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What's causing right hamstrings? (Teen boy)

12 replies

youarenotkiddingme · 18/11/2017 12:02

Please are with me as I want to give full picture. I had a thread on here a few months back about DS legs and toe walking but on app so can't AS and link. Anyone who can feel free as may help!

Ds met his gross motor milestones on time - in fact what's considered the early part of expected.
He walked fine but he continued with the 'arms up for balance' bit longer than expected and couldn't/didn't walk up stairs one at a time until about 7! He tripped up kerbs frequently and was very obviously in coordinated! He also favoured right hand as found gripping with left difficult.

When he started school his social issues became more obvious. Ds was very much is his own world and mind but was happy. I'd already suspected dyspraxia as it's the neuro developmental disorder that fits physical and social most effectively.

I mentioned this to his pead at an appointment when he was 6 - it came about because of his chronic constipation with no cause found and I said I'd often wondered about dyspraxia and would make sense if low muscle tone.

Ds social issues and MH declined and at 8 was referred to Camhs and out on asd pathway. At this point I knew this was the right path because although physically ds was way behind his peers with regards balance and co ordination his major issue was social and emotional.

He was diagnosed with asd at 10. Fairly simple assessment and dx as textbook case of what's described as HFA.

Ds had has some spld especially around writing and literacy (spelling and inference). Some can be put down to asd (language etc) and some has no explanation - and interventions have not resulted in much (well hardly any!) progress.

During this time ds was getting more pain in his feet and bottom of legs when walking. He saw podiatry who provided insoles for flat feet. He had an extremely pronounced pronation and required an 8° correction. They also said the pain was posterior tibial tendonitis. I mentioned his posture (bottom sticks out) and they said he lifted heels off the floor too soon when walking. Given stretches for Achilles. For years we did this until I finally said I was not accepting "do physio and wear orthotics" as a solution when it improved nothing and he was actually getting tighter as he grew.

We were referred to physio.

Also during this time ds started telling me about spots on wall, room tilting etc he was experiencing. It was around the time his language improved so no way of knowing if it was a new thing or he could just communicate it. I'd noticed ds had "absences" since a baby but no one was concerned. (You'll notice here a pattern of people not taking things seriously).
Saw a pead neurologist who did MRI and eeg but were clear.
Eeg was done because he was having nocturnal episodes - look like seizure activity but are now described as "nocturnal myoclonus type episodes". They can be anything from a few spasms to happing for up to an hour.

Back to physio! Assessed ds and asked if he'd ever had an MRI. Yes and clear - said no more but have exercises.
A year later ds was really unable to keep up with his peers and I asked for him to be seen again. Really tight hamstrings - put down to growth spurt. I argued this and said it wasn't a new thing related to the fact he'd grown over the year - rather it had got worse as he'd grown quickly. Physio basically dismissed me but gave him a night splint.
Ds happened to see his neurologist same day as his "episodes" had changed and he's had a few over the year where he'd lost consciousness and had brief myoclonus. I mentioned we'd seen physio morning and doing rounds purely conversationally as we'd returned from holiday day before. Kinda of "back down to earth today" type comment.

Neuro asked and I said tightness in Achilles and hamstrings and neurologist mentioned ds arms (which are permanently slightly bent!). He also tested his reflexes and he's mildly hyper reflexive. He's said his arms have early contractures (they've been like this over 2 years!) and with tests not showing something he'd refer to tertiary neurology.

We have an appointment with a neurologist with sub specialism in neuromuscular diseases and cerebral palsy in a few weeks.

Just so happened after seeing podiatry again in meantime he was referred to orthotic, podiatry and physio multi assessment. They have asked GP to prescribe baclofen and asked for referral to a specific orthopaedic surgeon for surgical assessment as ds literally cannot be stretched beyond what he has and is continuing to grow.
I looked up the orthopaedic dr and she specialises in neuromuscular disorders and cerebral palsy.

So this is where we are at. DS is 13. Constantly in pain and in more pain if he walks more than 1-2km. Arms don't straighten, can't sit at 90 with legs out in front and facing surgery - yet no one seems to know why.

Although I'm pretty sure they aren't putting it down to no dad in picture, only child, summer born boy! ASD anymore.

Anyone got any ideas or experiences of this and what surgery will entail - or positive stories about surgery?

Thanks for reading war and peace GrinCake

OP posts:
youarenotkiddingme · 18/11/2017 19:09

Right hamstrings is what o mean obviously 🙈

Also hope you can read through rest of typos Blush

OP posts:
youarenotkiddingme · 18/11/2017 19:09

Tight Grin my phone does not like me!

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Rainbowandraindrops67 · 20/11/2017 20:28

Gosh sorry don’t know anything about the medical side but just wanted to say you sound like you’ve been through so much and done so well getting the right care for him. You must be exhausted and at the end of your tether.
Flowers and Cake that’s all

Thinkofanumber · 20/11/2017 20:46

DS (9) is going for surgery on Wednesday for tight calf muscles as he has been toe walking for at least five years and physio and splints did nothing.

We have been through most of this - CAHMS, physio, paediatrics, although CAHMS discharged him as they didn't think there was anything to diagnose, I'm not so sure, DS has traits of SPD or similar.

Hope someone else comes along in the meantime with some advice, I will report back at the end of the week post-op.

youarenotkiddingme · 20/11/2017 20:58

Ds is the reverse.

Walks can’t feet - mid foot strike but his legs get tight when he walks and so ends up on toes due to pain.

Good luck for your ds surgery. Have they given a timescale for recovery?

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Ekphrasis · 20/11/2017 21:06

Gosh poor lad. I work with Sen children and a few have found rebound therapy helpful, with a therapist and someone to power the bed to help relax and stretch the muscles. Short term relief but it can help hugely. I hope they get to the bottom of it for you and him soon.

Ekphrasis · 20/11/2017 21:10

Reading again, and I’m no expert, the physical issues sound similar to the children I’ve known with cerebral palsy, for which rebound therapy has been a good ongoing resource, though not the ultimate answer. A little boy I knew had very successful surgery on his legs and although he uses a chair sometimes he has been able to continue to walk and run into early adult hood due to the surgery and the range of physio including rebound.

youarenotkiddingme · 20/11/2017 22:07

Wow - Thankyou. I’ll look into rebound therapy. Ds went to the local trampoline park yesterday and really enjoyed it!
It sounds like a great way to get him stretching his Achilles!

OP posts:
BBCK · 20/11/2017 22:28

Check it’s not just Severs Disease which affects teen boys. Symptoms are tight hamstring and Achilles and foot pain. Many young teens suffer from it and grow out if it in about 2?
years. It’s very painful but can be helped with orthotics and specific exercises. Our son was advised not to avoid walking on his toes as this was his natural gait but to be rigorous in his remedial exercises.

youarenotkiddingme · 20/11/2017 22:34

He’s been suffering with leg pain etc for over 5 years!
The balance and do ordination difficulties have always existed.

Severe was mentioned about 18 months ago but afaik it doesn’t affect range or movement in hip from hamstring tightness or muscle contractors or abnormal reflexes?
I thought it was an Achilles/ heel pain syndrome?

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Ekphrasis · 21/11/2017 16:03

You are, ideally someone would be bouncing the bed while he sat or lay on it and another person would be gently stretching his legs in physio rebound specific prescribed ways. The vibrations of the bounce help to relax the muscles. At the same time, trampolining might help anyway. But I’d chat to someone knowledgeable. Rebound is often done in special schools; sometimes they have after school clubs etc. There are training centres around the country, you might even be able to attend a course too.

All the best and I hope he gets appropriate help soon.

Ekphrasis · 21/11/2017 16:04

Rebound does help balance and coordination - there’s loads of fun games and exercises you can do.

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