16 month old limping

[LolaBella]

Hi, wondering if anyone has some advice? My 16 month old ds has been limping since yesterday on his right leg/foot. I have also noticed that he has been falling over a lot more then he usually does. I know babies stumble a lot when they are learning to walk, but he is very steady normally and now seems quite wobbly/unsteady.

I have checked his feet for splinters and all looks fine. Do you think its possible that he might have just pulled a muscle? Any advice?

Thanks

I know it sounds odd, but have you checked his ears, for an ear infection, this can really affect balance. And he may have hurt his leg when falling.

Also does he flinch at all when he you touch his foot, or could it be further up his leg, and it hurts to put pressure on it?

Hi, thanks for response

I have noticed that he was tugging on his ear yesterday too so it might be possible that he has an ear infection. He doesn't seem to flinch when i touch the bottom of his foot. He is still limping today but there is nothing i can really do to convince him to rest and not to run around like a looney all day.
Thanks

Hi just wondering if anyone had anymore advice or anyone else experienced this.

My ds seems to be getting worse. One minute he cannot walk and won't even bear any weight on his leg, and then it seems to clear and he can walk although is clumsy with it. I took him to the doctors on Tues who said bring him back if he is still limping when his cold disappears but his limp has got worse. Im taking him to doctors again in the morning (his cold has not yet cleared but would rather be safe) but just wondering if anyone else had experienced this. We are very worried as it is so intermittent.

Hi Lola

How bad has his cold been? There is something called septic arthritis I think. Anyway, basically it is possible for young children to get infected joints after a viral infection such as a bad cold. My own DS had this at 15 months old. We took him to A&E as he was totally non-weight bearing on one leg suddenly one morning and cried when I moved his leg to change his nappy. We were kept in while they monitored him - if it turns out to be a bacterial infection intravenous antibiotics are necessary, but generally it is a viral infection which will pass with time.

In the case of DS he was weight-bearing gently by the following morning and still wobbly/walking gingerly for about a week after. We were let out of hospital the following morning - thank goodness!

Definitely keep a close eye on him and if he detiorates call the doctor again - it is probably nothing, but if it is a bacterial infection, it may need antibiotics.

Is there any swelling? My ds had cellulitis in his hand which stopped him crawling and he was in hospital for antibiotics. At the same time there was a wee girl on the same ward who had cellulitis in her foot which stopped her bearing weight on it.
Not sure if that fits with it being intermittent though?

If it's not an ear infection...is there a chance he might've broken or fractured a bone, if not a leg bone perhaps a rib - that can cause limping. I take it he's had an X-ray? If your Doc still can't fix it, ask for a second opinion.

Thanks for replys and advice

There is no swelling and seems to be no discomfort at all with the legs/ankles or feet. He just goes through periods where his legs seem to be paralysed. He has not had an X-ray but we have got another doctors appointment at 10am this morning. His cold was bad but he has had worse colds in the past.

Will see what the doctors say this morning

What did the doctor say? Hope he better soon.

The doctor says it seems to be 'irritable hip' which has been caused by his cold virus. The doctor was unconcerned and said that it is fairly common although obviously worrying for the parents to see their child struggling to walk. It should pass in a week or so.

Thanks for advice

All the best LB, I'm sure little one will be better soon xx