What Causes Pediatric Foot and Ankle Pain
Pediatric foot and ankle pain isn’t a normal part of growing up. While it is common for kids to experience discomfort, our Westfield, IN podiatrist can help relieve their pain and prevent complications as they grow. But before we do that, we need to understand what’s causing the discomfort. So, today, we’ll review some of the most common causes of painful childhood foot conditions.
Pediatric Foot and Ankle Growing Pains
While we said pain shouldn’t be part of growing up, the actual act of growing can be painful. If your child experiences foot pain once or twice every few months, there’s no need to be concerned. But if the pain is chronic, it’s worth discussing in the office. Typically, we can minimize pain related to growth with ice or heat, along with massage and even light exercise.
Sever’s Disease
If your active tween experiences heel pain, it could be Sever’s disease. While the name sounds like an infectious illness, it actually describes inflammation in your child’s growth plate, located at the back of his or her heel. After diagnosing Sever’s disease, we’ll likely suggest that your child take a break from strenuous activities for several months, allowing the bone to heal. Then, to manage pain, we may introduce orthotics, stretching routines and/or anti-inflammatory medications.
Pediatric Foot and Ankle Concerns: Flat Feet
While most infants appear to have flat feet, your young child should have a noticeable arch. If your school-age child still has no arch, we’ll need to intervene to prevent chronic foot pain and other complications. Adding arch support to your child’s shoes can help, as can custom orthotics. In rare cases, when children have inflexible flat feet, surgery may be necessary.
Ingrown Toenails
Kids develop ingrown toenails more often than grownups for a few different reasons. First, they’re more likely to wear ill-fitting shoes; these can bang against the nail, causing it to turn inward. Plus, grownups often trim nails too close to the nail bed, or in a curved shape, and that can increase the ingrown nail risk. You’ll notice an ingrown nail if the skin around the nail bed appears red, swollen or shows pus. The best way to treat an ingrown nail is in the office. Trying to fix an ingrown toenail at home will only cause more pain, and could lead to worse infections.
Poor Shoe Choices Cause Pediatric Foot and Ankle Pain
It’s true that some conditions or body mechanics hurt your child’s feet. But often, the real cause of their pain is wearing the wrong footwear. Children are typically quite active, and need supportive shoes to fuel their running and climbing. Not sure what kind of shoes your child needs? We’re always happy to answer your questions at your next appointment, but we also have some great tips for kids’ shoe shopping here.