Have any of your children had "septic arthritis" after 3 wks in hospital Ds just been released, am worried sick.

[mummyplonk]

DS (3 yrs old) has just been discharged after a diagnosis of septic arthritis in his hip, he was in agony, they did the required op and flushed his hip immediately. He is still on Iv's,(3 wks later) we have to go back daily for the next 3 wks. He is slowly learning to walk again with his frame, but walks like a robot and his legs are like little twigglets. I know it is quite rare but wonder if anyone in Mumsnet land has had experience of this? Did they make a full recovery? How long did it take? Have you noticed any long term problems?

The doctors are very fluffy on the future, saying, he could have problems with growth, arthritis in an early age, but they really dont know, so hoping can draw something from the Net of knowledge? xx

No advice just sympathy. DS has been poorly for 5 weeks now. He was in hospital for 12 days with Encephalitis. They too are very fluffy on the future saying nothing is definite and we've just got to wait and see. They keep saying that there is a good chance of a good recovery - they always correct me if i say so do you think it's likely he will make a full recovery.

Did he stop walking before the op or just after? DS started walking on Friday. He didn't even have a frame before then and he's been out 2 weeks and still no sign of seeing a physio so we've been very fortunate. Saw the neurologist today and he was very impressed with how quick he has improved.

Sorry to hear you are going through similar NA, how old is your DS? My little one stopped walking approx 10 days before being admitted into hospital, he was originally diagnosed 3 times with "Flu" making his limbs ache, only when they took bloods they realised and took him in for an emergency op, they have done a 2nd xray and we are going in for the results today to see if they caught it in time before it started attacking the bone. I was not aware of "Encephalitis" have just googled it and it is very rare as well isnt it? Sounds very similar in the fact starts with a nasty virus but in your case spreads to his brain & in ours the bones. You poor thing you must have been worried sick as well. It's very draining looking after a child with a long term sickness isnt it? Especially when you have other children who are trying to get attention. I dont know how some Mums manage this every day of their lives, it's heartbreaking seeing them in pain. Hope ur DS keeps improving, sounds like he's really on the up now. xx

He's 2. Yes Encephalitis is very rare - 1 in 100,000 people get it. It's very similar to Meningitis but Meningitis only attacks the lining of the brain and goes no further but with Encephelitis it passes the lining of the brain and attacks the actual brain so is a bit worse.

Has your DS got a cast? Is it his hip that was affected? Will he have to have physio?

Hi

I am so sorry to hear about how poorly your son has been.
I dont have any knowledge of septic arthritis, but my daughter has something called Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis which basically has the symptoms your son has suffered from but its permanent. I guess being septic , it will go away?

Have the doctors suggested it may be a long term thing, or seemed happy to send him home in the knowledge it will go away?Hope it gets better soon.

Bug hug xx

Does that mean your DD can't walk at all or can she walk with aids?

It depends if she is having a flare up of joints or whether it is being controlled ( but there is only so much it can control) If she is in pain in her legs (knees, mostly), she wont walk, no. If its other parts of her body for example her wrists she wont feed herself , drink from a cup ( these are examples of the very bad days).
Her condition is managed with methotrexate injections once a week and high dose of NSAIDS each day.Its hard to say whether she is in pain all the time but I am pretty good at spotting a flare up as her behaviour changes dramatically.

Glad to hear your son is having a speedy recovery na x

Oh Gravity Girl I hope the flare ups become less and less, poor thing. Have just come back from hospital, appt Friday showed blood count gone up and untrasound showed fluid around hip joint again, so he went down for a second op first thing yesterday, they went deeper and drew out a lot of fluid, doctor thinks bone looks ok still. His pain is being controlled by morphine, its so upsetting as we are back to day one again now, completely bedridden and in agony. It's not fair seeing our little ones go through this, I feel like wrapping him up and running out of the hospital so they dont hurt him anymore, but know that wont be best for him.

ooooh poor all of you

No advice, but much sympathy xx

Oh the poor little thing, I really hope he gets better soon. Make sure to take care of your self too xx its very hard isnt it, standing there and having to fight the natural urge to protect them from inflicted pain but knowing its for the best ( big hug)