I know what my dad will say, in a broad Yorkshire accent….
Eh Jane, you couldn’t make your life up.
Today, I would be inclined to agree.
My eldest daughter, Molly, the one who is a bit of a star with her Type 1 Diabetes, went to the hospital today. Not to her usual clinic where she is checked every three months, but instead, she went to her sister’s favourite spot – orthopedics.
It all started with an ache, just after Christmas Molly started to complain of pain in her heels whenever she ran, danced or played outside. Like any good parent I totally ignored her. Hell, we missed diabetes for six month, missed a dislocated hip in her sister for the best part of two years. Why should this condition be afforded the luxury of being picked up early.
Until April, we dismissed the heel pains. We bought her new shoes, my Dad fitted them himself (Molly has a Granddad who owns a shoe shop), but still the complaining continued.
And she was getting louder in her grumbling.
Eventually, frustrated, I turned to my more trusted medical guide, and typed in…
Heel Pain, Girls, 8 years old
If you pop those six words into Google, you will find pages and pages of references to Severs Disease. An apparently common problem for kids between 8 and 13.
I grew up in the north and have no recollection of Severs Disease, or whilst I am on the point, hand, foot and mouth disease. I think these must be southern ailments.
But I digress.
Google hinted (quite loudly) that there was a real condition, that did really hurt, and it seemed likely that Molly was suffering from it.
I thought I ought to let the GP in on my findings, perhaps he, like me, was also not aware of this new disorder.
On this instance, he was ahead of the game, and had heard of Severs. He agreed Molly was its latest victim and prescribed anti inflammatories, and rest, lots of rest.
We were to come back in two weeks if it hadn’t gone away. You see, Severs is a short term problem, which if you treat and rest should go away quite quickly. It is growing pains at its worse – but staying off your feet should cure it.
Except in extreme cases….
With a medical history spanning epilepsy, through Hip Dysplasia, to Type 1 Diabetes, in just four years, did you think we would ever be as so lucky to get a mild case….
Two weeks later we were back at the GP’s, the pain was worsening….
We were referred, the earliest appointment being today, June 4th, to see an Orthopedic consultant.
Since April I have watched my normally athletic girl become a slow, limping, pain riddled child. One by one she dropped all her extra curricula activities. Ballet went first, P.E a close second, now she doesn’t even go out for break. Instead she sits with her feet on an ice pack, nose pressed against the window watching her mates charge around, doing what 8 year olds so.
Today we saw a consultant who said she was a severe case of Severs.
He prescribed casts – for both feet – for four weeks.
Now luckily, I am a bit of a cast pro, thanks to the little one spending 3 months in a spica. Molly was so excited that her feet may not hurt for a month that she almost applied the cast herself.
We chose not to see this as a setback, but the first (painfree) step on the road to getting better.
In fact as she put on the Shrek styled shoes to coat her potted feet I got a bad case of the giggles, which earnt me a frown from the physiotherapist.
We drove home, happy to be on the mend, ignoring the fact that her feet were cast to the knee and she would have to put all the fun stuff on hold for a month. We both accepted that swimming was off the menu, and that the gala she was due to represent her school in tomorrow would be off limits.
God help me, everytime I looked at her legs I giggled.
I am a terrible mother.
We went to school and I walked her in, laughter at the situation still bubbling under my skin. Then I saw it, and it stopped me dead.
Molly, walked slowly on, her legs hard to maneuver with the casts on, so her gait resembled the Tin Man. Her face was a mix of apprehension and nerves. On her side hung her insulin pump, her hands which are subject to 10 blood tests a day, hung loosely by her side.
She didn’t deserve this new thing, she has enough to contend with, without wobbling around in two walking casts. If this was sent to test us, then it can go back to where it bloody well came from. We don’t need any more testing, we have proven time and time again how resilient we are.
She was terrified.
Outside her classroom she paused, ‘no one will laugh will they mummy?’
Instantly I felt shame for my chuckles earlier, my only defense being that I was trying to make light of a crappy situation.
But I shouldn’t have laughed.
No one else did, instead looks of concern were passed around the classroom, except for her brother whose eyes were on stalks as he stared at his sister with a mix of envy, worry and love.
I heard her sigh beside me, and watched her body relax as she hobbled to her chair and began telling the tale of her morning.
Four weeks in a cast…
Again….
Wish her luck.
oh poor Molly – although she does look pretty pleased with her new footwear. I hope this resolves it for her
x
Cheers chuck x
oh Jane, I can’t believe it. I hope the 4 weeks pass quickly and Molly is better afterwards. xxx
Thanks emma x
I think I have actually run out of words. Love. Huge amounts. xxx
I made you speechless?
My mum has a tongue in cheek phrase when someone seems to be suffering far more than they are due – ‘eeh you’ll be getting dandruff next!’
Can’t quite believe this, Jane, but wishing you lots of love xx
Thanks Trish x
That is a great saying!
You’re all so very brave, while I’m wiping away a tear x
ha! you know more than most it is called getting on with it x x
oh Jane, I hope that the casts work and the pain goes for Molly 🙁
Thanks Sarah x
Me too 🙁
Aww! Bless her! I hope the 4 weeks pass quickly for her and she’s pain free!! Hugs!!
P.s I love her hair!!
Thanks! hair is french x
My goodness Jane!
Hope the cast works and Molly gets better, and, in the meantime, she has 2 casts for her and her friends to decorate. 😉 (You gotta try to see the fun side of things, otherwise you sink. Well done for laughing and lightening the mood.)
I love that they gave her two different colours!
Thanks x x x
To Molly: your casts looks really funky and I love the colours. I hope they don’t cause you much bother and lots of people write some very cool stuff all over them. I’ve not heard of Severs before. It doesn’t sound too nice but glad it’s all going to get better soon. Believe or not when I had growing pains my mum used to put Vicks on my legs. I don’t know why. My legs used to stink all night!! Get well soon and sending a hug to your mum too xx
Vicks – really?
Bless her! I hope these four weeks go quickly and she soon can do the things she loves!
Me too x x
Poor Molly, I don’t blame you for chuckling though, I think it’s a defence mechanism for when we feel overwhelmed. The casts do look great though, I bet all her schoolfriends will make a huge fuss of her xx
They are all being great. x
Oh gosh Jane! I hope you all cope with the casts ok – they do look pretty cool.
I had various casts throughout my school years, my own or my sisters inflictions but they got me out of homework and cross country 🙂 x
She still has to do her homework – grrrrrr
Oh my, you have me in tears (again). Your poor gorgeous little girl. REALLY, you couldn’t make your life up!! I do hope the month passes quickly and that she is literally back on her feet again in no time. Big hugs to you all.
What doesn’t kill us makes great blog content apparently! x x
As a Yorkshire lass I think I’m with your dad in saying “Eh Jane, you couldn’t make your life up love.” Honestly, your family’s resolve to fully test every bit of the NHS on behalf of the rest of us is appreciated, but I really wish you didn’t have to.
On the positive side though I do love her choice of cast colours!
She is very funky cool!
Oh that poor girl, she’s so brave!
Hi just read your post…. did the casts work?? Has the pain stopped??
No sorry – she went on to develop Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – Severs triggered it 🙁
How is your daughter now? My son has severs and not sure if he’s getting a cast or not yet. He already has PFAPA or Periodic Fever Syndrome and stays sick all the time. What are they doing for her Complex Regional Pain Syndrome? I do hope she gets to feeling better!
Jamie Fox
Concord, NC
Hello, I hope this works for your beautiful girl! My daughter is eight and she has severe case of Sever’s disease too. However, rest and a boot didn’t help her. So I wanted to share what made a huge difference. It was a physical therapy and a lot of stretching. It didn’t cure it but allows her to play soccer 2 times a week, followed up by ice packs on her heels.