3.5yo dd has complained of sore knees since before she could talk...

[thatsnotmymonster]

OK this is probably going to be a bit long...I have posted a few times about dd1's health.

She has always complained of having sore knees, I remember her as a baby (maybe 10-18mths) lying on the floor crying and pointing to her legs/knees. She has at times lain on the floor screaming that her knees are sore and most days will just say that her knees are sore. She also often says that her toes are sore.

Now before any of you flame me for not having taken her to the gp already let me say this...she has been in and out of the gp's since she was born...tongue tie, ear infections, mild milk allergy, chronic constipation, underweight, slow development, cullulitus infection between her toes, weird growth inside her lip, strange eczema type reaction flared up all over her head on her 3rd birthday and got infected (she doesn't have eczema) and she is currently on waiting list for a hearing test...and basically everytime I go in they look at me like I'm some kind of neurotic mother and dismiss my concerns.

She is also quite difficult behaviour-wise and cries a lot and is a total drama queen when she is sick/hurts herself etc (screams the place down)

I have two other dc's (one older, one younger) who have non of these issues.

So is there anything that could be causing her knee pain cos if I do go to gp I want to be armed with something so that he just doesn't dismiss it as 'one of these things' which he will. If it is 'just one of these things' that's fine but I don't want to go to the gp just to be told that!! (again)

sorry it's so long!

Have you had her checked for arthritis?

My first thought was arthitis too - a friends little girl had it, & it caused her a lot of pain (she also walked late because of it). My daughter's dd has steroid injections that keep it under control. Of course, your dd may just be a drama queen but I'd want to check it out I think.

If you feel like your GP tends to dismiss you, I'd be tempted either
A) see another GP - is there another person in the practice/another local practice? IMO, not great to have a GP where there are trust issues, esp if your daughter has a few ongoing concerns.
B) Write everything down, and take a friend for moral support. It is easy to start downplaying things when you are in a GP's surgery and you are feeling inferior and like you're bothering them. An 'impartial' mate can make sure that you say things as strongly as you feel them.

Good idea about taking a friend- one of my close friends is around dd a lot (she has 2 dc's and one is a girl the same age as dd) and she knows agrees that there is something up with my dd.

I have been thinking for a while that I would write down her whole medical/developmental history and go to the gp (they are all rubbish btw) with it. I just feel that there's someting wrong with her- it's very hard to explain but i have always felt like that! But she is a bright, lively girl so they just take one look at her and say she's fine.

She can't jump yet- would that be an indication (ds could jump at 18mo) and she can't walk far or run fast. She didn't walk till she was over 18mo and she never crawled.

I would get her checked for arthritis my dd has arthritis and there are 2 types
one that affects under 4 joints and the other more than 4

My dd has the first

but I'm nearly sure with the secon an excema type of rash is a symptom

Arthritis in children is more common than people realise, its known as Juevenile Idiopathic Arthritis, JIA

Thanks PlumBumMum, from what I've said about my dd development wise would you say it was a strong possibility- how does it compare to your dd? Also how does it affect your dd in terms of everyday life and will she grow out of it?

Bumping for any other info!

Spoke to a mum yesterday whose daughter had similar symptoms to yours (v late walker, v late jumper, always painful ankles and knees), was diagnosed as having hypermobility - worth checking out.

Thanks Praed- will check that out too...

My DSS (just turned 18!!! can't believe it) has juvenile arthritis. it's a shame as he loves sport. Although a few years ago he was diagnosed with something else - something about cysts under the kneecaps? Sorry I can't remember much about it.
I'm also a bit worried as DD (nearly 3) often says her knees hurt.

well I have just looked up hypermobility joint syndrome and it does sound like a strong contender- dd has flat feet, poor co-ordination, low muscle tone is weak and lacks stamina etc...

MathsMadMummy- sounds similar to my dd...watch this space I guess!

sorry off doing school runs my dds symptoms started with swollen joints etc, so does sound different but I never really looked to much at the other type of JIA, but the symptoms vary,

MathsMadMummy how long has your dss had JIA?

My dd was diagnosed at 2.6 she will be 8 on Monday her joints have settled through medication but she has eye problems due to another condition to JIA, so thats are main area of concern

let us know how you get on

both my children have hypermobility syndrome, very similar to what you describe: flat feet, poor coordination, weak muscle tone (dd was failure to thrive as to floppy to breastfeed efficiently), no stamina

dd has also had mild incontinence problems and seems to catch every bug going- and she has problems with knowing when pain stops iyswim; apparently there may be something wrong with how pain signals are transmitted to the brain in people with HMS

I know everything about the neurotic mother thing: all I can say is that I am gradually teaching myself to be more assertive

Cory- that all sounds VERY familiar...she is 3.5 and still has accidents sometimes and doesn't always seem to know when she needs a wee. She also catches every bug going and gets it worse than the others. Also seems to have a really low pain threshold/or doesn't really understand what is and isn't pain.

She did breast feed but not well- couldn't suck properly plus dairy allergy with resultant constipation and reflux/colic and mild tongue tie so I've no idea if hypotonia was also an issue or not!

How did you go about getting a diagnosis?

Doesn't sound so much like JIA as she doesn't seem to get swollen joints at all...

We had a very difficult time getting a diagnosis as we had no idea what was wrong and lots of doctors don't actually know about it

dd was not diagnosed until nearly 8- and that was after the consultant had told her it was all in her head

ds was diagnosed aged 8 as well- but a lot quicker this time

the person to do it should be a rheumatologist; they know this kind of stuff

some orthopaedists are also good

thanks cory! So is it about insisting on a referral to a rheumatologist?

Any pointers on what to say would be good!!