4yo suddenly walking oddly and GP says wait and see

You have to be persistent with the medical profession. You'll probably get more joy (ironically) if the leg swing/foot drop starts to affect your DC in terms of falling and/or fatigue.

Pain-free Perthes? Highly unlikely.

I’d go back now with the videos

Second this! My nephew was diagnosed with Perthes after a spell of odd walking / limping. His evolved where he would have days when he would cry saying his leg hurt.

As well as the videos, ask the nursery to note down their observations and concerns for you to share with the GP. Ask them to note down how this compares to what they see in other children. E.g. they don't think there is another child they are copying, this isn't typical of something they see in kids this age. It will be harder for the GP to dismiss your concerns if people that deal with children this age for a living think it is unusual.

You know your child and you know when something is “off” - plus the Nursery have noticed. Unfortunately, the NHS loves a bit of “watchful waiting” and are only reactive rather than proactive. Keep pushing, it’s the only way you will get the treatment you need. And I say that not only as the parent of a SEN child but also as someone who works in the NHS. Good luck and trust your mum instincts.

Just checking in on this one, does your daughter show any signs of ND?

This is very similar to what I noticed with my son when he was aged three and it was Perthes disease. He would need an x ray to diagnose this. Please read up on this and take him to local minor injuries department or children's hospital. Good luck

Absolutely trust your instincts.

go back and insist on a second opinion. If you really don’t trust your surgery try a walk in centre

It's sounds like the GP doesn't know and you're being fobbed off, they seem to be quite good at that. I would get a second opinion and if you can get a video of the funny walk to show the GP, that will likely help.

Nurse here. There are so many things this could be, ranging from minor to major. Remember that minor things are common and are the most likely diagnosis. It may be that the Gp was trying to reassure you but came across in a very poor way, however a parents instinct should always be listened to. It’s better that a child is checked over a hundred times and everything be fine than miss the one time it matters.
Is your son able to do everything else normally? Has anything else changed, hand eye co-ordination, walking up stairs, can he lie down and raise each leg equally? If any of these or other things have also changed, take him back sooner than you planned to.
Just remember, you are your child’s voice and that should be listened to. Best of luck to you

@YoungOnyx you're doing everything right, it is concerning.

Trust your instincts, always. It doesn't matter a jot what anyone else thinks.

If your Dr. has not reassured you, definitely go back (perhaps one of the other Drs. in the practice has more paediatric expertise ?)

Don’t listen to them! My ds developed a limp at around 5 years old and used to cry for hours saying his leg hurt at night! We got told everything from “ he’s making it up to its growing pains”. Eventually i paid and took him private and he was immediately diagnosed with perthes disease in his hip which had already degraded very badly without treatment. The private consultant was absolutely disgusted at our treatment by the NHS. A mothers instinct is rarely wrong.

Please go back to the GP. Before you go, send an email to the practice manager explaining your concerns and that you wish to be taken seriously. The care providers within the NHS have a responsibility to listen to concerns of close family members, especially mothers who are usually extremely intuitive about their children. The initiative named ‘Martha’s Rule’ is now an expectation of all gps and hospitals. They simply cannot fob you off.
By writing an email explicitly stating your concerns, the previous encounter and how you did not feel listened to, and your knowledge of Martha’s Rule it will leave a paper trail. A GP surgery will not want that on file as evidence they did not provide care. This should be enough to get listened to and a referral to the appropriate team underway.
I honestly wouldn’t leave it- it isn’t worth the risk of delaying care which might be vital but also as a mother you need reassurance, you will only continue to worry.

Nope I’d get a second opinion 💙

I would look up Perthes disease as mentioned above. I was diagnosed at age 7 with it ( and again at 11) and it was a limp that I had and no obvious pain. I had to walk on crutches for a year but that was almost 50 years ago and treatments are very different now.

Had this with my son at this age - turned out it was irritable hip syndrome- he had an MRI and luckily it didn’t progress to a bone infection - v common in boys under 8 - it did resolve itself - I think we may have had antibiotics (can’t remember as was almost 20 years ago).
personally I would re- present to Dr - you’ve given it a couple of weeks and it’s not resolved so further investigation is required.

could you ask him in a different way.

like “does your knee feel funny sometimes”. Maybe he doesn't think it’s sore just weird? “what about this other knee” if he says no ask if it’s his ankle or whatever.

Could he be copying someone? Is it there all the time? Even when he runs?

Definitely take as many videos as you can - I felt completely fobbed off my medical “professionals” and turned out my 3 year old had a progressive auto immune disease causing paralysis and coma - her symptoms did worsen fairly rapidly between day 7-14 though

Is he at a school nursery? Im not sure how it works by age or location but when my daughter was in year 2 (yr6 now) she walked on her tiptoes a lot and it was commented on, after it was brought up the school got in touch with the school nurse and she was referred to physio by the school nurse, maybe school can help with a referral if you aren't getting anywhere with the Dr's.

Self refer to community paed physio for assessment
Nursery can refer as well