Osgood-Schlatter disease

It is probably an unfamiliar disease name you have never heard of.

I also heard about it for the first time. It seems to be an illness that suddenly appeared in my first-year middle school son. He's a kid who practices taekwondo, so he often complained about ankle and knee pain, and I thought his knee pain was just because of his height, which suddenly started to grow last year.

But since he kept hurting for a few days, I went to the orthopedic surgeon, and they said that growth spurts and intense exercise can cause pain, so they prescribed medication. They told us to come back if the pain persists. However, my son doesn't respond to the medication. Painkillers should make him less or not at all painful. So, I went back again. They told us not to use his knee and that it would heal faster if he rested it, so they put it in a cast. These days, casts are different from before.

Water-permeable cast suitable for showering.

It's uncomfortable, but I have to get better quickly. I decided to take a break from Taekwondo, but I still have to go to school and other academies... It's also a task to take and pick up every day. After showering, I have to wipe off each water droplet caught between the mesh, and let it dry completely with the wind. Even after doing that, the skin still gets stiff. I removed the cast after a week. The stiffening area kept increasing, so I couldn't continue. Physical therapy didn't help, and the medication was ineffective... I went to another hospital.

They told me there, it's called Osgood-Schlatter disease (abbreviated).

They explained in detail. Comparing it with the child's X-ray picture... Only then did I realize why physical therapy is unnecessary and why painkillers don't work.

The bone fragments are separated and detached, and they need to reattach for the pain to go away. If it gets worse, they might fall off. So, they said surgery is the only solution and that I must not delay. I left the hospital sighing. Knowing the diagnosis gave me some relief, but it's not a disease that heals in a month or two; it takes several months, and the child's growth will be significantly improved. There was a Taekwondo 4th grade test in three months.

A boy who has been running for four grades for eight years... If I can't see him this time, there's no guarantee I'll see him next time... I was at a loss about what to do.

I tried calling the academy to find a way, but there isn't one... The director and master also said they've never heard of this illness beforeㅜㅜ

Day by day, time passes, and the child continues to be sick.

At first, only my right knee hurt, but after about a month, both legs started swelling. It's painful just to bend my legs, and kicking and sparring are unbearable.

First, I decided not to do the movements that require my knees to touch the ground and to stand on one leg... I kept going to Taekwondo to try only the movements I could do.

There was almost nothing I could do. During class time, I found myself sitting and resting more. As a mother watching her child, I felt anxious, and I wonder how the child must feel. Not being able to do their favorite Taekwondo made them feel frustrated and they were struggling a lot.

The February review was postponed to the April review.

It was a good thing for my child.

So, I decided to cancel the English and math academy and just do Taekwondo.

Since then, I only started doing muscle exercises rather than assessment movements. Actually, I have memorized most of the forms, so I thought I could hold the posture for about a week.

I have been solely focused on building my leg muscles for two months.

There were many days I couldn't do things because I was sick, but I was proud to see my child gradually gaining confidence. A week before the evaluation, my son said, "Mom, I can stand on one leg," and I felt both proud and fulfilled, and I could sense the mother's worry and effort, which brought tears to my eyes.

But when I was memorizing the forms a week before, I realized there was a sparring match. Even if I do a push-up, I would just sit down after getting hit once. It hurts even when I don't touch my fingers, and getting hit with a kick makes it impossible to compete. I decided to leave it to fate from now on.

On the day of the competition, the child is calm, but why is the mother so nervous...

I took the instructor with me, but I haven't heard from him. The competition should be over by now, but the child isn't answering the phone, and I was getting anxious.

On the way back from the competition, I heard he fainted or fell asleep in the car. It seems my son was very nervous... I hugged him and told him he did well.

The results will be available in three weeks, so all that's left is to wait.

I received the photos and videos from the competition in the evening, and they did well. No leg shaking either.. On the day of turning three weeks old, the director was the first to contact me.. saying they passed.. I cried alone after receiving the news ㅜㅜ

Sent a message to my husband, and called my son around his school dismissal time, haha.

It is still an ongoing illness.

I am still growing and continuing to practice Taekwondo.

I am grateful to my son who endures pain and grows stronger.