Shinz's disease - symptoms and treatment

The disease of Shinz (Haglund) is a fairly common disease among people who lead an active lifestyle and engage in sports. In general, this way of life has many risks in terms of getting injuries and problems with limbs and tendons, but without sports and movement it is impossible to live fully. Often manifested in girls 13-16 years. The cause is the various injuries of the heels and overstrain of the Achilles tendon or other tendons of the soles of the sole of the foot when practicing different sports and vigorous dances.

Scientifically, the disease is called "osteochondropathy of the apophyses of the heel bone." This disease was identified and described at the beginning of the last century by a Swedish surgeon with an interesting name Haglund, later it was studied by Schintz himself, after whom they named the disease. Schintz's disease in children is still very young (up to ten years) is very rare, because all their bones and cartilage are soft and supple. It begins with the onset of acute as well as gradually increasing pain in the heel of the calcaneus, especially after a certain load, for example, a long walk. Above the hillock of the calcaneus appears swelling without visible signs of acute inflammation - burning and the appearance of redness. If the foot is unbent or begins to palpate, then in this area of the heel, the pain immediately manifests itself. Most often the painful process occurs on any one side of the heel.

How to determine Schintz's disease by external signs? Patients walk, limping and completely resting on the front of the foot. It is difficult to diagnose the disease with the help of an X-ray, because in the normal state in children the apophysis of the heel bone has up to four nucleolus of ossification, of which the middle usually has a densification. The adjacent surface of the apophysis and calcaneal bone, as a rule, have notches. Schintz's X-ray examination can be determined if the compacted nucleus of ossification has a patchy structure.

If Shinz's disease is diagnosed, treatment is usually prescribed conservatively. When there are severe pains, which are markedly strengthened with support on the heel, the inflamed limb should be fixed with gypsum lingeta and eliminate all the load. Naturally, you can not play sports, you need to try to walk as little as possible, leaning on the affected limb. At the same time, it is necessary to perform electrophoresis of the medicine - novocain, gently alternating it with the means that dilate the vessels and potassium with iodide, ultrasound, diathermy and warming compresses for the night. Ozokerite applications and warm baths will also give a good effect in the fight against the disease. After the pain recedes, you can resume the load on the treated limb, but only in comfortable shoes that have a wide and steady heel. You can not walk on shoes with solid soles, this increases the load on the injured limb, delaying the healing process. To reduce the load on the heel, use also a special insole with a lining of the transverse and longitudinal (external and internal) arches. Such insoles you will find in pharmacies in your city and in shops that specialize in selling orthopedic shoes.

If you (or your child) have been diagnosed as a Shinz disease, do not worry, it will necessarily end with your full recovery! Yes, the disease is quite long and runs from one and a half to two years, but do not despair. Treatment is always aimed at minimizing pain and quickly restoring all functions that have been lost only for a while. Do not give up active sports because of temporary difficulties! After all, life is a movement!