Author: Foot Doc
Date: 3/20/2007 6:08 am PDT
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DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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Again, I caution you that any treatment recommendations, even temporary ones, may be inappropriate and could be untoward to your son's situation, as an actual diagnosis has not been established. But, for discussion purposes ONLY, if one were treating Sever's disease, the heel pad is not necessarily to create cushioning, but is intended to place the foot in some degree of plantar flexion so as to take tension off of the Achilles tendon which inserts very near the apophysis which may be inflamed. To this same end, a shoe with a substantial heel is preferable to a flat heeled shoe, such as baseball cleats. Orthotics in the treatment of Sever's are often prescribed for less definitive and sometimes only presumptive reasons, and may or may not be additive in treatment. But also in Sever's, it is ESSENTIAL to not "play through" the pain, as unremitting relative rest is generally required to mitigate symptoms. There is really no way to cure (prevent from recurring) a patient who is prone to this condition other than by supportive measures, rest and good fortune. If one were to assume that your son indeed has Sever's, there is no way that he should be running bases any time soon. But even if it is not Sever's, and is just some other form of heel pain, good judgment with dictate likewise. Get your son's diagnosis first before relying on any self-treatment, and be prepared to take him out of sports for a while if you do not wish prolonged problems and repeated recurrences. A relatively little time of disappointment now may serve both him and you well in the future. |
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