Advice please re. my 4yo dd who currently can't walk

[jasper]

Two days ago (Friday afternoon)) my dd who is nearly 4 calmly anounced that she could not walk and that she had hurt her leg getting out of bed that morning.Prior to this she had been running around as normal all day. We did not see her injure herself or fall.

Her left knee was a bit swollen and she howled in pain when we tried to touch or move it. By evening she was no better so I phoned NHS direct who told us to take her to the local hospital.

She had four xrays and there is nothing broken and they put on a crepe bandage and told us to come back a week later for review.

She is still no better. She can't stand or walk and although quite happy to sit /lie on the couch becomes very distressed if we try to get her to move her leg. She seems otherwise well - no fever or anything.

Have any of you come across anything like this before?

no but I wouldn't wait a week .. I'd take her straight back in to A&E personally

[[[hugs]]]

Sounds like a soft-tissue injury, which, bizarrely, can be worse than a break. A friend's dh did this to his knee and was on crutches for weeks.

If you are at all concerned, take her back to A&E.

Thanks Twiglet and Freckle. I am concerned that weekend A&E staff are not specialised enough to know what to do and it will be a repeat of Friday night! No criticism implied - the staff were all lovely (the doctor was about 16)but basically having ascertained it was not broken they were at a loss to explain it and could not really do anything.

Freckle or anyone, what is the treatmwnt for soft tissue injuries in children?

I have just checked her and it is now even more swollen and quite hot.

put an ice pack or pack of frozen peas on it which can help reduce inflamation

rest

hope she feels better soon

Has she had a fever at all in the last few weeks jasper? My friend's ds had a poorly knee a couple of weeks after a throat infection and was told that it can be caused by the Strep bug (some sort of immune system reaction).

Children's ibuprofen (Nurofen for children) is an anti-inflammatory as well as a painkiller. Ice packs (alternated with heat packs if your daughter finds the ice too much) will help reduce the swelling.

If no better by tomorrow, go back to A&E.

Luckymum, was just about the suggest that, when I read this thread, I remembered my friends son suffering with a poorly knee last year, I have just phoned her and she said, it was a viral infection that goes to the hip, but gives pain in the knee, he had to stay a little while in hopsital for obs and they referred to it as this viral infection, apparently its very common and as you said quite often after the childs has had a bad cold. He was fine a few days later.

Not saying this is the problem, but well worth mentioning on your next trip to GP/A&E

Hurt my knee ski-ing in Jan and the treatment was ultrasound, tens machine, freezing air blown at it - all 3 times a day, plus regular ice packs, very strong anti-inflamm. and a brace. (Got ski-ing again after 4 days of this). So maybe, if it's not broken, it's more a physio she needs?

My ds complained of pains in his legs a few weeks back, not as serious as this though. The doctor said its like a cold in the hip, we have since found out that he has hypotonic muscles (weak), and is a bit floppy, hence is gets himself into awkward positions and may pull muscles more easily. Has she had a fall recently? I would certainly get it checked out sooner rather than latter just in case. At the time I was worried it was arthritis, but happily for us it just seems to be put down to one of those things.

Thank you thank you everybody.
Isn't mumsnet incredible?

Phoned a friend who is a GP and she suggested taking her to the semi local children's hospital which I did.

Luckymum your diagnosis is the one they seem to favour! They reckon it is a rheumatic type joint inflammation secondary to a viral infection and as such is debilitating but harmless and should pass in a few days - they will review on Thursday. If still swollen by they will have to consider other diagnoses and will refer her to a rheumatologist.

I tell you it is the strangest thing to see your little daughter who normally runs around constantly long sitting pefectly still on the sofa ALL DAY LONG !

Thanks again everybody and I will post an update when there is more to tell.

Hope she's feeling better soon jasper.

Missed this thread Jasper. How is she now?