flatfeet & accessory navicular bones - Foot Problems Message Board

ballerinas_mum · 11-14-2003, 04:34 AM

My once active, sporty 10 year old daughter has an accessory (extra) navicular bone in each foot and has lived with this with only mild pain until recently. She now has collapsed ridges in both feet and has pain in her feet, shins, & knees after any activity - even walking. Her alignment is now awkward, and her ankles bend inward which doesn't look or feel very nice. We have seen a specialist (2 hours drive away)who says she will just have to live with it and take up different sports, like swimming. He said she may even forget about the pain - as if it's all upstairs? (I haven't paid him yet)!

I am limited for options due to where I live, but if anyone can shed some light on whether I should get a second opinion, I will travel further. Has anyone any experience with these two conditions? I believe collapsed ridges are sometimes a complication from the accessory navicular bones. It is really painful to watch your energetic child immobile with no help from professionals.

cjaffee · 11-14-2003, 08:37 AM

I had a similar situation. I had pain in my feet that limited my physical activity for 2 years when the podiatrist said just don't play ball anymore. I then went to an orthopedist that performed some surgery which has totally corrected the problem that was there. So yes get a second opinion and never accept "there's nothing more we can do".

ballerinas_mum · 11-14-2003, 04:10 PM

Thank you for your reply cjaffee. I will certainly start looking at where I can go for a 2nd opinion, nothing that I have read so far suggests that leaving her condition will 'fix it'. In the meantime I will continue to search for other peoples similar experiences.

Ronk0747 · 11-19-2003, 01:10 PM

Hi,

I am 40 and have had accessory naviculars (an extra bone on ech foot) all my life. While excessory naviculars in themselves aren't a problem, many people who have this problem (including myself) are very prone to having collapsed arches and posterior tibial tendon problems.

Strangely in my case, only my left foot collapsed over the years and I just had major surgery to do a posterior tibial tendon and ligament transfer as well as a bone fusion and calcaneal osteotomy to reconstruct the arch. Have to be non-weight bearing for 3 months. My doc is an orthopedic surgeon and seems to be very knowledgable on this. I have been to podiatrists and they were pretty much clueless so an orthopedist is your better choice.

Ron

ballerinas_mum · 11-22-2003, 12:52 AM

Thanks Ronk. We have an appointment Wednesday with another Doc. It is good to hear from someone who has been there, I am worried my daughter will have ongoing problems as her ridges are collapsed and she can not enjoy what she used to enjoy. Surgery sounds like such a major ordeal... I do hope there is an alernative for a younger child before her feet become worse.