Sever's Disease
What is Sever's Disease?
Sever’s disease is a common cause of heel pain in growing children and adolescents. It is inflammation of the growth plate in the heel bone called the calcaneus. Children complain of pain in their heels during and after a sporting activity.
Initially, the paediatric foot doctor recommends conservative approaches to heel pain treatment in Dubai. However, treatment is also a subject of how much heel pain and complications the child faces in Sever’s disease.
Signs and symptoms of Sever's disease
Sever’s disease cause pain or tenderness in either one or both heels. Other symptoms also include
- stiffness in the feet
- walking difficulty or pain while walking
- swelling and redness in heel/heels
- limping on tiptoes
Symptoms may worsen after sports activity and get better with rest. In several cases, children ignore the pain until they feel it significantly.
What causes Sever's disease?
In growing children, the bones, tendons, and muscles tend to grow rapidly. Bones often grow faster than the muscles, so the Achilles tendon can become tight.
These lead to a tug of war between the tendon and bone. In girls, a growth spurt typically occurs between the ages of 8 and 13 when compared to 10 and 15 years in boys.
It’s more common in children who are very active and are involved in running and jumping on hard surfaces. Overtraining and lack of enough rest make the condition worse.
How is Sever's disease diagnosed?
Typically, the foot and ankle surgeon in Dubai diagnose Sever’s disease with a physical examination of the feet. The doctor applies gentle pressure on the heel and foot to recognize specific areas having pain sensations and other symptoms of Sever’s disease.
If the symptoms are too general, the paediatric foot doctor may also demand foot X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to rule out other conditions, such as a fracture (broken bone) or bone distortion that might be causing Sever’s disease symptoms.
What are the heel pain treatment in Dubai for Sever's disease?
Sever’s disease may be resolved on its own in 4-12 weeks. The paediatric podiatrist in Dubai may also recommend the following treatment instructions to subside pain and prevent its recurrence.
- Put an ice pack on the heel 3-4 times a day for 15 minutes.
- Take prescribed low-dose painkillers for pain relief, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Use supportive shoe inserts or heel gel cups to lower the heel stress.
- Wear open-back shoes to avoid pressuring heels.
- Use an elastic bandage or compression stocking to relieve pain and swelling (especially after walking and sports activity).
- Try physical therapy (PT) incorporating specific muscle stretching and strengthening exercises.
- Wear a walking boot ankle/heel.
Typically, the heel pain resolves with the above treatments, but sometimes a short leg cast may be given for a week if:
- Symptoms are severe.
- Symptoms persist with the above treatments.
If your child has heel pain or you’re seeking heel pain treatment in Dubai, consult Dr KP Meda, the chiropodist in Dubai, to resolve your pain with the most appropriate treatment.
