Help needed for Osgood-Schlatter's disease

Henoch-Schönlein purpura

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My son has Gilbert's disease

Scoliosis

Question
Our 12-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter's disease.

She is in extreme pain but has simply been told to rest and told that there is no need for treatment.

She dances and sings professionally and dancing is her life – is there something, anything that can be done to help?

Answer
If your daughter is a keen dancer I can understand how frustrating she must be finding the recommendation to rest in order to try and improve the pain caused by Osgood-Schlatter's disease.

This condition typically occurs at puberty and is thought to be due to physical activity causing microscopic trauma at the top of the tibia (the shin bone). An area at the top end of the tibia may then become swollen and painful, and activities such as running, jumping and kneeling often increase the pain, hence the advice to reduce or stop sport for a time.

The condition usually gets better when the child stops growing, although it may persist for longer in up to 15 per cent of affected children.

Unfortunately no treatment has been found to make a significant difference to the speed of recovery but sometimes children are advised to have a plaster cast applied to the affected leg for a period of six to eight weeks to immobilise the limb and make sure it is properly rested.

If your daughter is in a lot of pain there would be no harm in giving her simple painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) to make her more comfortable.

You could also try a support bandage but don't force her to wear this if it makes the area below her knee more uncomfortable.

Although it will be very difficult for your daughter to reduce her dancing for a while there's no reason why she can't go on practising her singing, so perhaps you could encourage her to concentrate on developing her voice for the time being.

I hope it won't be too long before she is able to get back to regular dancing.

Yours sincerely

The Medical Team

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