2yo that can't walk - poss septic hip or post-viral synovitis - what do we do?

[GruffaloMama]

Hi - DS today couldn't stand on waking. He had a virus yesterday - minor illness with slight fever (37.5 degrees). Was fine by bedtime. We don't think he fell out of bed and no obvious swelling of the foot or knee.

At the hospital they took bloods and urine samples and did x-rays. Nothing showed up on the x-ray. Doctor said it could be post-viral synovitis or septic hip. DS is booked into a specialist toddler limping clinic on Wednesday.

Some advice would be great about whether we encourage him to try to stand or crawl (he's pretty frustrated he can't walk) or try to distract and get him to rest the joint. And just how do you get a toddler to rest? Any advice very welcome.

just be guided by him

if he wants to wobble around, let him

if he wants to stay still, he will and don't cajole him into walking

kids have remarkably good instincts for what is helpful when they are poorly for whatever reason

When this happened to DD they just sent us home from the hospital and said it would go after a few weeks or months!
I'm jealous of your limp clinic!

I let her do what she could but took the pram everywhere for when she said she was tired. Previously I would've encouraged her to go a bit further.

(She still limps now actually, occasionally, and this happened with her in august.)

Oh, we did have to give her Calpol and ibuprofen for weeks.

thanks both - much appreciated. ensure* I was surprised there is a specialist toddler limping clinic - we do have a massive teaching hospital but all the same! Sorry to hear your dd still has a sore hip now - poor thing.
PAFPM (great name :) ) thanks - I normally try to trust my instincts with stuff but this is so outside what i've ever come across that it's freaked me out. DS is now trying to climb over his daddy on the sofa so guess he's feeling a bit better. Will get a couple doses of calpol and ibuprofen before bedtime. I bet the little blighter will be running around his bedroom in the night just to freak us out.

btw, a septic infection of the hip is potentially serious, so keep your eye on him until Weds (am sure you are) and take him to A+E if he suddenly becomes more unwell

a transient synovitis is quite common, caused by viruses, and usually resolves within a week or two by itself with anti-imflammatories

Since last message he's been dancing and jumping. Will keep an eye for worsening of symptoms and dose him on nurofen. Gotta go he's demanding we do some painting.

thanks so much for your posts - really appreciated.

sounds like he's on the mend

Glad to hear he is doing ok again now. :)

I remember when DD just couldn't bear any weight first thing in the morning, I had no idea what it could be. Very freaky.