All-Star Joint Pain In Adolescence

[tricial4]

What kind of recommendations do you have for joint pain? My daughter 12 and has been cheerleading since she was 6. She has been complaining the last several months about pain in her ankles, knees and wrists. She doesnt have any visible swelling or injuries. The joint pain comes and goes but seems worse after tumbling practice. I know she is in a "growth spurt' because she has outgrown all her shoes lately. What can we do to help in her diet or with vitamins or supplements. It doesnt seem like glucosomine is recommended for adolescence. Is this normal? Please share! Thank you.

 

[NJ Coach]

It is normal for joint pain during growth spurts. Ice, Ice, Ice. Moist heat (wash rag damp with HOT water) can help too. Most importantly, lots of stretching.

 

[cheer25mom]

It's pretty normal. I was a serious dancer and dealt with it from around 10-14 and my CP who is almost 10 is dealing with it in her knees right now. She is in a rapid growth spurt. It has to do with growth plates and the rate at which bones are lengthening as I understand it. As a kid I was told stretching and maintaining strength in the joint were the best things for it.


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[xoxbeastbackspotxox]

As someone who has dealt with knee pain since eighth grade and cheered since fifth, the best advice I can give is to use icey hot before practice! It really helps. However this also sounds as though it could just as likely be normal for someone going through a growth spurt. Best of luck!

 

[alexacheer2010]

My doctor told me to take glucosamine chondroitin when I had really bad knee pain from cheer in high school. It really seemed to help.

 

[Mom Jeans]

Epsom salt baths is what the rhuematologest recommended for my cp

 

[catlady]

Most kids go through this during a growth spurt, however, you also said this has been going on for several months. If it continues, you might want to have her checked out just to make sure there are no auto-immune issues going on. You stated she complains mainly after tumbling which is a good sign, but if you notice her having trouble in the morning or after long periods of sitting, definitely get her checked out.

 

[crazeecheermom]

Most kids go through this during a growth spurt, however, you also said this has been going on for several months. If it continues, you might want to have her checked out just to make sure there are no auto-immune issues going on. You stated she complains mainly after tumbling which is a good sign, but if you notice her having trouble in the morning or after long periods of sitting, definitely get her checked out.

My cp has something called patello femoral syndrome due to all that growing and tumbling. The ortho gave her a knee brace and stretching exercises. It really helps. The ankle pains went away as soon as she started landing her standing tucks properly. The knee thing I was told she will grow out of. Lots of ice. Epsom salts really helped her ankles. The good news is its improved after about 6 monthes and her friend who had the same thing in both knees is out of the braces and pain free.
Good luck. It's so difficult to have them in pain and frustrated doing something they love.
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[TinyBlondie15]

Where in her knees is the pain? I have what's called snapping hip syndrome where the tendons on the sides pull but not enough to tear, just enough to cause me pain if I sat for too long or after cheer.

 

[INeverStopCheering]

Like @crazeecheermom said, if this doesn't go away in another month, I would get her checked out. Your knee caps are one of the slowest parts of your body to grow. So when kids get a big growth spurt, sometimes their knees don't catch up. This causes Osgood Schlatter and patella femoral syndrome (which I have) and can be both very painful and lifelong

 

[Hotcheerfan]

Definitely get her checked out if it goes on for a while. A lot of good suggestions here.

 

[OnceUponACheerleader]

Procosa
http://shop.usana.com/media/Shop/2012Rebrand/CA/PIB-EN/PIB-131-CA-EN-Procosa.pdf

I take these for my joints!!! (along with epsom salts, ice hot, stretching, physio etc.)
I am a huge believer in supplementation, preventative treatment, and vitamins and have been using this company for as long as I remember. They have pharmaceutical quality meaning the factory it was produced in is of the industries highest standards, and everything on the label is in the product - I would not trust any over the counter products for supplementation simply because I want to know that I am receiving the highest quality of product and not making the health problems worse with lower grade products.
If you're willing to try a glucosamine, 100% I can vouch for procosa !!! - can't go wrong! :)
I know how painful it can be - I hope they start to feel better soon!!
xo

 

[vannahlexis]

I have post streptococcal (sp?) arthritis and it affects all of my joints, I got it from having strep and not realizing it until it got into my blood stream. When my joints hurt during/before/after cheer I used a lot of icy hot, and the pain meds I was prescribed. I also alternated between ice and heat. But icy hot was the easiest and quickest fix to pain when I was at prac or a comp or something

 

[CNYcheersweetie]

she seems very young. but i started cheering when i was 12 and i cheered for 8 years. i am now 19 and a retired cheerleader and i have been recently diagnosed with arthritis in my hips knees ankles wrists and elbows. i don't know if its to early for her but it never hurts to get a second opinion because if it is arthritis they might be able to give you some meds to reduce pain and inflammation.

 

[rrhhiannon]

I've had knee problems for as long as I can remember because my ligaments are too long for my body, so everything hyperextends and dislocates but my knees are for sure the worst.