Clicking joints - Help! (sorry forgot to add subject last time!)

[Karen99]

Hi, my 13wk DS has had "clicky" joints since he was born (by clicking I mean it sounds like cracking your knuckles). Originally I thought his ankles clicked because of the way I held them when I changed his nappy and his shoulders clicked because that's where most support goes when picking him up or holding him standing or sitting. The HV and GP both said all joints are normal and that it should improve as he gets stronger.

I have changed the way I hold his legs during a nappy change, but his ankles still click, his shoulders click mostly when we're bf-ing as he is lying down on a nursing pillow even though I try my best to keep pressure off them (not so much now when I pick him up), but now I've noticed his wrists click too...

I am allergic to cows milk myself and have to take calcium suppliments daily. Asked HV if this could affect the quality of my milk and she reassured me that my milk takes as much calcium from me as it needs for baby, but may leave me on the low side so supplements are good.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I thought the clicks would go away as he got stronger, but more just keep appearing!

[janinlondon]

My 4 yo DD has always had clicky joints - ankles, knees etc. She runs and jumps with the best of them. Walked at 10 months. Absolutely nothing wrong with her. Suspect your DS will be the same. Nice to see other people worry about these things too! Hope this helps.

[Karen99]

Thanks Janinlondon. DS is a happy, contented baby most of the time so the clicking doesn't appear to be affecting him. However, you can't help but wonder in the back of your mind... nice to know your DD is doing so well!

[suedonim]

Posted this on the other thread, first!

Karen, my dd1 clicked all over when she was tiny. It began as 'clunky' hips at birth, which needed to be checked for dislocation, but she was given a clean bill of health. The clicking then spread all over her joints. No one could identify a problem and eventually, the clicking stopped. She is 16 yrs old now and has lovely flexible joints, which enabled her to do really well in ballet and I suspect may have been a bonus if she'd been interested in gymnastics. HTH.

[fio2]

Hi Karen mrs clicky family here. My Mum clicks, I click and my dd clicks. My dd has actually got hypermobility in most of her joints and walks like mr soft aswell as clicking. Lou33 knows more about hypermobility than I do because 3 of her kiddies have it. It is nothing to worry about BTW just one of those weird quirks of nature

Although your baby may not have hypermobility just wanted to tell you about mine

[Karen99]

Thanks Fio2 and sudonim, again very reaasuring.

Sudonim, pls let me know where your thread is and I'll take a look. Still haven't managed to look at all of the subjects yet! (New to mumsnet in August)

Cheers!

[suedonim]

I meant the duplicate of this thread, Karen. Welcome to Mumsnet, I hope you enjoy it, though be warned - it's addictive!

[janh]

2 of mine have clicky bits - DD1 has an ankle (I always know when it's her coming up the stairs!) and DS2 has an ankle and a shoulder, although the shoulder is less of a click than a pop - IYKWIM.

Don't know where they come from - the clicks, not the kids - nobody else has them!

[Karen99]

Sorry Suedonim!

Yes, really enjoying mumsnet, can't go a day without browsing! My mum got me the book initially which is dog-eared already!

[lou33]

Hi Karen , we are a hypermobile family as Fio says. My oldest 3 have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which has been passed down through me and my mum. Ironically the one child of mine who could do with a bit of flexibility has cerebral palsy and is very stiff, so he could do with a bit of what we have! Our problems lie in a lack of collagen. We have a fairly mild type, and as long as the kids avoid high impact sports or exercises they should be ok.

The down side is that I now only have restricted use of my left knee, and dd1 looks like this is happening to her to. Mine dislocated so many times they had to shorten the muscles and tendons, which has left me unable to bend it more than 90 degrees. Dd1 has had a partial dislocation of her knee already (aged 11), and has broken her wrist through over extension.

Of course this is not the norm, but if you are worried go and see a doctor and asked to be referred to a paediatrician. I am happy to talk more about it if you want as well.

[lou33]

Should have said that when children are young it is very common to be clicky and loose, and that usually the muscles get stronger and control the jointsas they grow, keeping them where they should be. Hypermobility problems would usually have more than clicky joints as a symptom, maybe easy bruising, slow healing, pain in joints. Hope I didn't worry you !

[lou33]

Also, Fio2 am VERY impressed that you remembered my hypermobility problems .

[Spod]

I hope its okay to hijack this thread temporarily. i wanted to ask Lou a question... I have ehlers danlos type three - the hypermobility... paticulary affects spine, but most other joints click etc. I am having a csection on 17th oct and am worried about having surgery. i have had 2 major surgeries in the past and on both occaisions surgeons were surprised by the extent of blood loss. I have tried to make this point to consultant (seeing him again next week). Should i be concerned.... do you have any sugestions for how to manage post c section recovery given than one prob of eds is poor healing? any advice would be great. thanx.

[Karen99]

Thanks for the info Lou33. I'll keep on eye on things and may come back to you if ds develops any other syptoms.

Hope the surgery goes ok Spod. Will this be your first baby?

[lou33]

Ooh Spod, I'm not able to help you there I'm afraid. Type 3 is probably the "best" classification to have, also known as Benign Hypermobility Syndrome, (or BHS),as it has the mildest symptoms, but I haven't had to have a c section, my labours have been v fast spontaneous ones (another feature of collagen deficiency), between 2 hours 20 minutes right down to 22minutes. All I can suggest is trying to force your point home to the consultant with regards to your worries. I had major surgery on my knee in 1995 but didn't do anything to hurry the healing along, sorry I can't help. Would arnica help after a c sect? I was sterilised in December 2001 but that was keyhole surgery, so again, different. Good luck with everything, please let me know how you get on.

[Spod]

thanks anyway lou33.... i'll let you know how it goes.... out of interest.... how can I tell if my baby has EDS? as all babies are 'bendy' No doubt I'll come and ask you more questions in the future... what eds type are your children (if you dont mind me asking)?

[lou33]

You are right Spod, all are bendy. If you have Eds type 3 then your child will have a 50/50 chance of having it too,(this is what I was told). My kids have always been very clicky and bendy, bruised easily from an early age, and taken ages to heal. Dd1 cut her knee when she was about 2 1/2 and a year later it still looked really red and was keloid (raised). These are all clues, though not a definite dx. Dd was referred to a geneticist to have hers confirmed, now we see a specialist who travels around the country to various hospitals, as EDS is not that well known. He later diagnosed the others. Type 3 is not dx'd by a biopsy like some of the others are, but by examination, so it can't really be detected with certainty until about the age of 3, unless symptoms are v apparent. Mine have type 2 btw, but borderline type 3. It might help you to know that if you are type 3 then any children you have will be the same type, so they won't be any worse than yourself. Hth.

[Spod]

thanks lou33, I knew it was 50:50.... hope baby escapes it as although type 3 is the 'better' one as you say, I'm one of the ones who gets a lot of pain from it and wouldnt want to pass it on. I am seeing the consultant re csection on monday... dont suppose you have a weblink for some eds info as undoubtedly he wont know what I'm taking about and it helps to have a leaflet or something. thanks for your info.

[Karen99]

Hi Spod, I don't know much about this, but a quick search in Google came up with these. Hope they are useful.

www.ednf.org/
www.ehlers-danlos.org/
www.medicinenet.com/Ehlers-Danlos_Syndrome/article.htm

[lou33]

The site I use is here . They do a lot of leaflets explaining the syndrome, aimed at parents,teachers etc. The best doctor to see with regards to EDS is Dr Mike Pope. He is the top bod in the country, and travels from hospital to hospital every couple of years. As far as I know he is at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London atm. He has been at Addenbrookes and one in Cardiff too. To find out where he is for sure, then you should email the website I have given you, they will always know because he is linked to their site as one of their medical advise people.

Obviously you don't want any children of yours to inherit EDS, but they may only get a milder version of type 3. I get a lot of pain in my knees and wrists so ikwym. Plus the guilt of having passed it on.