Sons Foot/ankels Give Out or Hurts Sometimes

Hi Heather,
What kind of shoes does he wear? He will be growing leaps and bounds over the next few years. Are those foot orthotics right for him. Take him to a chiropractor, actually Dr. Matthew Hoffman. He knows sports and kids. Start there, good luck. P. RN ;-)

Definitely seek the help of an orthopedic that specializes in pediatrics. I have heard wonderful things about a doctor out of University of Chicago hospitals that caught a severe condition of what appeared to be rickets and was a genetic condition (was a client of a friend or I'd get a name for you).

Having a pediatric chiropractor evaluate your son might be adventageous for him. I've seen similar things and have great success. Find a chiropractor near you by looking at www.icpa4kids.org or call the office and my assistant will help you.
In Health,
Dr. J. Aardema
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I would take him to an orthopedic. My son's knee was bothering him and it ended up being muscle related. He is also very athletic and lean. The doctor suggested certain exercises, foot inserts and a brace (you can purchase at the store) to help build his muscle. He's already seen progress. They will not do unnecessary things. I think it's all related and should be handled young. My husband has horrible ankles and has twisted them since he was a child and now needs surgery. He never followed up and now they've even said that they were both broken at one point (he never knew).

You've gotten a lot of advice and I just want to add that before you decide where to take him, double check your insurance to make sure you don't need to see your primary care doc to get a referral. Going around the system can be expensive. Good luck and in my mind, never hurts to check things out.

homeopathy can help growing pains or whatever else might be going on.
our homeopath is in naperville:
www.dupagehomeopathic.com
if you're not near there and want to see someone else, i can email you a link to other practitioners in the area. homeopathy is natural and has no side effects, so it's safe for your youngster to take. i have constitutional remedies for my baby and 3yo son and also give them remedies for colds/flu, etc.

I don't think that it would hurt to take him to an orthopedic doctor. They are very specialized and will certainly have one on staff that will see foot/ankle problems and also see pediatric patients. Even if it is nothing, at least you know. I have 4 kids and don't consider myself to be a "worrier" but if it is bothering him, check it out. Lots of kids get stress injuries from sports and don't know it.

Well, first off you are never too young for fallen arches! My 12yr old has them bad! Totally flat feet! Any who... take him to an ortho! My other DD is 15 and VERY athletic and plays b-ball as well. She has to do strengthening exercises every day that her PT(phys therapist) taught her. It's really helped! Avoid those stupid "nike shocks" as well! Her whole freakin b-ball team got hurt wearing them. Some hurt their knee so bad they needed surgeries!! Good luck! I am sure he'll be fine!

Mom to four active rugrats! :)

Heather, by all means take him to a doctor, but I HIGHLY recommend an orthopedic doctor. I have three girls, grown now, but all three were in orthopedic shoes for several years. I also have problems. At one time I wore ankle braces. They aren't all that bad and they really do help. Inserts are probably not enough. I don't know where you live, but Big and Little Shoe Store in Munster is where we bought the girls shoes, then they went to a shoe repair shop to be fitted with what correction was necessary. Good luck and don't let him take this into his adulthood.

Hi Heather,

I would definitely take him to a podiatrist. My brother went through that, and although I believe it was all growing pains, the doctor was able to help him with different suggestions and therapies. My brother's pain was across the top of his foot, up into the ankle. He struggled a lot with it since he played basketball. Good news is, he does not suffer from it anymore, so your son will probably just grow out of it eventually, but it's a pain in the meantime.

Good luck!

Hi Heather,

I would probably take him to a chiropractor who specializes in sports. I know of a good one in the Lisle/Naperville area that I would be happy to refer. It could be the result of an earlier injury where he is out of alignment. A podiatrist might also be beneficial in diagnosing the cause. I think the weakness in the area might make him more vulnerable to a serious ankle injury. I would also consider calcium supplementation to strengthen the bones. Many articles are saying that children today are lacking in calcium due to the typical American diet.

I hope you will find an answer quickly.

I would have a doctor give him a bone density test. In this area of the country many children do not get enough exposure to sunshine to allow their bodies to manufacture the necessary amounts of vit D for bone health. I just recently read an article in Reader's Digest I think about children arriving in emergency rooms in epidemic proportions because of a lack of vit D and weak bones.

Many children today stay in doors all winter, they play video games all day instead of going outside, and many don't get enough milk or fortified foods to makeup the difference.

I would have a gone density test just to be safe.

As someone who turned out to have fibromyalgia, I cannot stress enough to heed any signs of pain. I was told I had "growing pains" and to stop complaining, when the whole time there WAS something going on.

It may be as simple as some tendinitis, or it could be more. Play it safe and get him checked out. I'd suggest an orthopedic doctor. See your pediatrician for referrals.

It's not normal for a joint to just give way like that. Please, please get it checked out. It's better to overreact somewhat than to not react at all.

Good luck!

I would suggest that you take him to an orthopedic doctor. I am the mother of two boys who are both active in sports etc. The orthos have the xray etc. right in their office and can run the x-ray and check everything in one appointment. It is most-likely inflamation, but it is usually better to be safe than sorry. I don't know where you live, but we use the doctors at Castle Orthopedics. they have offices in aurora and yorkville. Their main office is on rt 34 across from rush-copley. we typically see dr. o'connor.

Hi Heather,
My daughter had the exact same thing. I did take her to the doctor (which I recommend just to be on the safe side)and he had taken x-rays and said it was growing pains. I guess what could happen especially in active children is they'll get little cracks in their bones from a growth spurt which causes pain. He had her lay off ice skating and gym class for a couple/few weeks no special shoes or anything.

Good luck hope things work out, he will out grow it.

it could very well be growing pains. but at that age they could get a growth plate injury. sometimes velcro ankle braces while playing sports might help. i would still see the doctor to be safe

Heather, there is an excellent foot doctor in the Chicago land area - Dr. Weil - Senior (not the son). You can find him on the internet.

Also, if you take him to a physician I would get a referral for PT. I highly recommend IMT Center - ###-###-#### because they are use to working with children. They have 3 centers in and around Chicago - one in Chicago, one in Elmhurst, and one in Wheeling.

Good Morning, Heather

I work at Core Solutions Chiropractic Center and we take care of entire families. At your son's age and because he is very active--which is great!--it's important to check how his spine is doing. Our spines and nervous systems control our entire bodies, from head to toe. Dr. Aaron already has plenty of experience with young athletes and has seen incredible results. Because children and preteens are still so young, they respond quickly to chiropractic care.

On your behalf, I asked Dr. Aaron if we can waive the normal fee and conduct an exam including X-rays at no out of pocket expense to you. He has agreed and wanted me to let you know he will take great care of your son.

If you've never been to a chiropractor before, please know that most of our patients were in the same boat. Dr. Aaron will walk you through every step carefully and be sure to not only educate you and your son, but is going to make sure to answer all of your questions fully.

I am 6 months pregnant and have been under regular chiropractic care with Dr. Aaron as my primary physician, since I've rarely ever gotten ill. I feel better then ever--and when I first sought chiropractic care my knees and ankles were giving out on me. I was about 24-25, and played high school softball and basketball, and also played softball in college as well.

I was to the point where I was not able to exercise hardly because my legs were no where near 100% anymore; within weeks I felt better, and within a few months I was back to working out full speed. I've never been better since and am looking forward to bringing my newborn in as soon as she arrives in our world to get her first chiropractic adjustment.

I apologize for being so long-winded as I am so passionate about families being healthy physically, mentally & emotionally. When we feel good, we treat ourselved better and everyone else around us. I just want everyone I come into contact with to feel that sense of health & happiness.

I wish you and your son the very best.

Should you be interested, here is our information:
Core Solutions Chiropractic Center
21 W. Elm Street
Chicago, IL 60610
###-###-####
(We're located in the Gold Coast, by Dearborn & Division)

If you are interested and call, I will probably be the one answering the phone. I look forward to possibly helping your son get out of pain asap.

With Much Gratitude,
D. L.

I would take him to a podiatrist. My son was eleven when he started really complaining of foot pain and heel pain. The inserts you buy at the stores did nothing. He saw a podiatrist(speciality feet and ankles) and did have to have orthotics made. They helped a lot. The doctor discovered my son was flat footed. We did not even know. My son is in a number of different sports and the running was still really hurting him. X-rays showed that he had an extra bone in his foot (called an accessory navicular bone). Evidently 10% of the population has this, but many don't even know it and feel no pain. My son sees a fabulous foot doctor in Park Ridge. He is probably the nicest doctor we have ever been to...and he is great at what he does. For too long I just thought my son had growing pains or was in too many sports. Turned out there were legitimate problems that needed a doctor's care. I can give you the name of the Park Ridge doctor if you are in that area.

Just curious, why did you use inserts? He seems too young for falling arches. I would do the routine doctor check---get some x-rays, follow up with a podiatrist or pediatrics doctor. It could be growing pains or the joints forming in a way that you don't know whether an insert is helping correct or hinder it's formation. Foot giving out is usually related to ankle joints, from what I expereinced in sports.

Good luck!

I agree with Kjanette K. My daughter had a simuliar problem. I took her to her primary care physician, she auto matically said it was planter facitis (which I"m shocked no one has mentioned). It was from an old injury in a sport that wasn't thought to be much. Any ways she was sent to physical therapy and they agreed it was planter facitis. They started with pressure point therapy to see what was also affected. We were surpised it affected her hip and knees also. Some physical therapy and she is fine. Just start with your pediatrcian. Don't be jumping to any conclutions or going to far with all these specialists till you start with the primary Doc and by all means don't put it off or just keep guessing.

Best advice, take him to your regular doctor and ask to see a Physical Therapist.

It just may be growing pains. He's certainly at theat age. He may, however, need to exercise his ankles to build them up for sports. Someone in his p.e. department must have a program to build the muscles up to prepare him for the riggors of a sports program.