Hip Pain in 4 year old boy.

[PinkTigerBrownPig]

Hi.
My son is 4, nearly 5. Since he started crawling around 6 months old there has always been something about his hips that has bothered me. Occasionally his right leg would go out and up further than normal when crawling. When he started to walk (at just under 18 months) he lost the ability to weightbear for a few minutes, this has continued to happen about twice a year ever since but now the limp lasts for hours/days. It happens on different hips each time. He was checked for hip displaysia around 18 months with an X-ray which was clear. It has always been put down to irritable hip and he has also been checked for septic hip on occasion. He saw a specialist in August who did a thorough check but as he had no pain at the time and no limp he was unable to see the problem. He started limping again last week and was in pain. He is still limping on and off now. He is seeing specialist again on Thurs as he had an open appointment. Does anyone know what this could be. I have been told about perthes but I don't know as his has been on and off for years now. I'm going to ask for MRI scan.
Does anyone have any idea what could be causing it. I don't think it's irritable hip as that is in response to a virus and I know 100%he has not had any illness in the last few weeks this time.
Any ideas welcome or anything I can mention to the specialist.
Thank you x

Just in case he mysteriously gets better before seeing the specialist on Thursday, why don't you video his limp?

I don't know what it is, op, but children do have odd pains from time to time. My son had quite bad pain in one knee but it was only every couple of months or so. Then it stopped. I remember my mum thought I ought to take him to a specialist but I didn't agree. If he had had it all the time I would have but it was only occasionally.

He's nearly forty now and doesn't have any knee pain.

It sounds as though you are doing all the right things. An MRI is a very good idea. Please do come back and tell us the findings. I hope your son doesn't have anything seriously wrong, chances are he won't but you are naturally worried - you're his mum.

Thank you. I have videos of him so will show them again on Thurs.

Thanks Rachel I'm sure it's nothing serious but would like some further investigation x

I found some good videos on YouTube to do a kind of DIY check for perthes of the hip- simple and not painful for your ds. Worth a look.

I don't think it will be hip dysplasia especially if he has seen a specialist! My nephew had it and once he started to limp he didn't stop and kept telling my DM he had hip pain! But hip dysplasia now runs in our family (my DM has it and had passed it on to grandchildren)

An MRI sound like the way to go and making sure to video any episode to show the doctors xx

Hypermobility is his knee/feet joints? Glad you son's under the car of a specialist- that MRI done. My husband had hip pain accompanied by a fever as a 4 year old and was diagnosed with ALL. I can't even begin to imagine what his parents would've gone through. Keep at the professionals until you get an answer.

Thanks everyone. I'll have a look at the YouTube videos.
Drs don't believe he has hypermobility. My daughter and I both do and his symptoms present very differently. Will see what they say the. Thank you for you replies x

Perthe's Disease?