Taking my son out at the knees....

[Ginger]

I'm just wondering if anyone has any insight/experience into this knee disease Jorden has developed....

The poor kid has something called "Osgood Schlatter's disease" (at least his doctor is almost positive he does, but he still has to get in to see the specialist).

Apparently, this can be common in boys his age who play sports such as football, soccer, or basketball. Basically what is happening is that he has had a sudden growth spurt where his muscles grew faster than his bones. This is causing some stretching of the quadriceps. Now, with running and jumping activities which put a much greater strain on the patella tendon, when the quads contract they pull on the patellar tendons that connect his kneecap to his shinbone are pulling away from the shin bone, which in turn are causing fractures in the bone, or bone that is being torn away from the shinbone, obviously causing him great pain.

For now his doctor has ordered him to cut down on time spent playing sports. Most important is that he is to avoid any activity that requires deep knee bending, jumping, or running for long periods or long distances, at least until he sees the specialist.

ARGH!!!! Jorden plays football, and on the line where deep bending is a necessity. He also plays minor hockey, although there is less strain in that because of less impact ??

I'm just wondering if anyone ever had this or had a child with it....I'm wondering about recovery time, like how long he will be out of sports. I'm thinking the football season is a wash, but I'm hoping hockey will still be manageable (considering the cost already invested in the season, power skating, equipment, etc!!!

[banzoomba]

I had something that sounds somewhat similar.........from 7th grade till my senior year in high school I hyperextended my knee caps over 15 times sometimes worse than others......in 10th grade I was 6 foot 3 and only 130 pounds....I always played many sports, but never finished a season........hopfully it works out better for the J man......my knee problems changed my whole career path......I was all set to go into the Army out of high school but the knees kept me out.

[Cuff]

Boy do I have experience with this OSD stuff...

Mine started from about second grade and my dealing with it didn't really end until about the end of my 8th grade year. In my Elementary School years (growth spurts) because the muscles were developing more rapidly than the bone and connective tissues, they would cast one leg and then the other (more to KEEP me from being active than anything) but I kept breaking the casts. The ONLY remnant I have is the Osgood-Schlattter "bump" under my patella, which was VERY sensitive and caused great pain when touched. I wore knee pads (actually the longer wrestling style) during basketball and football to protect it, if these bumps were touched (even on a table leg or edge of the bed, let alone via a sports collision) or if I fell on them unpadded, I would nearly pass out. BUT, I continued to play but was mindful to protect them...Using ice, aspirin and rest when needed.

I wouldn't quit and really, I wasn't going to do further harm and was cognizant to pay attention to the pain level. In retrospect, my continuing to play through the pain in no way contributed to any long term adverse condition...each person's level of participation was directly related to their level of pain tolerance. I KNOW MD's are less willing to allow athletes to play through the pain than in my day, so if he continues to play, he may need to sign a waiver, or see another less conservative specialist. You all will have to decide.

Through it all, I played each sport in its season all year long, even more than one at once...but there were days when I had to scale down or end my preparation or participation. I will add this, that my specialist in Indianapolis said my case of Osgood-Schlatter was the earliest onset (age 8) to the degree he had yet seen in most 15-16 yr. olds. I too had to deal with the pain of "shin-splint" like symptoms and the wear and tear of soft connective tissue stretching from the strain of too-quickly developed muscles for my age. The knee swelling, soreness and daily treatment both with moist heat before practice, icing down after practice and at home doing homework with ice packs on knees otherwise "fine" structurally.

It won't last forever, and would likely be done by the beginning or end of his Sophmore year (at least in my experience)...

A quick check online found THIS which seems to pretty much parallel what I've said. What your MD said IS true, from an anotomy and physiology perspective what goes on is occuring, but the description of tiny ligaments rupturing and bone fractures actually sounded horrendous to me at first, but the actual experience of them and dealing with them was not as bad as described...again, in my experience.

However, I was fortunate to have found an Orthopaedic Sports Specialist who had worked with 1000's of OSD sufferers, and was really a driving force behind helping to develop my mindset that while yes, there will be pain and swelling, but that if managed correctly, I would be able to play with little missed time...

Funny thing, OSD happens to the bigger, more developed kids who are fast, or quick and agile...At one summer invitational camp, I'd say 75% of the invitees had to have OSD treatments daily during the course of a season.

Oh, I was told that I should consider giving up track...I only sat out every other season though...(Which was fine with me because "going out for track" was always "compulsory" although never written policy)

Please feel free to PM me if you want to discuss this further, Leasa....

[SUNBABY]

I will ask my nephew about it..if I can get hold of him..he is a head trainer for the Cowboys and probably knows all the after-effects from players who had it while younger. It's his "busy" time now. His family hardly ever sees him during the season with all the re-hab he is doing..and keeping players in shape.

Sorry Jorden is going thru this. So, Is he starting to grow hair all over his body too?

[Travmagic]

My son had it also. He started around maybe the 5th grade and dealt with it for a few years playing soccer. Never bothered him when he started playing football as a freshman. He did require knee surgery during his junior year during football season. It was the end of h.s. sports for him.
He is also 6'6" now at 23.

[Ginger]

Wow Cuff, thanks for the info and wow to youfor working through the pain! Inspirational!

He has said what you did, that the worst pain comes when he has to "take a knee" in football. Kneeling down on it is very painful for him.

I hope he can work through it as well, at least for hockey since it's so damn expensive and I've already invested all the money!

Originally Posted by SUNBABY

I will ask my nephew about it..if I can get hold of him..he is a head trainer for the Cowboys and probably knows all the after-effects from players who had it while younger. It's his "busy" time now. His family hardly ever sees him during the season with all the re-hab he is doing..and keeping players in shape.

Sorry Jorden is going thru this. So, Is he starting to grow hair all over his body too?

Yup, the hair is coming now as well as the body odor. Also, a sudden and inexplicable interest in girls.

[Cuff]

A nice pair of LONG wrestling knee pads, as compared to shorter basketball or elbow pads, took care on nearly ALL my issues, along with stretching the knees and using moist heat prior to, and ice after, practices and games. A plus is that now, the Neoprene construction also works to keep in moist heat during activity, and new technology material adds to padding and protection without the bulk. I would suggest an Asics product (And learning to fall sideways).

With the advent of coated Ibuprofen or Ketoprofen (Or any NSAIDS or aspirin although Ibuprofen works best for me now, but wasn't available then) my pain management level was easy. The padding of the knee pads I continued to wear into the remainder of my high school and college play even though the OSD issues were long gone. (Athletes can be a tad bit superstitious too, which is another reason for my continuing to wear them)

Frankly, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to hear that he can continue to play but monitor his pain and swelling issues via the avenues you're no doubt learning. The padding will help with the "take a knee" coach's talk moments, falls, etc...

[jmac]

Hey girl!!! We are going through that with Connor now, he's had it for a year and a half. As for sports, he's a goaltender in hockey, nuff said. You won't do any damage to the knees if you continue to do them. He'll have to put up with the pain though which can be bad. Lots of stretches which you can get from a physiotherapist. Advil for inflammation, obviously check with his doctor, I'm not sure what he could take. As much rest as he can. It can take up to 2 years for him to grow out of it. My opinion, if he can handle the pain, keep doing sports (or cut back some). Major take care of himself though. Any questions, ask away & I'll try & answer.

I forgot to add, you can get a tensor that goes just under the knee cap, Connor had one but didn't work in goal pads very well.

[jmac]

I'm surprised Jorden didn't get Sever's Disease which is the same thing in the heels. Both my boys had that. What scares me is that it can move to the hips as well (doesn't seem to be as common tho), I told my doc....that's not a possiblity, I'm sick of seeing you (we've single handedly funded this year's salary for docs). Fortunately all of them have no lasting effects.

[Ginger]

Thanks Tim, we are going to do the heat/cold thing for sure. I also bought him a knee brace which pulls in the patella and holds it.

Jackie, good to know that it doesn't cause any further damage. It must be hard on him being a goaltender!

I'll let you guys knwo what the doc says tomorrow.

[popeye]

Boy, poor Jorden. As you see here by the response you're getting it is not all that uncommon. I know lots of guys that I grew up with going thru pretty much about the exact same as Tim describes. I played basketball, baseball and football all thru school and never had to go thru such. For anyone that knows me, I'm still waiting for my "growing spurt."
Hang in there J- man!

[SUNBABY]

Originally Posted by popeye

Boy, poor Jorden. As you see here by the response you're getting it is not all that uncommon. I know lots of guys that I grew up with going thru pretty much about the exact same as Tim describes. I played basketball, baseball and football all thru school and never had to go thru such. For anyone that knows me, I'm still waiting for my "growing spurt."
Hang in there J- man!

You are a big man to me!

[DavidB]

I'd try to find him some good stretches that will lengthen the muscles. Have him do them before and AFTER his workouts.

[Ginger]

Thanks, David, that would be great!

We just came from the dr. He has said he wants Jorden to drop football completely. He is allowed to remain in hockey as long as he wears the platella wrap and brace, and if it doesn't hurt too much. Jorden apparently has a very large tuberosity that has built below the knee and they don't want this to grow any larger or it could result in some more serious complications for the knee and tendons. This tuberosity is also there for life, now.

Jorden's not very happy. Poor guy, gets slammed with all the medical issues! I feel bad for him.

[cpfstich]

Sheesh Leasa, Jorden has been through enough already poor guy! Pat & I will keep you all in our thoughts.