trouble with ds legs, what do you think?

[festiveface]

ds1 is now 10 but from a young age had a lot of aches in his legs. Until the last couple of years it was always at night and i put it down to growing pains.

when he started to have pains in his ankles and knees, my brother (who was studying physio) said it was probably because he had very flat feet. So, off to the doctors we go.

The doctor said she didn't think his feet were a problem and the only thing she could think of was a type of arthritis, which she said was unlikely because of how it comes it goes so quickly.

Ages later, we still have had a few episodes of hurting legs/joints. ds1 isn't really a very active child. He doesn't do any sport except swimming and doesn't do much running about really (although i have tried to change that,believe me!) and when he has had to do alot of it in p.e at school he has had the problem.
although it can happen when he's been doing nothing much as well.

I have just had a good look at his feet and legs and what struck me was that when i asked him to stand with both feet together, he found it difficult and one knee had to overlap the other iykwim.
standing with his feet comfortably apart he has no gap down his legs until the knees where they then go apart in an upside down v shape iykwim

this isn't normal i'm thinking?? Or is it??
please can anyone give me any feedback on this as i am feeling like a bit of a bad mother for not looking into it more sooner.

Does he get any backache as well? My sister in law had a problem at about this age. She kept complaining and it turned out she did have one leg longer than the other and needed lifts in one shoes until it caught up. The specialist who sorted it initially got her to lie down with legs together and feet pointing up iyswim and asked her to push against her hands with both feet. It then became clear that one leg was shorter by looking at the position of her knees I think. Sorry its a bit vague but if you're at all concerned insist that the doctor refers you. My mother in law had to really push to get her looked at.

no, no backache but his legs just don't look right to me.

This is sounding horribly familiar. I was that child. Had loads of tests done and inserts in my shoes. Ended up having a hoop scanner of my bones down both legs and was served with the news that it was the worst deformity they'd seen in a child that wasn't born with a birth defect. I had thirty percent rotation in each leg from the knee down. So if my knees were pointing straight ahead then my feet were charlie chaplin. To put my feet together my knees bent inwards quite alarmingly. I was sixteen and told that as soon as I stopped growing I could have the joyful operation of having the bones broke, rotated and then pinned back together. Full scar all the way round and six months laid up with each leg. I kept my deformity and have very little trouble now apart from chasing the kids and bike rides.

omg thats worrying. at least you say you are o.k now though

Festive - if he's in pain then it's worth asking for a referral to an orthotist at the very least. They can arrange for him to have raises in his shoes which may help correct his gait.

If it's very severe then ask to be referred to orthopaedics (although you may have to wait a while). The orthopaedic clinics I've been to with dd are always packed.