Toddler suddenly turning foot out

[SoleSurvivor111]

We've made a doctor's appointment for this but, thanks to the state of public services, it's not until the end of May

My 2.5 year old is suddenly walking with his left foot turned out, almost at a right angle at times. It started Saturday. It's very very noticeable because he pretty much always tip-toe walks and he's suddenly not doing so, so I feel like it must be uncomfortable somehow, but he insists it doesn't hurt and he doesn't know why he's doing it. As far as we know he's not had any injury, he is an extremely hyperactive kid though and almost always climbing, jumping, running. It's not stopped him doing any of these things, he's as wild as ever and seems entirely unbothered. BUT it is very obvious and he's suddenly very heavy-footed. At times it's almost like he's dragging it. He walked at seven months and he's an absolute pro by now and apart from the tip-toes (he's probably autistic) there's been no concerns.
Obviously I've had his pants and socks off and given him a good look over and there's no bruises, swelling, redness or anything, anywhere on his foot or his leg or hip. He didn't complain when I was prodding and poking and moving it either, so it can't be hurting him (and he says it's not).

There's a lot online about out-toeing in toddlers in general, but nothing about sudden onset in a previously very mobile child with no apparent injury. Just wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar and what it turned out to be?

Hard to get across in pictures but I'll try add one 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hi OP, has your DS had an x-ray done of his hip / foot? This happened with my D-Sis with her 4 year old son. The doctors found that he was missing a small bone in his foot so he was compensating by not using the foot properly.

No x-rays no, never had reason to - like I say, this out-turning is brand new, he's always tip-toed but so does his brother, they're both autistic and it's very common, so never had any reason to worry. I have wondered before about hypermobility - when he first walked he used to roll his feet and stand on the outer sides of them, and he crawled with his feet curled up behind him - but he outgrew that years ago and the turning out has never been an issue. I just asked him if he could walk on tip-toes to show me and he couldn't bear weight on the left foot very well - but he still says it doesn't hurt and he ran off back to playing straight away. So I feel like we'd be wasting A&E's time if we turned up there - he's not had an accident and it's surely not an emergency. But it is very concerning because it's so sudden and so noticeable...

Just to update in case anyone sees this looking for the same thing - we got an emergency GP appointment and he's been referred (with some urgency) to the children's physio. A few things were mentioned, including muscular dystrophy, which is scary. But she thinks more likely he's caused himself some nerve damage, possibly with his tip-toe walking or w-sitting or putting his toes in his mouth. So we now have a two week ish wait for that appointment.