Recurring limp and leg pain

[pumpkinspice1]

My toddler is 23 months old. In March he had irritable hip. He couldn't weight bare they did a hip X-ray said he was constipated. Took blood and said he had high inflammation and diagnosed irritable hip. Since then my toddler hasn't walked properly. He has a very noticeable weakness on his left side. His knee gives way daily. I took him back to the GP who referred us for physio back in may we still have no appointment for this. The past four weeks he has been waking up crying touching his leg saying ouch. The crying lasts between 1-3 hours until he eventually settles. Should I take him back to the GP or wait for the referral to physiotherapy?

@happylittlevegemites

Has he had an x-ray? I’m a podiatrist and I’d be concerned if this were my patient. An option could be to see a private specialist paediatric physio or podiatrist, as they would have more time and might be able to see you sooner. Nothing against my NHS colleagues, just that their waiting list are horrendous! They might be able to help send you in the right direction. They might also find things aren’t as bad as they seem, and reassure you. Otherwise, I’d consider a and e (and I practically never suggest a and e!).

Thank you so much for the advice. We have booked to see a paediatrician privately now as the waiting list was 8 weeks and with all the other symptoms we feel he needs to be seen sooner xx

@3luckystars

I would bring him to the paediatric dept at the hospital right now and would not leave until they investigate this further. I’m so sorry your gp is dismissive, you know there is something wrong so go elsewhere and go now. Make a list and ask for a full review. Good luck.

Thank you so much for the advice we have booked to see a paediatrician privately now as we feel an 8 week wait for a paediatric referral is too long xx

@weresupermonsters

Has he ever had bloods done op? I demanded them when I took my son it (mainly due to his history where I was sent away from a&e, back the next day had bloods and he was seriously ill and an inpatient for a month!) His CRP was raised this past time which is why they saw him in clinic 3 days later and also the following week. Tbh if I was you I would be at a&e and not leaving without a blood test.

I tried this A&E sent us away and said it was neither an accident nor emergency and to wait for our referral to paediatrics. xx

@checkedroses

One option would be to call 111 for an OOH appt over the weekend but the other option would be to take him to A&E - it’s not ideal but nor is an eight week wait appropriate imho (obviously only going by what you’ve written here not having seen him). If you go to A&e with a toddler who is limping (esp if he is feverish) it should be taken seriously. If you have a choice of A&Es choose one with an on site paediatric ward/dept as it would be easier to arrange review by paeds if needed. I hope you can get someone to see him.

His fevers are very off and on. When we took him to A&E he didn't have a fever just walking funny and now the bone pain they sent us home and told us to wait for our referral to paediatrics xx

My son had bone cancer (he's fine now) with similar symptoms. I agree you need bloods done ASAP.

I also had a long wait after referral for ultrasound.

Is there another gp you can see at the practise? I would be pushing for bloods to be done on account of unexplained weight loss alone.

@nomoneytreehere

My son had bone cancer (he's fine now) with similar symptoms. I agree you need bloods done ASAP.

I also had a long wait after referral for ultrasound.

Oh no I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Relieved your son is okay now. We have saw 8 different doctors in the past three months all saying he is either having irritable hip, viruses ect He sometimes walks fine but 90% of the time his knee is giving way or he is dragging his leg. I've made videos to show the doctors but they think after seeing him walk less then 1/2 a meter he is fine. Would you mind telling me your sons symptoms if that's okay? Xx

Bring him back to a and e and ask for an x ray. The rash is new so I would ask for a second opinion about this.
A colleague of mine, his toddler has very similar symptoms, dragging on for weeks and he had an infection in the bone of his leg. They do not know how it happened but it took weeks to clear on fairly major antibiotics and he was in hospital during this time.

I would write everything down and go to the paediatric emergency unit with him. You still have the private appointment if you get nowhere, but don’t give up if you feel there is something really wrong here.

@nomoneytreehere

Is there another gp you can see at the practise? I would be pushing for bloods to be done on account of unexplained weight loss alone.

We've seen 8 different GPS at my surgery (no exaggeration) for weight loss, paleness recurrent fevers and infections and this persistent limp but each doctor will only discuss one of his symptoms at a time with out linking them together as a bigger picture. We have now booked to see a private paediatrician for £200 for 20 minutes!! Fingers crossed she will be able to give us some answers as I feel at a loss right now xx

@3luckystars

Bring him back to a and e and ask for an x ray. The rash is new so I would ask for a second opinion about this. A colleague of mine, his toddler has very similar symptoms, dragging on for weeks and he had an infection in the bone of his leg. They do not know how it happened but it took weeks to clear on fairly major antibiotics and he was in hospital during this time.

I would write everything down and go to the paediatric emergency unit with him. You still have the private appointment if you get nowhere, but don’t give up if you feel there is something really wrong here.

I saw a GP on Friday who said he thought the rash was eczema although it didn't present this way to me. He has unexplained bruising around his mouth now too which keeps recurring in the same place which they said is nothing to worry about.

I tried this A&E sent us away and said it was neither an accident nor emergency and to wait for our referral to paediatrics. xx

I did a lot of research after we were turned away from a&e and actually made a complaint as I read the guidelines and what should have been done for him. I know most of the time it really is just a virus. But one thing I came across was the emphasis on the parent, the worried parent who really thinks something is wrong, because parents know their kids best.
I KNEW something was wrong with my son, yet I still let them turn us away with a quick glance in his ears and down his throat. The thought of what would have happened had I followed their advice and left him to wait and see for another 5 days still haunts me.
You're his mum, you know him best. When I took him in the other week with the limping and fever they said it's probs a virus but I said I'm not leaving without a blood test. For the sake of a finger prick and a couple of hours wait I didn't care if they thought I was THAT mum.

@weresupermonsters

I tried this A&E sent us away and said it was neither an accident nor emergency and to wait for our referral to paediatrics. xx

I did a lot of research after we were turned away from a&e and actually made a complaint as I read the guidelines and what should have been done for him. I know most of the time it really is just a virus. But one thing I came across was the emphasis on the parent, the worried parent who really thinks something is wrong, because parents know their kids best.
I KNEW something was wrong with my son, yet I still let them turn us away with a quick glance in his ears and down his throat. The thought of what would have happened had I followed their advice and left him to wait and see for another 5 days still haunts me.
You're his mum, you know him best. When I took him in the other week with the limping and fever they said it's probs a virus but I said I'm not leaving without a blood test. For the sake of a finger prick and a couple of hours wait I didn't care if they thought I was THAT mum.

Reading this has just given me goosebumps. You are completely right. I do know my son and when I look at him I have a horrible feeling. I can see the light ha gone our in his eyes. I looked back at photos from a few months ago and the change in him is shocking. I'm going to take him to A&E first thing in the morning xx

The right decision op. Don't be fobbed off. You know him best!

Do that and if you feel like they are fobbing you off say ‘I’m not happy, I feel something is wrong’

Who cares what they think of you.
Just say ‘no I’m not happy’ and you will be ok. Make a list tonight.

Good luck and I hope your son gets good care tomorrow.

@3luckystars

Do that and if you feel like they are fobbing you off say ‘I’m not happy, I feel something is wrong’

Who cares what they think of you.
Just say ‘no I’m not happy’ and you will be ok. Make a list tonight.

Good luck and I hope your son gets good care tomorrow.

Honestly I can't explain how many times I've left the GP surgery close to tears or spoken to a doctor on the phone who I don't think is listening to my concerns and just cried. My son has gone so downhill these past few months I even had to ask my friends and family if it was all in my head as that's how I've been made out to feel. It seems no one is as concerned at me but if I'm not going to advocate for my child who else will. Hopefully it turns out to be nothing but I wouldn't forgive myself if it was something and I hadn't done all I could. Thank you so much for giving me the push I needed xx

@DariaMorgendorffer

The right decision op. Don't be fobbed off. You know him best!

Thank you so much xx

@3luckystars

Do that and if you feel like they are fobbing you off say ‘I’m not happy, I feel something is wrong’

Who cares what they think of you.
Just say ‘no I’m not happy’ and you will be ok. Make a list tonight.

Good luck and I hope your son gets good care tomorrow.

Definitely this. We really do worry about what doctors think, I know I've been there. You don't want to be 'that' parent even when we have alarm bells ringing in our ears. We smile and nod and agree. Just do not leave until YOU are happy that they have done everything they can. When I went back in the a&e doctor came in with his blood test results and pulled up a chair and I just knew I was right. And before hand I knew he was only doing these tests because I was adamant something was wrong and he still thought it was a virus.

Good luck op- keep us updated and stay strong. You are doing the right thing for your son.

This is the second thread I've read tonight where a mother is being fobbed off for her child's similar symptoms.

Why is this happening? There is one thing that jumps into all our heads when we see these symptoms (even if 9/10 it's something different), wouldn't you think it would be the first thing the doctors would rule out? Makes me angry!

I went to the GP once, felt so poorly, got referred to A&E with suspected sepsis. In triage, the nurse said "well it appears to be a bug but you can stay if you like" in a tone that suggested I was sat there for the drama. I hadn't peed In 3 days!
They honestly made me feel a right twat. I ended up being admitted with bacterial meningitis.

@Eeiliethya

This is the second thread I've read tonight where a mother is being fobbed off for her child's similar symptoms.

Why is this happening? There is one thing that jumps into all our heads when we see these symptoms (even if 9/10 it's something different), wouldn't you think it would be the first thing the doctors would rule out? Makes me angry!

I went to the GP once, felt so poorly, got referred to A&E with suspected sepsis. In triage, the nurse said "well it appears to be a bug but you can stay if you like" in a tone that suggested I was sat there for the drama. I hadn't peed In 3 days!
They honestly made me feel a right twat. I ended up being admitted with bacterial meningitis.

That may be my other post also I've posted twice on here as I don't get many responses at first! I'm going to take him back to A&E tomorrow and refuse to leave without a blood test! Thank you so much xx

@Eeiliethya

This is the second thread I've read tonight where a mother is being fobbed off for her child's similar symptoms.

Why is this happening? There is one thing that jumps into all our heads when we see these symptoms (even if 9/10 it's something different), wouldn't you think it would be the first thing the doctors would rule out? Makes me angry!

I went to the GP once, felt so poorly, got referred to A&E with suspected sepsis. In triage, the nurse said "well it appears to be a bug but you can stay if you like" in a tone that suggested I was sat there for the drama. I hadn't peed In 3 days!
They honestly made me feel a right twat. I ended up being admitted with bacterial meningitis.

They make you feel so silly for having concerns but when you see a huge decline in your child's health surely they would want to check everything. It's scary they are so dismissive! Sorry about you being so poorly hope you're are better now and doing okay xx

@pumpkinspice1 I'm fine thank you , it was in 2017 and I was out in 5 days thankfully.

But I'd rather go through that than go through what you're going through now.

Don't ever feel silly, you know your LO so don't be afraid to kick up a fuss. You're just being a good mum. I have a 4 year old and I can't even imagine how anxious you must feel , must be like being stuck in a nightmare I'm so heart sorry for you.

Ignore all the people saying you're wasting A&E time, you're absolutely not. Do what you've got to do.

Op, please do not be made to feel you are being over dramatic. With this history your child should have had leukaemia, lymphoma, septic arthritis and osteosarcoma ruled out.

Take him to A+E and press again on the intermittent limp, weight loss, unexplained bruising and malaise again.

The chances are it is none of those serious things but it sounds like they need eliminating, for sure.

My dd has just recently been diagnosed with Crohn's aged 11. I took her to A and E twice in July and August for unexplained sudden fevers, no energy, paleness, and constant diarrhea (background was waiting on a coeliac blood test as per GP referral). That is the first and second time I have taken her to A and E since 2016, when she had appendicitis. I knew there was something seriously wrong. I also requested bloods be taken just to rule out certain very scary things.

A and E didn't diagnose her but the bloods they had taken meant the consultant, when we finally saw him, knew immediately that it was an IBD. And in the meantime I knew it wasn't leukemia or something similar. At A and E both times they didn't pick up on it even though both visits they mentioned her fast heart rate. Turns out she was dangerously underweight and seriously unwell. In the meantime I have ended up on sertraline after being unable to eat or sleep for weeks and weeks with the fear. I can handle the diagnosis, nasty though it is. It was the not knowing and the powerlessness of not being able to make people understand.

Hi @pumpkinspice1 I was posting on your other thread but checked back here to see if there were any updates- realy glad to see that hopefully you've been to A and E today

Please do update us when you can xx

How are things, op ?