What’s going on with DD’s knees?

[BeJollyStork]

DD has had medical issues which caused her to be quite underweight for a number of years. Her weight has now recovered, and her health is much better, but she has had sore knees for what seems like forever. She wasn’t able to do physical exercise in any case, and this wasn’t as important as the other issues she had going on (gastric issues), so the focus of medical professionals was sort of consumed by the other stuff. However, the sore knees persist. Partcularly sore walking up stairs, going up hills etc. She doesn’t really do any running yet. They just seem to ache though and I’m worried. I just hope that this is something that i can help her to fix, and not something irreversible or indicative of other issues. I know it’s a vague question, but is there anything minor that could be causing this prolonged pain? She has had spells of a couple of months with no pain, but then it will return.

I have booked her a gp appointment and she is also being referred to for physio but curious if anyone here has any ideas?

Has she been going through a growth spurt? Could be Osgood Schlatters, for example. Not dangerous but Physio can help. But good that you’re getting her checked out, just to be sure.

Could it be growing pain? My son gets this every few years, in hips and knees- I consider it may be because the ligaments attaching his musculature to his bones occasionally grow slower than the bones. I’m no expert though!

She has had a recent growth spurt, but it’s so persistent that I can’t think it could be caused by that. Her growth was stunted for a period, and she still had the pain.

Hypermobility?

I believe she is somewhat hypermobile. She definitely was very hypermobile, but this seems to have reduced in recent years. Would the pain have also reduced?

Does she regularly do any stretches?
Is she doing any physical activity?
I would start pilates/yoga- coolkidz is great if younger
I would introduce stretches- as bones grow first and tendons and ligaments play catch up. If she hasn't done physical activity in a while this can also cause the muscles to shorten
I would also ask for a physio referral from GP ...

It could definitely be a factor, a physiotherapist would be more knowledgeable.

She does swimming and dance, both once a week. I know she does lots of stretching at dance, but maybe once a week isn’t enough.

I’m not any kind of expert, but: Are the other medical issues she’s had explained? Is there any likelihood of a tick bite/Lyme disease? Can cause swelling and arthritis in knees

How old is DD? I'd want to see a rheumatologist to rule out juvenile idiopathic arthritis or rheumatoid or similar.

She had a tick bite a number of years ago. The other issues aren’t that well explained, but could she have had Lyme disease all this time???

That terrifies me!!!

DD is 12.

My DS had Osgood Schlatters at that age.

I’m quite afraid in case it’s something untreatable.

Were the gastric issues linked to Crohns at all, as that can have joint pain in the major joints alongside the digestive track issues?

Osgood-Schlatters is very common in this age group, especially if your child has had a recent growth spurt. Definitely worth talking to GP to rule out anything else as well

I believe chrons would have been ruled out due to the testing she has had.

Sent you a pm

Again I’m not an expert: but yes, if the tick had Lyme disease and she got it and it hasn’t been treated by antibiotics then yes, she could still have it. She can still receive treatment now, but she would need to be diagnosed with Lyme. I would see a GP and mention the tick bite if you haven’t done that already. If it is Lyme then the sooner she has treatment the better.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

Sounds like Osgood-Schlatter disease. I was very sporty/energetic and I had this when I was a child. it started during late primary school and continued on into secondary school on and off. It was very painful and I had alot of inflammation/swelling in both my knees and developed extra bone growth. Sometimes I would sit/bend down and wouldn't be able to get back up without help because it felt like my joints had locked and the pain was intense.

Eventually it resolved itself but it was horrible to go through and I was constantly having to take painkillers and use a compress for some relief.

It sounds like she needs to be referred to rheumatology.

I will ask about lymes disease tests and a rheumatology appointment, as well as the physio referral. I am feeling so upset with myself for not perusing this more over the last few years. Her weight and stomach issues seemed far more urgent, and I know they were, but I worry there’ll be lasting damage. 😢

If there is a possibility of hypermobility, combined with gastric issues, it might be worth looking at EDS. That needs a rheumatologist to diagnose as well.