Anyone experience Osgood-Schlatters?

[Casper]

My son is a natural athlete, but last year in the middle of baseball he came down with Osgood-Schlatters. I think this is often called shin splints, but that is not correct. The bone grows faster than the tendon at the knee. Very painful.

There doesn't seem to be any cure. The doctor said he might could have surgery, but that probably wouldn't be the best route. He wants him to stay off his feet and avoid any impact whatsoever, but for a 12-year-old that ain't gonna happen.

I'd like to hear what anyone has to say about this. He could be an awesome track star, great baseball player, even a good safety or receiver. He is right now 5'8" and 175lbs, kind of skinny but definitely strong. And coordinated.

[cobra13]

been there done that.....there is no fix for it.....I am 28 now and still have problems with it....tough it out is all you can do. I play baseball, cross country, ran track, basketball, and football in high school, ran track in college and never found a way to fix it.

[poopnut2]

How the hell is your 12 year old son 5' 8" 175lbs?

[Big D]

Shit im 5'11" and 165lbs and I thought I was skinny and I'm almost 20? :confused:

[Shorty]

I had a friend in middle school that had it, he managed to play basketball with it. Every once and while he'd collapse due to his knees but other than that he was good.

[barronj]

it's a pita for a long time, but eventually, the growing pains subside and you're left w/ a knot just below the knee cap on your shin. I don't know of any treatment, other than a heating pad :confused:

Can't even remember the last time it hurt.

When I was 'suffering' from this, I was eating/breathing skateboarding. Not that pussy ramp shit either; it was concrete and asphalt, that was my playground...

[Casper]

How the hell is your 12 year old son 5' 8" 175lbs?

Lots of beer :D

My wife's brothers are both about 6'4" or 6'6" and huge. Her whole family is huge. My family isn't big but pretty tall; at 6' I'm smaller than most of my cousins and uncles.

Plus he does 100 pushups, 100 situps and who knows what else every night. He isn't bony but slim. And he thinks he is a badass, has all kinds of girlfreinds from 11 to 17. Plus he is Mr. Popular, since he gets to drive the Marauder occasionally.

Damn, he sure didn't get it from me :(

[Casper]

Thanks all. I have been reading some about supplements that are supposed to help, but the doctor is skeptical.

[ruffdaddy]

Alot of things can help it....Stretching and strengthening the surrounding muscles, Knee supports, and good ole rest.

[Strychnine]

I used to have it pretty bad.

You have it explained pretty well. Your bones grow faster than the tendons on the front of your knee, causing (as my doctor described it) "mirco-tears" in the tendon.

Every now and then the micro tears will get bigger, which is when you get into the realy bad pain.

Get him to stretch religiously, and maybe look into knee braces.




you're left w/ a knot just below the knee cap on your shin.

No shit man, mine is laaarge. And if I get hit there, it hurts like a motherfucker!


- Matt

[Sami]

He is right now 5'8" and 175lbs, kind of skinny but definitely strong. And coordinated.
12y old and those #'s, definately not a safety or receiver, more like a lineman material there. He'll be too heavy for track, unless it's going to be shot-put, hammer etc.

[Casper]

12y old and those #'s, definately not a safety or receiver, more like a lineman material there. He'll be too heavy for track, unless it's going to be shot-put, hammer etc.


I say that because from 2nd to 5th grade he was by far the fastest kid in the school, and not just by age or grade; the whole school (in little Tonga no less). He sucked at bat and didn't have a good arm developed, but he was so fast the coach made him steal every time, even on a walk. He could even slip out of pickles. And he loves to tackle, it just hurts. I think part of the problem is sneaking out and playing football and basketball with his freinds. But if it gets him over it, then I'm all for it. But you may be right, we'll see as he gets older. The knots have already developed pretty large, but I'll work on some stretches with him.

Oh, and he informed me that he is 165 now, which means he should be shooting up again soon. It goes like that. Heck, even I gain and lose 40lbs over the course of the year, every year. 180-220 back and forth.

[Sami]

Right now he is fast compared to other kids because of his size, later on he still can be quick but all that size is going to limit him in his speed. Unless he stops growing at around 6' and 200lbs which I seriously doubt. He definately isn't skinny, he's a huge boy for his age.

[white95]

I am 31 and still deal with it daily.. Dr. said its from skateboarding. My knees are jacked looking but, they dont hurt like they used too. I was told surgery was my only way out and that when I get older I may have more problems.

[5111]

I say that because from 2nd to 5th grade he was by far the fastest kid in the school, and not just by age or grade; the whole school (in little Tonga no less). .
Did he go to Wilshire Elementary?

[poopnut2]

Lots of beer :D

My wife's brothers are both about 6'4" or 6'6" and huge. Her whole family is huge. My family isn't big but pretty tall; at 6' I'm smaller than most of my cousins and uncles.

Plus he does 100 pushups, 100 situps and who knows what else every night. He isn't bony but slim. And he thinks he is a badass, has all kinds of girlfreinds from 11 to 17. Plus he is Mr. Popular, since he gets to drive the Marauder occasionally.

Damn, he sure didn't get it from me :(

12 year old shouldn't have the muscle mass to be "slim" and weigh that much. To be 175lbs and 5' 8", he would either be really stout or fat regardless of age.

100 pushups and 100 sit up's a night wouldn't even be considered a workout for a teenager. Are you sure he weighs that much?

[Casper]

South Euless.

[Casper]

12 year old shouldn't have the muscle mass to be "slim" and weigh that much. To be 175lbs and 5' 8", he would either be really stout or fat regardless of age.

100 pushups and 100 sit up's a night wouldn't even be considered a workout for a teenager. Are you sure he weighs that much?

That was at last weighing, but he recently informed me that he was at 165. He does plenty of machines and some freeweights at school. I think they are doing some kind of cycle program right now.

And yeah, I call him skinny but he's really not, slim and fit is more like it. And probably a quarter of the weight is his feet, LOL!

He probably will slow down a lot, even if the OS goes away completely. I just think of how much I could have done at that age if I had the chance he does (I was extremely fast, tall and toothpick-skinny).

[barronj]

weight doesn't matter squat for this infliction. Skinny or fat, just something that happens to a few unfortunate people.

you won't lose your vision or an appendage, but it's painful for a few years.

is it keeping him from getting any trim? i don't think so :D

[poopnut2]

That was at last weighing, but he recently informed me that he was at 165. He does plenty of machines and some freeweights at school. I think they are doing some kind of cycle program right now.

And yeah, I call him skinny but he's really not, slim and fit is more like it. And probably a quarter of the weight is his feet, LOL!

He probably will slow down a lot, even if the OS goes away completely. I just think of how much I could have done at that age if I had the chance he does (I was extremely fast, tall and toothpick-skinny).

He must be pretty stout for his age though. I think my brother is around 5' 9" or so and he's probably only 130's in weight. He's 13.

[white95]

Weight has nothing to do with it, Im 6'2 180... been "normal size" all my life. The Dr. had told me it has something to do with activities performed during development years.

[Casper]

is it keeping him from getting any trim? i don't think so :D

Right now the fear of my boot in his butt had better suffice for that. Until I can aford to take him down to mexico and get his cords snipped at least.

[Casper]

He must be pretty stout for his age though. I think my brother is around 5' 9" or so and he's probably only 130's in weight. He's 13.

He won't tell me what he maxed out at the other day at school. I'm not sure how they did it, how many reps or what, but I know he wasn't the strongest in any of the categories. I do know that he out-benched his best freind, who did 95. That is all I know though.

[stang-man-man]

Doc told me I had it when I was little, it hasn't ever slowed me down...

[quick281ciGT]

I developed it when I was 13. There were a few times when my knee's would give out (as in bend on there own). It's very common in athletic males mainly basketball players and male dancers (ballet dancers not strippers). Doctor said bone growth occured faster than my body as mentioned above. I had pains till I was about 18 when doing various excercises.

As mentioned above take it easy when lifting and excercising. Use knee wraps when weight training.

I am 22 now and it hasn't bothered me as much when I was in my High School teen years. My knees and legs are strong, I do 20 min. running 4-5 times a week and am well over 600 pound max leg press w/ my knobby knees.

[Casper]

That knee wrap is a good idea. I think I'll grap some. Its hard to keep him off them.

[davbrucas]

OS condition is a traction phenomena resulting from repetitive quadriceps contraction through the patellar tendon at its insertion upon the skeletally immature tibial tubercle. This occurs in preadolescence during a time when the tibial tubercle is susceptible to strain. OS condition should be distinguished from overuse of the patella-patellar tendon junction, which is referred to as Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome (the adolescent equivalent of jumper's knee). The onset of OS condition is usually gradual, with patients usually complaining of pain in the tibial tubercle and/or patellar tendon region after repetitive activities. Typically, running or jumping activities that significantly stress the patellar tendon insertion upon the tibial tubercle aggravate the patient's symptoms. A sudden onset of pain with no antecedent symptoms in the region of the tibial tubercle should alert the clinician to assess for a possible tibial tubercle avulsion rather than OS condition. OS condition is the most frequent cause of knee pain in children aged 10-15 years. This condition can cause loss of time from athletics; however, it is rarely a cause of permanent impairment or disability. The natural history of this condition is self-limiting. In the Krause study, 90% of patients were relieved of all their symptoms approximately one year following onset of symptoms with conservative care. After skeletal maturity, patients may continue to have problems kneeling or may have tenderness over an unfused tibial tubercle ossicle or a bursa that may require resection. Minimal association seems to exist between residual anterior knee pain after OS condition and patellar stability. The most likely cause is that the apophysis is subject to traction during the adolescent years, which can result in microfractures. The tibial tubercle apophysis appears in children aged 7-9 years. Usually, an apophysis develops proximally toward the epiphysis as the epiphysis grows distally toward the apophysis. Repeated traction from the patellar tendon can cause microfractures in the apophysis. Most patients respond to conservative care that consists of rest and avoidance of the offending activity. Stretching of the quadriceps and hamstrings before events may be helpful. Applying ice after activity may decrease swelling and pain. Immobilization by casting or bracing usually is unnecessary except in severe cases. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used but have not been shown to decrease the course of the disease. Steroidal injections should not be used. Other than the presence of an ossicle that causes pain with kneeling, there are no long-term disabilities or problems associated with this condition.

[mgar22]

Get one of these. I played indoor volleyball through high school and had the same issues. It's not as bad anymore, but this helps a lot. You can get it at www.spikenashbar.com (http://www.spikenashbar.com/productdetail.php?idProductIDBase=PT-KNEE&idCategoryID=251&idGroupCodeID=162) .
http://www.spikenashbar.com/images/products/PT-KNEE.l.jpg