to connect the muscles to the knee. When the quadriceps contract, the patellar tendons can start to pull away from the shin bone, causing pain.

This problem becomes more noticeable during activities that require running, jumping or going up or down stairs. It's most common in young athletes who play football, soccer or basketball or are involved in gymnastics and ballet.

Osgood-Schlatter disease usually goes away with time. When your child stops growing, the pain and swelling should go away because the patellar tendons become much stronger. Only rarely does Osgood-Schlatter disease persist beyond the growing stage.

Your doctor may want to examine your child and get a knee x-ray to make sure the pain isn't caused by something else.

How is Osgood-Schlatter disease treated?

Your doctor may tell your child to cut down on time spent playing sports until the pain has been gone for 2 to 4 months. Your child may need to avoid any activity that requires deep knee bending. Your child may also need to run at a slower speed or for a shorter amount of time and jump less often.

How should my child's pain be treated?

If pain develops, ice should be applied to some areas. Using ice can help prevent swelling and pain. The knee should be wrapped with an elastic bandage and elevated.

A memory aid that may help remind you of these four basic treatment steps is the word "RICE":

R = Rest the knee from the painful activity.

I = Ice the affected area for 20 minutes, 3 times a day.

C = Compress the painful area with an elastic bandage.

E = Elevate the leg.

If these treatment steps don't work, your doctor may suggest that your child wear braces that will reduce tension on the patellar tendons and quadriceps. Pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen (some brand names: Advil, Motrin) may reduce the pain and swelling. Your child may need to use crutches for a while to allow complete healing. As a last resort, your child's doctor may suggest surgery.

How long will it take for my child's knee to get better?

It may take several weeks or months for the pain to completely stop. When the pain is completely gone, your child may slowly return to his or her previous level of activity.

Is there anything that can be done to prevent the disease from happening again?

Your doctor may prescribe some exercises such as straight-leg raises, leg curls and quadriceps contractions for your child to do at home or with a physical therapist to strengthen the quadriceps and hamstrings. This should help prevent further problems. While your child is recovering, ice should be applied to the area after exercise to prevent pain and swelling.

In most people, Osgood-Schlatter disease goes away on its own with a little rest and time. If your child ignores or plays through the pain, the disease may get worse and may be more difficult to treat.

[Guest nostradamus]

get the Cho-Pat Knee straps for the knee(s) affected......make sure when they are strapped on that the leg is straight without the knee being locked.....wrap the strap around the soft area of the knee and velcro it shut behind the knee..........these things are magical at helping with OS and tendinitis in the knee

also.......make sure that the legs are very warm and stretched (15 minutes worth) before every practice and game.....

that'll do it....

[DC07]

I have it hahaha

and no one can pronounce it right

:D :D :D :D :D

[77]

Right where we started just growin pains.

[BLUEDOVE3]

My daughter suffered greatly with it in 8th grade basketball and track.  We tried pretty much everything our research found, but it finally faded away this past summer.  There ARE some vitamin supplements that MAY have helped.  She saw some relief about 30 days after beginning a daily regimen of them.  She also took "Oscon" we ordered over the internet.  I'm not sure whether these actually helped are she finally just grew out of.

Agree that rest really didn't seem to help.  Just had the ice pack ready after every game and workout.  Not sure if the O-S knee bands helped relieve pain...at least occording to her.   Good luck...its miserable while it lasts.

At this point, I'm going to buy the Oscon vitamin supplement and see what happens. I'm going to limit his competitve basketball tournaments in 2009 if this problem remains.

[bmtdc1996]

I treat OS in my office with great results.  If interested send me a personal message, I will be glad to discuss it with you.