DS can't walk after flu - anyone's DC had this?

[IHeartKingThistle]

He's been seen by the hospital but just wondering if anyone has a bit of reassuring experience for me.

DS is 9 and has had a non-specific virus (probably flu) since Wednesday. He's been really quite unwell but yesterday was doing well, temp down etc. He woke up this morning with what we initially thought was cramp in one of his calf muscles but soon realised he couldn't weight bear at all and was in a lot of pain when he tried.

111 told us to go to A and E. He's been thoroughly checked including bloods and C rays and all fine except slightly low white blood cells (from the flu?) which they want to retest in a couple of weeks. They said no problems, post viral, and to give him painkillers and let him rest. Could be a few days apparently.

This is something that can happen after flu apparently but I have never heard of it. Have you? I'd really like to know how long it lasted if it happened to your DC. He's being very good but is so frustrated.

Disclaimer: I tried to get him vaccinated but he's allergic to raw egg and I have asked the GP repeatedly to order him the egg free version with no success

The GBS diagnosis (at least for us) was a process of elimination

Paralysis travels upwards from feet - this is the first clue

Brain tumour and meningitis couldn't be ruled out so was put on meningitis meds until lumbar puncture could rule this out. MRI done at same time to rule out brain issues.

DD's final diagnosis took several weeks - GBS was assumed then nerve conduction studies showed damage to nervous system and it was confirmed (and just to confuse things, there are several types of GBS and DD has the acute motor axonal neuropathy type, which had done a lot of damage).

It IS rare, but there were a cluster of children with it in the hospital!

DD now doing really well - learned to walk again on very wasted, spindly limbs and now has a very active life. I wouldn't want to repeat the last 2 years though

That is so interesting eagleray and thanks for sharing. My legs are SO spindly, I lost all muscle mass while paralysed and then it is agony recovering/trying to build them up again.

Yes, it takes years, not months doesn't it? I am 3 years out of hospital now, the moment I stop doing specific exercised on my leg muscles, walking is shaky.

I believe I had polyneuropathy GB (but am in Spain and it was all a bit of a mess diagnosis and language wise) it was the worst time of my life.

Marianne Keys wrote a book about it which might be interesting for your DD 'The woman that stole my life'. It's good for a bit of 'chic lit' (not sure how old your DD is)

Also, more fun GB facts, the man who invented the phrase 'catch 22' Joseph Heller, got it and wrote a book about it.
It does help to know you are not alone.

Glad to hear DD is doing well now. It puts life in perspective when you can't move (or speak, in my case)

When DS was 9 he had a really nasty stomach bug followed by lots of 'odd' symptoms including a rash and finally not being able to weight bear on one leg. He said the pain was in his hip. GP sent us up to children's ward who kept him in overnight and did blood tests and x rays. They ruled anything serious out although he was slightly anaemic and his liver function test were a bit 'off'. These were both followed up and went back to normal over a couple of weeks. They said it was viral arthritis in the hip joint following the stomach virus and he may get it again after another virus or it may be a one off.

He's 14 now and still prone to stomach bugs but hasn't had any more episodes of the arthritis so hopefully it was a one off. He did suffer a bit with post viral fatigue after that and I'd say it took him probably 3 months to get back to normal energy-wise.

Oh God some of these stories are horrendous, I'm so sorry if you or your child has had this for a long time.

They seemed to think it was hip related yesterday. He's so fed up but I don't think his legs are worse and his other joints seem fine.

That is SUCH a relief IHeart Good news indeed

Day 3, still not walking but he's feeling better in himself, still really tired though. He can definitely feel his legs and feet but still too painful to walk on.

Is it one leg or both and where does he feel the pain?

When I had flu (genuine flu), I lost a huge amount of weight in a small frame and ended up taking bambi steps outside til I regained my strength.

My friend's little boy just had similar symptoms and was told it was Transient Synovitis, it's inflammation of the hip joint and it can happen as a result of getting over a viral infection.

That's the leaflet we were given @HampshireMum1. Otherwise known as irritable hip!

But he just says his legs hurt @OhYouBadBadKitten. It's both to some extent. They don't hurt when he's lying down, just when he tries to put weight on them.

I was also going to suggest Transient Synovitis

dd had that when she was little. It went as quickly as it came while they were admitting her on to the children's ward

I had a seizure almost exactly a month ago. Luckily DD came home from university because she sensed that something was wrong and insisted on sleeping in my bed. I came round to find that there were two paramedics in my bedroom. I was unable to walk even a step and had to be carried down a steep flight of concrete steps in a wheelchair. I seriously wondered if I'd ever walk again.

After a week in hospital and loads of tests, physio etc, I was allowed home. For the next week I was ok in the flat but a step outside and my legs felt as if they had forgotten what to do.

Tests didn't turn anything up - all I can say, with relief, is that since last week I've been walking normally. I'm very thankful.

Hope that your DS makes a full recovery very soon.

Could it be swine flu? My friend's little boy had this a few weeks ago and was complaining of really sore legs and they ended up taking him to A&E and they diagnosed swine flu.

My son had this a couple of times when he was younger. Cleared up after a few days. It was benign acute childhood myositis. Hopefully that's what yours has.

My sister was diagnosed with GBS after a flu like illness. Hers started with leg pains, diarrhoea, and the paralysis started in her feet working its way up. It also attacked her brain. She now has the even rarer chronic form of GBS - Chronic Inflamatory Demylinating Polyneuropathy. Like Eagleray said it is the Axonal form that is the worst. We are years down the line and she is still dependant upon her wheelchair.

I would stress its very rare especially in children but its also something to watch out for.

Just back to update that DS is almost back to normal, thank goodness. It took 6 full days before he could walk anything like normally but once he started improving it was quite rapid. So relieved. He's just tiring easily still but he's like a different boy from when I posted at the weekend.

Thank you so much to those of you who shared your stories and helped me know what to look out for. My heart goes out to families severely affected.

Ds has had this twice, both times post flu. It's called myositis. He went to hospital the first time but not the second time cos we knew what was wrong. No weight bearing for a few days and then gradually got better. I even have a wheelchair ready if it happens again. Just be aware that it might but that there are no longterm effects!