Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Catherine Burt Driver, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Driver is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. She currently is in active practice in the field of rheumatology in Mission Viejo, Calif., where she is a partner in Mission Internal Medical Group.
Sever condition is an inflammation of
the growth plate of the bone at the back of the heel
(apophysitis of the calcaneus). The inflammation of
Sever condition is at the point where the Achilles tendon
attaches to the back of the heel bone.
What causes Sever condition?
Sever condition is caused by sprain injury where the Achilles tendon attaches to the calcaneus bone at the back of the heel.
What are signs and symptoms of Sever condition?
Sever condition causes pain at the back of the heel. The pain is increased with plantar flexion of the ankle (pushing down with the foot as if stepping on the gas), particularly against resistance. Sever condition also causes tenderness and swelling in the area of the pain.
Who gets Sever condition?
Sever condition occurs in adolescent or
older children, particularly active boys. It can be very
painful. It is one of those conditions commonly referred to
as "growing pains." Patients are evaluated for signs of conditions that can mimic Sever condition, such as ankylosing spondylitis and other forms of arthritis. Usually Sever condition is self-limited; that is, it disappears as the child ages.
How is Sever condition diagnosed?
Sever condition is diagnosed by detecting the characteristic symptoms and signs above in the older children, particularly boys between 8 and 15 years
of age. Sometimes X-ray testing can be helpful as it can occasionally demonstrate irregularity of the calcaneus bone at the point where the Achilles tendon attaches.
Ankle pain is commonly due to a sprain or tendinitis. The severity of ankle sprains ranges from mild (which can resolve within 24 hours) to severe (which can require surgical repair). Tendinitis of the ankle can be caused by trauma or inflammation.
Heel spurs, pointed, bony outgrowths of the heel, are caused by localized soft tissue inflammation and can be located at the back of the heel or under the heel, beneath the sole of the foot. Plantar fascitis is associated with inflammation caused by heel spurs on the soles of the feet. Both conditions are treated with ice application and anti-inflammatory medications. Orthotics may also provide some relief.
What is a heel spur? What are symptoms of a heel spur?
A heel spur is a pointed bony outgrowth of the bone of the heel (the calcaneus bone). They are
attributed to local inflammation at the
insertion of soft tissue
tendons or fascia in the area.
Heel spurs can be located at the back of the heel or under the heel, beneath the
sole of the foot. Heel
spurs at the back of the heel are frequently associated with inflammation of the
Achilles tendon (tendinitis) and cause
tenderness and pain at the
back of the heel made worse while pushing off the ball of the
foot.
How do heel spurs relate to plantar fasciitis? What causes heel spurs and plantar fasciitis?
Heel spurs under the sole of the foot (plantar area) are associated
with inflammation of the plantar fascia (fasciitis), the "bowstring-like" tissue stretching underneath the sole that att...
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