Severe knee pain in 5 year old

[verdiletta]

My 5 year old had a bug about 3 weeks ago (high temp, shivery and tired), and since then has had terrible pain at the top of his knee. He was limping about for a while, but it's now fine most of the time - except for three or four times a day, including night time, when he's hit with sudden, severe pain. He's screaming with it for anything from 20 minutes to 45 minutes, then it subsides. I'm giving him Calpol and ibuprofen but neither seem to be having much effect, if any, it just seems to go away by itself.
We've taken him to the doctor twice - the first said it was post-viral pain, the second just said he couldn't find any problem and it would go away, and to keep giving him Calpol etc. The other night it was so bad my DH took him to A+E, where they took blood. They ruled out an infection but will check for other stuff, and we've got an appointment to get the results on Tuesday.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? I've been googling and some pretty scary stuff is coming up :(

No experience but didn't want to read and run. I hope the tests are clear and it is just post viral pain that soon passes x

Growing pains? I am quite tall, but I grew up in 'shots', so does my DD, the pain is excruciating.

Poor you, sounds like reactive arthritis? DD had chicken pox, then a cold and after this suddenly she screamed if she put weight on her leg, or if she was made to sit up. I was fobbed off at A&E, as she was obviously well in herself, but in pain when she sat or stood. Luckily we have private medical care with DH's work and we got an ultrasound which showed fluid on her hip joint, but nothing wrong in an X-ray. If this is what your five year old has it should pass in three or so weeks. We were advised to give maximum dose of neurofen rather than calpol as this reduces inflammation.

I do hope you get better information soon, and all is ok. If you A&E not happy, keep going back to your doctor.

Are not A&E sorry

I was also going to suggest reactive arthritis. DS had bit when he was 17 months old as post viral conjunctivitis . It didn't go away by itself though!!!!!! He was in hospital on IV ABs for 9 days!

Thank you so much for the replies-feel reassured as when I googled his symptoms things like 'sarcoma' were appearing. Reactive arthritis does sound more likely! It's really helpful to know about the ultrasound,in case he does get an xray which shows nothing. Bikerunski, your poor wee DS. Hopefully we'll get some answers on Tuesday (though he was up again screaming last night so it seems a long way away).
Thanks everyone :-)

Verfiletta, if it is causing him so much pain, is it worth seeing OOH GP or going walk in centre or A&E over the week end?when ds was admitted (it was a long time ago, he is 5 now) we were admitted on a Sunday evening by OOH GP, after ringing NHS Direct.

We went to a&e last week BikeRunSki, but they just gave him Calpol (and he was screaming his head off with the pain) though they did take blood as well. The thing is that for most of the time he's fine - it just hits him every 4-8 hours (ish) and then he's in agony. It lasts between 20 to 45ish mins then the pain dies away and he's fine again, it's really weird. I've had a look at info on reactive arthritis but he doesn't have any redness or swelling at all - his knee looks totally normal. They said they've ruled out fractures etc but haven't actually done an xray. It's a wee rural hospital so xrays not available round the clock, but I'd probably feel more reassured if they did one.

I hope you get some answers tomorrow and it's easily treated x

Don't want to read and run either. My friend's ds had this and it was arthritis - can't remember which type. It was not easy to treat effectively.

How far away is your nearest big hospital or children's hospital? If it carries on I'd recommend you take the trip = or get your GP to refer you to a specialist pediatrician.

Good luck tomorrow Verdiletta. I hope you get an x ray and some kind of diagnosis. It took 3 days as an in patient for DS to be diagnosed and treated !

Any news? X

My son has systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. He had chicken pox then a month or so later collapsed from pain... And after 6 weeks of rash, fever and joint pain and going to a&e and numerous other trips to hospitals...we were finally referred to gosh, rheumatology dept.

2 weeks in house, a GA to eliminate cancer and lots of X-rays etc and we were given methotrexate and folic acid.

He took that weekly for about 1 year, together with monthly blood tests.

He now no longer takes it. It's been 14 weeks and counting!!! Do get it checked out ASAP, we were fobbed off with post viral infections too.

Sorry for late reply, and thank you all very much for your replies. Well, it just went away by itself. I was still worried about what it had been, but he was at the paediatric clinic yesterday - x ray and blood tests fine, and they ruled out arthritis-type things. The doctor thinks it was a growth spurt, complicated by the recent infection and the fact he has very hypermobile joints (which I didn't know he had, but I have this too). He has a very, very bendy knee joint but a very stiff hamstring which is probably what made the pain so bad. He's got physio exercises to do, but is now thankfully completely fine :) Thanks again everyone.

My son has hypermobility and used to get pain like this. He has inserts in his shoes which have helped a lot. Might be worth a referral to see if it affects the way he stands xx