For full transparency, I'm a Dad and not a Mum. I guess it wouldn't be crazy to think a Dad posting on Mumsnet could be some creeper looking to flirt with women or whatever but that's definitely not the case here and I'm happily engaged with 2 wonderful (yet challenging and patience-testing) children.
I did head over to the Dadsnet section first but it's like a ghost town and I didn't feel like I'd get the answers/support I was looking for.
So, my reason for starting this thread. My almost 4 y/o has been seeing a musculoskeletal specialist for the last year or so. She started seeing the specialst because we had some concerns not too long before her 3rd birthday. She couldn't run very well, couldn't jump, walked with her feet turned in (outside of foot pointing more upwards) and couldn't walk up and down stairs. Couldn't really get herself ready either. She's also hypermobile with low muscle tone and is extremely flexible.
In the last year, she has made a lot of good progress, at least in my eyes. She runs more (although not as fast as most children) and finally started walking up and down the stairs (she's still quite cautious and has to hold the rail) and can jump very well. She still doesn't like to get herself ready but with encouragement, she can get her own underwear/trousers/socks on, and sometimes her vests/tops. She also climbs onto the couch/bed with ease, and can climb sort of couch height obstacles when we take her to soft play.
Still, the musculoskeletal specialist referred us to see a pediatrician, an appointment we attended yesterday. The Dr had my daughter do all of the normal tests - walking, running, jumping, climbing, as well as testing her flexibility and checking her bones, etc. She also drew pictures so the Dr could see how she holds a pencil. The Dr also checked with us when she started sitting up (about 6 months) crawling (about 9 months) and walking (around 18 months) as well as her cognitive development (all normal, and she is impressing with her learning of numbers and spelling at nursery)
After everything, the Dr didn't seem overly concerned about anything apart from her flexibility. She said they would like to take blood and to test for any underlying muscular conditions. She reassured us that it's just to rule things out, and more often than not, these things come back clear. She said some kids are just hypermobile and flexible and that's just how they are. Of course, this doesn't stop me or her Mum worrying, more so her Mum.
I've Google the hell out of the condition and read that it could be something really serious and potentially debilitating. And honestly, even worse if it's something like DMD (Duchenne muscular dystrophy) I can generally keep myself right and not let it get to me too much. Not all of the time as there are times when the worry just takes hold and it's hard to shake it, but most of the time. My fiance is a lot more anxious about it all, and more often.
My daughter is a very happy girl. She's loving and funny and is really just my absolute everything and just the thought that there could be something really wrong breaks my heart. Of course, it could be nothing at all to worry about, and I guess the odds are that it is the latter.
Anyway, that's it really. I just wanted to post here, to share what is going on and perhaps see if anyone in a similar position has anything to share or add.
Thanks for reading!