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Toddler age 3 limping 2 weeks

81 replies

BethMck · 28/12/2024 20:34

Hello, sorry for the long post.

Just looking for a bit of advice please.. my ds is 3 in a week and started limping and complaining of pain in his right knee 2 weeks ago, he kept randomly saying ouch and then would refuse to walk or straighten his right leg, I took him to the gp after 4 days of him doing that and a random nose bleed that scared me.

Gp checked him over and said there was no sign of infection or illness etc, ds had no temperature and was walking fine and appeared to be in no pain when being examined, the gp said to take him to a&e to see the pediatrics for tests if he did it again at all, he continued doing it for the next few days, it would come and go and ds seemed absolutely fine other than refusing to walk on and off and saying his knee hurt, so I took him to a&e, the Dr there didn't seem bothered at all, said he is well so doesn't need an xray or blood test at that point and if he is still doing it in a week bring him back and they will run tests.

Fast forward a week and ds is still doing this on and off every day, it has become more often throughout the day, so from first doing it, going from doing it once or twice a day to now where he does it up to 5x in a day.. no other symptoms. I've heard of irritable hip and know this is the likely cause but surely the symptoms he has been having would be getting better rather than worse over the last week?

I am getting quite worried as I know painful limp in one leg can be something more serious! I'm going to take him back to get checked over on Monday and hopefully they will do an xray and blood test.

Has anybody else had their LO have Irritable hip that got worse after 2 weeks but then started to get better? How long did the pain and limping last for?

Anxiety is starting to creep in, I need some answers but when Dr's don't seem concerned it's frustrating 😔 thank you. X

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BethMck · 18/05/2025 22:33

Shiannimal · 18/05/2025 18:45

Hi OP!

I know it’s been a little bit but I just came across your post from a google search after my 3 year old started with the same symptoms yesterday. He randomly just won’t walk and says his right knee hurts but 5 minutes later is charging through the house st a sprint. Did your LOs just end up being the vitamin d deficiency?

Hello! So it took us a long time to be taken seriously and get the correct referrals and tests! All of his blood tests were normal, apart from his infection markers, he had an ultrasound of the knee to check for any fluid which came back clear too! He started with the limp randomly and would be limping on and off daily for months but there doesn't seem to be a cause! He has stopped doing it but now and again he will do it again and just say his knee hurts and that he needs to go to the doctor! He has a follow up appointment due but apparently he's on a waiting list for that so I'm not holding my breath that it'll be any time soon. I'm so confused what could have caused it, but it hasn't worsened and he hasn't become unwell so I think in his case it must just be a mystery!

There are alot of things that could cause this, most of them are simple and clear up on its own or will be easily treated but some are pretty scary and it's important to get them checked out for that reason! When your LO starts to limp make sure you video them to show the doctor, and request a full blood count. I hope you manage to get sorted quickly and hoping it is nothing to worry about! We know our kids best so don't be afraid to use your voice if doctors don't take it seriously, I spent so much time on Google and scared myself to death but my little one seems fine other than now and again after very busy days he will sometimes have a little limp and say it hurts.. the most likely cause is "Irritable hip" which apparently is very common and usually goes away on its own after a week. Fingers crossed for you and your LO x

OP posts:
Siriusmuggle · 19/05/2025 09:57

Can I just add a bit of advice for the limping toddlers? Check the creases at the back of their thighs are even on both legs. In perthes there will often be a difference. It took 8 months for my son to be diagnosed.

Dashi11 · 25/05/2025 12:32

Hi, I also just came across your post after searching the internet for answers.
My 3 year old has been limping for 2 weeks, we had an x-ray on Friday which was all normal. We were told to go back in 2 weeks if she’s still limping. We thought it was getting better but she starts limping after running for about 3 minutes and complains of an achy leg but the limp is from her hip.
Anyway; it’s just helpful even reassuring to find this post and see that someone else is going through the same thing at the moment. How’s your son now?
Thry have told us it’s ’irritable hip syndrome’ and in some cases it can go on longer than 2 weeks. I’m hoping that’s all it is, it’s been a very worrying time.

BethMck · 25/05/2025 16:17

Dashi11 · 25/05/2025 12:32

Hi, I also just came across your post after searching the internet for answers.
My 3 year old has been limping for 2 weeks, we had an x-ray on Friday which was all normal. We were told to go back in 2 weeks if she’s still limping. We thought it was getting better but she starts limping after running for about 3 minutes and complains of an achy leg but the limp is from her hip.
Anyway; it’s just helpful even reassuring to find this post and see that someone else is going through the same thing at the moment. How’s your son now?
Thry have told us it’s ’irritable hip syndrome’ and in some cases it can go on longer than 2 weeks. I’m hoping that’s all it is, it’s been a very worrying time.

Bless you, I can totally empathise with you because I was an absolute wreck during all of this, and there were so many delays because doctors weren't sending the correct referrals and I was so worried something serious was going on! My little boy seems to be much better now, he hasn't complained of pain in his knee for a while, with his infection markers being raised I think it was just something connected to some kind of viral infection, which can cause Irritble hip. Xray and scans of the knees and hips all came back normal so just a mystery really! I really hope you manage to get some answers quickly and that it turns out to be nothing to worry about, good luck x

OP posts:
Actheise · 26/05/2025 23:13

Hi, I’m also going through this atm with my nearly 3yr old girl.. all her bloods have come back normal but has something on her xray near her knee? They are unsure what, we have to go back next week and if still happening then possibly an mri, I’m worried it’s something serious but they can’t be that worried if they say to return next week surely? Glad your little one has mostly recovered now :)

BethMck · 27/05/2025 00:52

Actheise · 26/05/2025 23:13

Hi, I’m also going through this atm with my nearly 3yr old girl.. all her bloods have come back normal but has something on her xray near her knee? They are unsure what, we have to go back next week and if still happening then possibly an mri, I’m worried it’s something serious but they can’t be that worried if they say to return next week surely? Glad your little one has mostly recovered now :)

Hi, I'm so sorry you're going through that, and the fact they have found something but don't know what? This will mean more waiting and more worrying for you, it's so easy for me to say when I know if it was me I would be worried, but I really think that if they thought it was something serious they would send her for an mri straight away, of course I'm no doctor but please try to focus on the positives otherwise you will drive yourself crazy, like I did!! Her bloods being normal are usually a good sign, there are so many things that could be showing on the xray, and most are likely nothing serious. I hate that they are always so vague and don't tend to put our mumma minds at ease as quickly as we need! But I would feel slightly better knowing they aren't rushing her through for an urgent mri scan, I really hope everything turns out ok for you and fingers crossed it is all a distant memory soon! Sending hugs x

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