From the Guidelines
Your son's foot pain is likely due to an irritated growth plate (apophysis), not a fracture, and the best course of action is to have him rest from sports and high-impact activities for 1-2 weeks to allow healing. This approach is supported by general medical knowledge, although specific studies like the one published by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons 1 focus more on heel pain diagnosis and treatment in a broader context, including options such as open-backed shoes, orthoses, and NSAID therapy. For your son's condition, applying ice for 15-20 minutes several times daily can help reduce pain and inflammation. You can give children's Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) as needed for pain, following the dosage instructions on the package. It's also crucial for him to wear supportive shoes with good cushioning to protect the foot. Some key points to consider include:
- Rest from high-impact activities to prevent further irritation
- Use of ice to reduce pain and inflammation
- Administration of children's Tylenol or Motrin as needed for pain
- Wearing supportive shoes with good cushioning
- Monitoring for worsening symptoms such as increased pain, swelling, bruising, or inability to bear weight, which would necessitate seeking medical attention sooner. Given the information from 1, while it discusses treatment options for heel pain, the principle of rest, ice, and supportive care applies broadly to conditions involving irritated growth plates or similar overuse injuries in the foot. The condition is common in growing children and typically resolves with rest as the growth plate naturally fuses with the bone during development.
From the Research
Treatment for Foot Pain
- The recommended treatment for foot pain due to an irritated growth plate (apophysis) includes rest from sports and high-impact activities for 1-2 weeks, applying ice for 15-20 minutes several times daily if painful, and giving children's Tylenol or Motrin as needed for pain according to package directions 2, 3.
- Supportive shoes with good cushioning can also help alleviate foot pain.
- Cryotherapy, such as ice packs, can be used to reduce pain and inflammation, and has been shown to be effective in reducing chronic pain associated with various chronic diseases 2, 3.
Management of Apophysitis
- Apophysitis is a common overuse injury in children and adolescents, causing pain and reduced function, and can last from 6 weeks to 6 months or more 4.
- The effectiveness of interventions for treating apophysitis in children and adolescents is being studied, including the use of cryotherapy, and a systematic review and network meta-analysis is being conducted to compare the effectiveness and safety of all available treatments 4.
Use of Medications
- Ibuprofen is a widely used medication for the relief of symptoms of pain, inflammation, and fever, and has a good safety profile at low doses (800-1,200 mg day(-1)) 5.
- Ibuprofen has comparable therapeutic benefits with other NSAIDs and coxibs, and has relatively low risks for gastro-intestinal, hepato-renal, and other adverse drug reactions 5.
- Children's Tylenol or Motrin can be given as needed for pain according to package directions, and ibuprofen can be used to manage chronic pain states 6, 5.