DS complaining of leg-ache constantly and occasionally limping?

[PoorSorebutunder34]

DS nearly 4yo, has been going through particularly bad patch of what I thought might be growing pains but I’m starting to second guess if that’s it. Looking for what other would do in my situation (I’m quite an anxious person so not sure if I’m just being a bit helicoptery wanting to get him checked tonight)

here’s for useful info:

• he complains about his legs hurting regularly, at least once a week, sometimes a few times a week.
• he uses the description of ‘my bones are hurting in my leg’
• it wakes him during the night and he gets inconsolable, calpol works to get him back to sleep but he occasionally wakes up with it still hurting.
• today he woke up complaining his leg was hurting, this afternoon after nursery he was playing, then came limping into me and said his legs hurting again. I asked where and he said the bones and pointed to his lower shin, I asked if he bumped it or did anything to hurt it and he said no it’s just hurting on its own. He didn’t want to put any weight on it for a while, and wouldn’t get up to walk to me. Then he decided he could walk and went off to play but I’m noticing he is walking with a bit of a limp.
• Ive been watching him since and asked how his leg feels and he said good, and when asked if it still hurts he said no. But he’s still limping slightly it at least not walking right.

He’s otherwise well in himself, he’s had flu A before that went to his hip and left him limping but he hasn’t got a temp or any other symptoms,

could this just be achy legs/growing pains or should I take him to get checked out?

A&E, tell them he’s knocked it. He needs an xray

My son had Perthes Disease. Took 18 months of him limping for an x-ray to be suggested and that showed the Perthes. He is very sporty and we needed to know he had Perthes to know he couldn't jump up and down on it, damaging things further whilst it went through the fragmentation and regeneration process. It also informed what sports he can do over a decade later.

Really worth going to GP, and seeing if you can get an x-ray.

Hopefully it will be nothing though. x

This was a symptom along with fatigue for my daughter when she had leukaemia. A GP is the right call, not a pharmacist.

The pharmacists can’t really do anything? I’d be booking for GP and aiming for a referral for xray, fully blood count etc.

if it’s growing pains they can offer physiotherapy to support.

no, this is terrible advice. Do not lie to a healthcare professional

not saying this to frighten you further but there was a woman online a few years back and her very young son was acting the same and had had a stroke. Rare but possible.

A work colleague of mine, same thing and his son had an infection on a bone in his leg, the had no idea how it happened but it was very serious. He is fine now but needed major antibiotics and a hospital stay.

go get him checked out however you manage it and good luck x

That’s poor advice from 111. A new limp in a child needs medical assessment, either urgent GP appointment or A&E tomorrow.

Get it checked out by GP

Loads of non serious causes of leg pain from growing pains to Severs. In our house we discovered DS2 has shortened tendons in legs and with physio exercises has really moved on from the constant complaining of leg pain! Always worth a check though.

My ds had this at around this age and he was eventually diagnosed with perthes disease.

I had Perthes disease, at this age with these exact symptoms. Ask for a hip X-ray. In the 80’s they would whip you in for surgery, nowadays I understand this can be treatable with physio as bones are still growing. Very rare for girls to get it (lucky me) but relatively common in boys.

I think you also need to rule out something like sarcoma so definitely take him to GP x

GP
If it’s something very nasty, it needs to be treated quickly.
Sadly my friend didn’t for her little boy.

I don’t want to scare you, but persistent bruising plus leg pain plus night waking due to pain was the first sign of leukaemia in my friend’s four year old (he got prompt treatment and is fine now, thankfully). Please take your DS to the doctors tomorrow if possible and make sure you mention all the symptoms and say the words ‘i’d like to rule out leukaemia as he has several worrying symptoms’. Don’t let them fob you off - it’s probably nothing,
but best to be sure.

I had Perthes - another rare girl. Did you have surgery?

I had it mildly so no treatment, but I've always had a "funny" leg. My thigh aches/ached rather than my hip, so it was not obvious.

I reckon now though that hip replacement will be on the cards in the next few years.

OP, hopefully DS is ok but definitely worth getting further assessment, if it is anything serious, sooner treatment will have the best outcome.

@Nicelynicelyjohnsonanother girl!! I did have surgery; I was in hospital for a few months after having a pin put in for the femur head to regrow around and a few months when I had it taken out. Wrote off most of my being 5!