Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Didi has been complaining about his left knee pain for months. At first, we thought the pain was caused by the sport he plays - soccer. He has a little lump on his left knee and could've been hit during a soccer game. We tried to put ice on it hoping that the lump would go away. Daddy always tries different creams but the pain wouldn't go away. Finally, we became worried and I took him to see the doctor. The doctor told me the pain and swelling left knee was not due to the injury. In fact, it was Osgood-Schlatter Disease. To make sure the pain wasn't caused by something else, I took him to the hospital for a knee x-ray. This is the first time we've heard about "growing" pains. It is a common disease in pre-teens who grow significantly within a short period of time. On Monday, I took Didi to soccer practice. After practice, he told me both of his knees hurt and he could hardly stretch his knees. He has experienced difficulty even going up the stairs at home. We decided not to take him to soccer today so that he can rest for a few days. I presume Didi will grow over 6 feet. He may need to go through the painful stage for years. Sometimes, I wonder if it is worth it? posted by mom http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/special/bone/135.html