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Original poster

My son is wonky

172 replies

PlayingSolitaire · 29/09/2015 18:45

My 8 year old developed a limp at the beginning of term. It came on quite badly and he complained his thigh hurt, but the pain and the limp gradually got better over a week and half. However, he is still limping - it looks like his left leg is shorter than his right one or that he is wonky over to the left side and I have noticed his left foot is slightly turned inwards sometimes. His gait has never been the smoothest, but looks worse now (or am I paranoid and noticing it more now?)

I took him to the doctor after he had been limping for a couple of weeks and she manipulated his legs a bit but couldn't find anything wrong. She said to come back in a couple of weeks if he is still limping and he might have to have an x-Ray. She mentioned there was something that could affect short children (which my son is). The two weeks ar nearly up, so looks like I will be taking my son back to see the doctor again.

Anyone's child had a long term limp/ turned in foot? Anyone know what the doctor was talking about that affects short children and causes a limp?

I think it might still be hurting him, but he doesn't want to admit to it as he thinks that he's going to have to have his legs chopped off...

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 15/10/2015 10:32

How awful to even have to consider that possibility. I hope you get good news soon.

Flowers
ThisFenceIsComfy · 15/10/2015 10:38

Goodness me you must be put of your mind with worry, good luck. I'm sure it will turn out to be something monitor nothing at all. But I know it must be really scary right now Flowers

Fridayfun · 15/10/2015 13:46

That must be so worrying for you. Hope he gets the MRI scan soon.
My friend's son was diagnosed with cancer when he was 3 and it was discovered because of a limp. They went through a tough year, but came out the other side. He is now strapping 8 year old, the tallest in his class and is one of the best soccer players in his year.

I do hope your son gets the all clear, it is frightening to have to wait for a diagnosis.

Original poster
PlayingSolitaire · 16/10/2015 14:06

Thank you all for your kind messages. I am not enjoying the waiting at all. I have been googling to reassure myself of other possibilities, but I can't find much except malignant and benign tumours. Which is all pretty petrifying. And I have scared myself by reading about them all, especially osteosarcoma. Sad

I guess their could be a slim chance he got some kind of a stress fracture - on the first day of term they did PE that apparently involved laps of the school field and it was after this I first noticed the limp and he complained of pain. He also says there is only pain when walking and running. Not when resting or sleeping (apparently pain worse at night is a tumour sign) so hopefully that's positive. I am clinging to this.

According to the Internet, the urgent referral means he should see the specialist within 2 weeks (or does that mean see specialist and have MRI?). I am thinking the doctor commented on his x Ray either on Friday afternoon or Monday morning so would have (hopefully? Probably?) referred at that time- shouldn't I have had a call or letter by now? It might have been a week already...

The other horrible thing is that whilst I told DH all about the urgent referral etc, I didn't tell him the possibility the doctor mentioned. I didn't see there was any point in worrying him too. But it does mean I feel like I am facing it all alone. I have told a couple of friends, but I am not quite sure they know how it feels or how terribly scary it is to be facing it, even as a slim possibility.

One more thing, I have a friend who is a bone scientist. Part of me wants to contact her and tell her all I know so she can reassure me. And part of me doesn't want to tell her in case she knows something scary. I might sit on that for a while (she knows about the limp and him having an x Ray, but not what it shows...)

OP posts:
myotherusernameisbetter · 16/10/2015 14:13

Could it be Severs disease? and it's the pain in his heel that has caused him to limp to protect it and in doing so, he's strained the muscles in his thigh?

kidshealth.org/parent/medical/bones/severs_disease.html

SometimesItRains · 16/10/2015 14:18

I think you should tell your DH - this is the kind of thing you need t support each other through. Also, contact your friend - my guess is that you are already worrying about this for the majority of your awake time (I know I would be), so unlikely you could worry any more. If she does have something scary to say then she should also be able to let you know what happens next and so on, which can give y something t focus on. I really hope everything works out for you and your son.

Original poster
PlayingSolitaire · 16/10/2015 14:21

I would love it to be, but his discomfort (mild and only when active) is in his thigh or knee, not his heel. Plus his x ray showed up this "periosteal reaction" on his femur, which from what I read just now would not be a sign of Severs disease. Unfortunately.

Thank you for your suggestion though.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 16/10/2015 14:21

The waiting is terrible x

Your bone scientist friend won't be able to tell you any more than anyone else has said, tbh.

He needs the MRI. Do you have a number for the consultants secretary so you can chase them up ? That is what I would be doing. And send Dr Google on a weekend break, love x

AnyFucker · 16/10/2015 14:24

Sever's and Perthe's are probably looking like attractive propositions right now < wry smile>

Keep your hopes up for stress fracture or osteomyelitis. X

Original poster
PlayingSolitaire · 16/10/2015 14:28

My DH knows everything, except that the GP said that the urgent referral might mention cancer because there is a extremely small chance. The benefit of telling him this would be that he'd know there was a chance, but I don't think it would help him or help me to have him knowing. It would worry him and as it hasn't occurred to him, that would seem wrong and unnecessary. I don't think it would help me him knowing either as it would just make it more real, which is horrible.

But you are right. I am thinking of it all the time. Giving my baby extra cuddles and touching his hand when he is sleeping and thinking what if... It's horrible.

I also feel guilty that I didn't go to my friends Macmillan coffee morning the other week because I was too busy. I want to go back in time and give lots of money in the hope that it would protect us somehow. And I wish I hadn't been so selfish to put my housework before this charity. I know that sounds a load of nonsense. My head is a washing machine right now.

OP posts:
Original poster
PlayingSolitaire · 16/10/2015 14:30

Yup. How I wish it was something like Perthes or Severs!

I don't have the consultants name or anything yet. Sad. I can only assume he will be referred to someone at the local hospital, but I don't even know that.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 16/10/2015 15:44

Get the gp surgery to chase it up on Monday if you don't hear anything first thing .

Original poster
PlayingSolitaire · 17/10/2015 09:46

Update: he's got a blood test today and the MRI on Tuesday. Results next week. I am completely terrified. DH knows all now.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 17/10/2015 10:53

OK. Now you know what is happening. Not long to hang on. Glad you told H, you couldn't have held that in. This could still be ok I promise x

How is your son ?

Original poster
PlayingSolitaire · 17/10/2015 11:31

He's fine thanks. Didn't like the blood test and isn't looking forward to MRI, but yes, otherwise normal. It doesn't even look like he's limping anymore.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 17/10/2015 12:02

Do update us, won't you ?

SoDiana · 17/10/2015 12:18

I have no experience of anything like this but can feel the terror you're feeling from your posts.
Wishing you all the best of luck.

ScarlettDarling · 18/10/2015 22:13

Sending you every good wish in the world x

Hassled · 18/10/2015 22:23

I saw this thread the other day and just didn't know what to say that would be of any use - I still don't, but I've been thinking of you. The very best of luck next week.

Jinglebells99 · 18/10/2015 22:26

Fingers crossed for you. I'm thinking of you and hoping that you have good news on Tuesday.

ThatsDissapointing · 18/10/2015 22:32

Hope you get it sorted quickly. In the meantime keep busy.

peggyundercrackers · 18/10/2015 22:51

Fingers crossed for you, sounds like the chance of the issue being cancer is extremely small and unlikely but are just checking to be on the safe side. Try and not worry too much, easier said than done though no doubt.

GloGirl · 18/10/2015 23:25

How terrifying. I know the feeling of just needing to do something proactive. If your bone scientist friend is generally nice and soothing talk to her about it.

Everything is crossed for you here, the next week is hell till you get your results, I hope they are the right ones Flowers

notapizzaeater · 18/10/2015 23:41

Fingers crossed for next week, it will drag I'm sure :-(

Witchend · 19/10/2015 14:45

Hope all's okay and quickly sorted out.

If there's any danger of it being cancerous, even if they think it's almost totally certainly not, they fast track you. If they thought it was anything other than a minute chance the they'd have done the MRI last week.

I would have thought if it was cancer too, then it would be getting worse and definitely no sign of improvement. Hopefully I'm right on that.