DS 5 struggling to bear weight on his legs - a virus?

[wrenster]

My DS has been poorly for a couple of days now with some unusual sypmtons.

Yesterday before bed he said his legs were wobbly and he couldn't stand on them. I didn't take it too seriously to be honest and packed him off to bed. This morning he said the same in between crying and lots of cuddles. Gave him some calpol and he perked up a little and sent him to school explaining the problem to the teacher.

Lunchtime I get a call saying he's not well and having problems with his legs again. I pick him up and now he seems actually unwell as well as struggling to bare any weight on his legs. Had a temp, headache and then started to say his neck hurt. I questioned him as to whether it was his throat and he said it didn't hurt to swallow but the front of his neck (so I'm thinking glands).

The temp and headache are obviously normal but anyone come across the leg thing before? I asked If they just ached (as in when we have the flu) but he is literally wincing when he stands up and just cries and I've had to carry him around.

Any advice?

yes, take him to a doctor. or at the very least call nhs direct.
it sounds horrible :(

Out of hours I think for this, it is quite worrying esp with headache and temp.

Can he bend his chin to his chest or is it too sore

Out of hours doctors service, and if they are slow and saying it will be several hours for a doctor to call you back let alone examine him I would be inclined to take him to your local a and e. Hopefully it's not anything serious, but personally I don't like the sound of his not being able to use his legs normally, and he is little more than a baby at 5.

how's he doing now op?

Thanks for your replies. Currently at a&e as he was getting worse and stiff neck and such severe leg pain was worrying me too much. Will let you know how we get on. Thanks again for the advice

We had this. Apparently it's not uncommon for 'viral arthritis' to cause inflamation in the joints of susceptible children. What they didn't tell us is that it would happen after every viral infection (a week or two following 'a cold') - we give anti inflamatory medicine ie ibuprofen and he's fine. Course, it might not be that with your child, you are in the right place to get him checked out - good luck.

sending best wishes - hope he feels better soon

Hi, DD2 had this when she was around 2. She had the chicken pox, and then a cold. Apparently the fluid our bodies produce to fight the virus, can settle into particular joints. When we tried to get her to sit up she was uncomfortable, and when we tried to get to her to stand she screamed hysterically.

It cleared within three weeks. Make sure that those diagnosing are absolutely certain that it is post viral arthritis and nothing more sinister. Hope it all clears up soon.

Hope you're not waiting too long and they can find out what's making him feel so rotten.

Hope your DS is ok and not in too much pain and having lots of cuddles with you. Poor boy and poor you.

Hope it's nothing too serious and you can both get back home really quick and you can stop worrying!

Hope he's ok

Hope he is doing ok and the doctors have been able to diagnose and treat him.

Thinking of you.

Hope he's doing ok and you've got to the bottom of it.

Something similar happened to DD1 when she was about 3 - right in the middle of the swine flu panic, she spiked temperatures of 41.2, which wouldn't come down & then she couldn't stand properly.

Doc came over and said it was flu (said he didn't need to decide if swine or not as treatment same unless she got significantly worse) and that leg pain and inability to walk was common enough with flu/nasty virus.

I hope everything is ok.

I was wondering about glandular fever. Really hope you got some answers last night and it's nothing too serious.

How is your ds this morning?

Thanks again everyone for your kind words and advice.

He seems to be brighter this morning, although v v grumpy which I'm taking as good sign. Walking is still painful and his neck is very sore but his temp has gone down. He seems ok just lying on the sofa so I'm really hoping its nothing serious, just a virus. The hospital said it could be viral myalgia which apparently causes a lot of pain.