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Children's health

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Original poster

Anyone baby have uneven leg lengths and it be nothing?

59 replies

xxxJess123xxx · 19/12/2019 12:38

Hi all, baby had his 10 month check and HV checked his leg creases etc. He has ever so slightly uneven bum crease and one leg seems shorter.
Hes been crawling a long time and is now cruising and taking 3/4 steps unaided .
Has anyone had this with their babies and it be nothing? I'm terrified its hip dysplasia which is what is coming up when I google.
The thought of him in a cast (super clingy baby) who loves being on the move is making me so sad! How would I cope with work etc?!
I'm waiting for a referral after seeing the gp Tuesday. She said it will be an ultrasound or xray.
He has full range of movement in the hip and his newborn hip check was fine. 2nd born. Normal delivery. Not breech. No family history
I'm really overthinking everything.
Thanks all

OP posts:

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londongirl86 · 29/12/2019 15:53

I honestly can't believe they can't fit you on for a quick x-ray in 3 months. It takes 30 seconds! Honestly my daughter laid down. They pressed a button and said thank you wait outside. Then we spoke to a consultant. I get consultants are busy but I can't believe they can't x-ray and send you home to await results.

londongirl86 · 29/12/2019 16:06

Also to add if you find out your son does have it. It will feel a shock. Everyone in the corridor reacted with tears. I saw many women leave the room after finding out their baby had hip dysplasia crying. I held it together because I knew there was a risk as I'm a carrier. But it did upset me. I took her in in one of her tiny sleepsuits and brought her home naked as her clothes wouldnt go back over the harness. I went to Matalan with her on the way home. Got her some dresses in 6-9 months so they went over it. Went home and for two days I was upset. I wasn't allowed to bath her for 2 months. I knew when I did bath her again she wouldnt be tiny. She also didn't get to wear most of the outfits she had been bought. I remember googling it feeling shallow. Thinking why am I upset over baths and clothes. It turned out most people felt sad in the same way. It's the fact things you planned to do for nine months can't happen. But... And this a huge but! It was over before we knew it. The harness didn't bother her. Her posture is amazing now too. I am so glad we treated her young. If your little boy does have it. Just go with it and trust that he will cope. You will cope. He will still be your happy little boy. It doesn't upset them how it does you. The most important thing is to correct it young. My mum was missed as I say. She has replacements every few years and is limited because of it now she's older. There is not much bone left to work on.

Also if you do discover he has it. Marks and Spencers do hip dysplasia clothes. I know that's jumping the gun. But just to inform you just incase. I wish there had been outfits we could of had that fitted over it.

Look Into a private scan. If not affordable pester them and say you want to know the risk of it getting worse now he's walking etc.

I hope this reply isnt daunting. I don't think boys tend to get it often. I just wanted to give you abit of info about what I was like and what feelings can go along with it.

Also it's not a life threatening condition. It's crappy and I've not met anyone other than people at the hospital who have been through it. But it's a part of my DD journey. She ended up loving the hospital trips in her toddler years because she got to play in the waiting room which has Disney films and loads of toys! She also got a cake on the cafe afterwards. The consultants and nurses are very knowledgeable and will reassure you and ask any questions.

Please keep us updated and message me if you need a talk. I know how horrible the wait is xxx

londongirl86 · 29/12/2019 16:11

Also go on hip hip hooray Facebook page and like it. You can ask questions,! You can read other stories. It's a great page and I found it so helpful. Lots of pictures and journeys and tips xx

Derekmorganwasinmybed · 29/12/2019 16:16

My dd had hip dysplasia but hers was missed till she was 3

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 29/12/2019 16:32

Yep 3 months, joke isnt it all the while he is getting used to walking more and more. Thank you very much london for your detailed reply. I'm going to ring the doctors tomoro and ask for a call back to speak to the doctors. Or shall I ring the place he has been referred? X

OP posts:

londongirl86 · 29/12/2019 17:04

Hiya I think ring your gp for advice. Write down your questions.

Examples. Is he going to get worse if it's hip dysplasia by walking etc

Are there activities he should avoid?

Are there types of clothing he shouldn't wear.

He's abit older but things like jumperoos, sleepings bags, restrictive clothing (jeans etc were not advised.

It's awful toake you worry with minimal advice. I suppose it's not something they come across often. A go after my DD was harnessed had never held a baby in a pavlik harness. She was interested and asked me questions! X

CatSmize · 29/12/2019 17:26

@xxxJess123xxx I live abroad in Europe but the scan was only £45. I looked up "baby hip scan" online and found a website with different private clinics and hospitals that offered that service and I chose one and paid via the website. It came with a report that I took to my DS's paediatrician. There might be something similar in the UK.

As Londongirl said, it literally took 5 minutes and it's crazy that we'd been given a date 2 months away when every day counts for a good prognosis.

Going private was worth every penny because it meant we didn't have to spend the next few months worrying. Also, if he had had dysplasia, the treatment would have started and been nearly over by the time the time we finally got seen!

CatSmize · 29/12/2019 17:29

Btw, there is a youtube video of Embarrassing Bodies that has a little boy
(10 months old I think) with a cast. You might find it interesting to watch.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 29/12/2019 17:35

Brilliant I will do some chasing on the GP tomorrow. I'm just totally clueless as to why I'm having to wait 3 months, crazy. I may google some private scans tonight too once kiddos in bed x

OP posts:

londongirl86 · 29/12/2019 18:04

Good luck. Keep us updated. I hope your little boy is ok. Dont worry though. We get through anything with our little ones. Whatever his journey is he will be ok bless him. I understand all your anxieties. If you think of any other questions just ask

I might be wrong but he might be too old for a scan and need a private x-ray if they exist? Bones get harder I believe after 6 months and they move from a scan to x-ray. I'm not sure if this will be the case x

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 29/12/2019 20:10

Yes they said it wont be an ultrasound as he is too old it's an xray. The referral is for the orthopedics department x

OP posts:

Perid0t · 29/12/2019 20:17

My eldest had uneven creases and was xrayed, all fine. Walked at 15m.

My youngest had a clicker hip, X-rayed and all fine. Didn’t crawl until 12m and walk at 18m.

My friends little boy had hip dysplasia and he literally didn’t move until it was corrected so I’d your little one is cruising I assume he’s ok? Xx

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 29/12/2019 22:12

Yes he was walking loads now x

OP posts:

Derekmorganwasinmybed · 30/12/2019 08:01

Children can walk with hip dysplasia,as I said my daughter was 3 when hers was found she did everything like other 3 year olds she just limped and fell a lot

Derekmorganwasinmybed · 30/12/2019 08:03

This was my daughters X-ray

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/12/2019 08:13

Blimey! How comes she was diagnosed so late? Did she have any other symptoms x

OP posts:

Derekmorganwasinmybed · 30/12/2019 08:20

She was referred to the hospital at one because of her limping and falling but the doctor just kept saying she would grow out of it,it was at her last appointment at 3 when I refused to leave that the doctor finally asked to see her walk then did an X-ray

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/12/2019 09:15

Iv got a call back from the doctors today to ask for a sooner xray. Did they tell u there and then after the xray? Xx

OP posts:

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/12/2019 11:10

Iv just had a call back to say the rapid referral has been rejected

OP posts:

Derekmorganwasinmybed · 30/12/2019 12:34

Yes was told straight away and she was in ho2 days later x

Derekmorganwasinmybed · 30/12/2019 12:34

Hospital

Didkdt · 30/12/2019 12:47

Leg length difference isn't uncommon, as a PP indicated lots of adults aren't aware they have it.
We were told that orthopedics get surgically interested if the difference is more than 2.5cm
Sometimes children need a shoe block especially if they keep falling over.
Putting weight on the shorter leg can apparently encourage growth
We found physio most useful for support and guidance even though we were referred to physio for something different.
Hopefully x rays will give you some answers

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/12/2019 13:48

Doctors receptionist said that an xray isnt appropriate so they wont be doing one? I have no idea what we are looking at etc, just that he has been referred to orthopedics in March.

OP posts:

londongirl86 · 30/12/2019 16:59

They will look at your son's legs. Can you remember when he was born and they do a hip test ... They fold the knee and push the legs up and out etc. They will look for clicks etc. They will be alot more reassuring than receptionists and growth visitors. If they Think it's hip dysplasia they will x-ray him. We always were x-rayed first then seen by a consultant. The consultant looked at the x-ray and did the leg movements. X

londongirl86 · 30/12/2019 16:59

Health visitor lol not growth x

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