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Osgood-Schlatter's disease
My eight-year-old son has just been diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter's disease. As a child who enjoys and is good at sport, he is very disappointed. We have been told he should stop all sport when his knee hurts and take a painkiller. Are there any alternatives that would not only help with the pain but also improve the condition?
Osgood-Schlatter's disease or Osteochondrosis is most common around puberty but very rare after the age of 16. What is happening is that the bones of the leg are growing too fast for the tendons that attach muscle to bone to keep up. It may not be all that common, but if it happens to your footballing sports-mad son or daughter, they're going to be devastated.There is no cure - so you are going to have to manage the symptoms, which can last as long as a year.
The doctor may prescribe painkillers or support tights - and in extreme cases, a leg cast or splint may be used to take pressure off this part of the leg. But since what you are dealing with is an inflammatory condition, there are some natural remedies that will help to bring down the inflammation and control the associated swelling and pain.
One of the most powerful anti-inflammatory remedies you can use is bromelain - an enzyme derived from pineapple stems. Although safe to give to children in the correct dosage, this is not yet available in a specific formulation for kids so buy an adult product and give an age-approprite dose as follows: give kids aged 4-6 one quarter of the recommended adult dosage; give kids aged 7-10 one half the adult dosage; kids aged 11-14 three quarters of the dosage.
*Lichtwer Pharma's Bromelain is made from concentrated bromelain. To mail order call 01628-533307.