A Parent’s Guide to Growing Pains
It’s a confusing situation for any parent. Your child starts complaining of foot, heel, or leg pain. It’s not from a specific fall or injury; it just hurts. They might limp, complain of aching, or even use words like “burning” or “tingling.” Your first thought is probably “growing pains.” And while growing pains are real, they are often a catch-all term for very real, very treatable podiatric conditions.
The most important thing to know is that pain is not a normal part of growing up. Often, these mysterious “growing pains” are directly related to two common conditions in developing feet. And in the following blog, Edmond Norman Foot & Ankle will explain both of them.
The “Nerve Pain” Symptom: Is It Tarsal Tunnel?
If your child’s complaint sounds like a “nerve” issue—burning, tingling, or shooting pain in the bottom of the foot—it’s easy to be alarmed. This is often a sign of an irritated nerve, and in children, a common culprit is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.
- Think of it as the foot’s version of Carpal Tunnel. The Tarsal Tunnel is a narrow space in the ankle that a key nerve passes through.
- In a child with flat feet, the arch collapses, which can stretch and compress this nerve, causing those burning or tingling sensations.
- This isn’t a “growing pain”; rather, it’s a mechanical problem. The pain is a direct result of their unstable foot structure.
The “Heel Pain” Symptom: Is It Sever’s Disease?
What if the pain is focused on the heel? If your child is active (especially in sports like soccer, basketball, or gymnastics) and between the ages of 8 and 14, there is a very high chance they have Sever’s Disease.
Despite the scary-sounding name, it’s actually not a “disease.” It’s a common overuse injury of the heel’s growth plate.
- During a growth spurt, your child’s heel bone (the calcaneus) grows faster than the attached Achilles tendon.
- This puts immense tension on the growth plate, which is still soft cartilage.
- Running and jumping causes the tendon to constantly pull on this vulnerable spot, causing inflammation and significant pain.
To your child, it just feels like a bad, bruised heel. To a podiatrist, it’s a classic sign of a growth-related mechanical issue.
How Do We Treat These “Growing Pains”?
We don’t just “wait for them to grow out of it.” We fix the problem so they can grow comfortably.
Our goal is to treat the underlying mechanical cause: instability.
- Stop the Strain: For Sever’s Disease, the solution is often simple: a heel lift. A small, temporary lift placed in the shoe gives the Achilles tendon just enough slack to stop it from painfully pulling on the growth plate.
- Support the Arch: For pain caused by flat feet (like Tarsal Tunnel), the solution is support. Custom orthotics are the most effective tool we have. These are not just basic insoles; they are prescription medical devices that sit inside the shoe and correct alignment.
By supporting the arch, an orthotic stops the foot from collapsing, which takes the strain off the nerve in the Tarsal Tunnel and provides a stable foundation for the entire leg.
Your Child Shouldn’t Have to “Play Through Pain”
Don’t let “growing pains” be the answer for your child’s discomfort.
Limping, complaining of pain, or sitting out of activities they love are all signs that they need a professional evaluation. Early intervention works: by addressing these common mechanical issues during childhood, we can prevent them from becoming chronic, long-term problems.
Bill Buksh, DPM, works alongside his expert medical staff at Edmond Norman Foot & Ankle to offer superior podiatric care to anyone in need. Pairing thorough, comprehensive remedies for common podiatric conditions with unique specialty treatments for nerve pain, he and his team would be delighted to treat your feet. Contact us to schedule your appointment today.
