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Last year towards the middle of LAX season, DS started getting a shooting pain in his right heel every time he would run. I took him to the Ortho Dr. who did an x-ray, and said that the DS had "Sever's Disease: an inflammation of the growth plate in the foot where the tendon attaches to the bone." Apparently it is a very common problem in 13-15 year old, athletic boys, whose growth plates have not yet closed, when their feet grow faster than the tendons. There is no treatment, and although it is painful, there are no restrictions on activity, and eventually, the tendons catch up, and the inflammation goes away.

It was really painful, and really put a damper on playing LAX. So, DS was really thrilled to be playing this season without that pain. Until this week, when he started having the same issue in his other foot!

I am worried, because by the end of last nights game DS was limping and in obvious pain. The open growth plate is very susceptible to injury and fracture, so I want him to have an x-ray before he practices or plays in another game. So, I called the Ortho this AM, and they are "too busy" to see him! Now I am waiting for the pediatrician to call back and let me know if she will order the x-ray - or if I am going to have to pull him out of school and take him to the ER for it!

I would hate to make him ride the bench if it is just Sever's again, OTOH, if he has actually injured the growth plate, it is imperative that he sit out the rest of the season, and let it heal, to avoid a permanent foot problem.

I am probably being over cautious as DS has definitely had another growth spurt - 2 inches in height & 2 shoe sizes - since last season, but I figure he is better safe than sorry!

Better to have it checked out.  Do you have an Urgent Care center nearby?  They are usually less crowded and less expensive than the ER. 

The pediatrician wrote the order, so I picked him up from school and took him for the x-ray at 1:30. However, by 4:30, when the office closed, the Radiologist still had not read the results!  :hammer: Now we have to wait until tomorrow to find out!

I just heard about Sever's Disease on a dance board.  Let us know what you find out.

hope everything is ok!  Did you find out anything?

better to check it than risk damaging the plate!
poor DS!

Today the Dr. said the x-ray was normal - not even any sign of the Sever's Disease! He must have just twisted his ankle, or bruised it in a game last week. Oy-Vey!

That's a relief!