Easy Home Care for Children’s Heel Pain
When your normally active child turns down games of tag or pick-up games of soccer or kick ball in the backyard because his or her heels hurt, you know you’ve got to do something. Pain shouldn’t get in the way of your child being able to have fun and enjoy life. Children’s heel pain known as Sever’s disease is all too common among active, growing kids—but it’s also easy to take care of at home if you know what to do.
Sever’s disease is an injury that results from too much pressure on the back of a growing heel causing inflammation in the growth plate there. It’s something experts like our team at Gulf South Foot & Ankle, LLC can quickly and easily diagnose in our office. The condition is something your child will eventually grow out of, but you don’t have to wait that long to help your child feel better.
Some simple treatments at home can go a long way toward improving your son or daughter’s comfort. Here are the best ways you can help take care of your child’s heel pain from Sever’s disease at home:
Ice it – Apply a covered ice pack to your child’s heel for 20 minutes at a time a couple times a day, or when your child complains of pain. The ice decreases inflammation.
Stretch those calves – Help your child stretch his or her Achilles tendon and calf muscles. Tightness in these tissues can really stress a growing heel bone.
Consider support – Your child might need additional cushioning or heel and arch support in his or her shoes to reduce pressure on the bones. Talk to our team about shoe inserts and custom orthotics to see what they might do for your child.
Our team at Gulf South Foot & Ankle, LLC is happy to help you take care of and eliminate your child’s heel pain. We can help you provide better home care or address any additional underlying foot issues that may be contributing to the Sever’s disease and making it harder to treat. If your child is suffering from foot discomfort, know that you can get help and make a difference, even at home. Contact our Metairie, LA, office today for more information or an appointment to check for conditions like Sever’s disease. You can reach us online, or by calling (504) 708-4810.