Cry for Help! What do you know about OSTEO MYELITIS ?

[Munchkinsugarpie]

Please please help with any info you can please. I am absolutely sick with worry. My darling 3yr old boy has been diagnosed with osteo-myelitis. Infection of the hip bone. He's in hospital now and hasn't been able to put his right leg down and walk for about a week. He's been put on v. strong and high doses of antibiotics but his recovery is slower than slow.

He's feverish, off his food and pathetically limp. He can't even sit up properly.

Has anyone any experience of this and if so, was it all right in the end and how long did the recovery take. I'm assured we caught it early and there's no need to operate in order to aspirate the infection. But I'd love to talk to another mum who's experienced this.

It feels like living hell right now.

Message withdrawn

It is so hard sitting out this bad bacterial infection and waiting for your son to rally. I found some info on the nhs website here
I hope he will soon feel better. It's really good that they caught the infection early. Sending lots of love, Mooma

Poor you and ds. Sending lots of love. My only experience of it (outside of my professional work-physio) is my mum's cat who had it in his tail following repeated attacks from other cats. Infected cat bites are very nasty and bug infested. Probably not the best thing to be telling you as he had his tail off to cure it!

Sorry! Just ignore that bit!

On a more +ve note, after a bit of reading on the subject, sudden onset or acute forms of osteomyelitis are successfully treated with a/biotics, mostly without any need for surgery. Its usually caused by a bug (staph aureus) living harmlessly on the skin, which somehow enters the blood stream, and its most common in children. a/biotics are often continued on discharge home for a time to ensure that all the infection has cleared.

Hope your ds is coping in hospital, and that you are managing. Hope the above info helps, although I'm sure its stuff your dr has said already.

My brother was diagnosed with osteomyelitis about 30 years ago. My family lived in Germany, dad being in the British Army. The doctors failed to diagnose it until he was quite far gone. Eventually he had to be operated on and the part of the deseased bone was extracted. He was about 11 at the time. He contracted it by falling in a cinema and was at the bottom of a heap of bodies. He was in and out of hospital for about a year (at one time we were on holiday and his temperature went up so he had to be taken to the nearest military hospital). Fortunately he pulled through it, he had lots of courage. The part of the bone that was taken out grew back. When I was in my early 20s (20 years ago) I went out with someone who also had the desease as a child. It was caught early on but he still had to be operated on. Apparantly children and women are susceptible to it. My ex boyfriend caught it by repeatedly banging away using the same arm. Anyway both ex boyfriend and brother pulled through and, other than a scar to tell the tale, they are both happy and healthy. I am sure that treatment has moved on (it's amazing that it can be treated with antibiotics). I'm also sure that your ds will get better quickly and without the scars.

thanks all for your very kind wishes and information. I really appreciate your responses. He was a little brighter today which always helps, and we had the bone scan as well. We're waiting for the results, which hopefully should be tomorrow at some point, and then maybe that will give us an indication of how long the treatment will have to be.

You don't realise how wonderful good health is until you've had it threatened do you?

I havent got any personel experience but I have looked after a couple of people with osteomyelitus Im no expert and know it can be very excrutiatingly painful for the poor little mite.and make you feel really poorly you must be going through hell.I had cellilitus of the hand once caused by an insect bite and that was bad enough It was the worst pain Ive ever had (apart from child birth). My hand was like a balloon couldnt drive, write, open a can or a jar couldnt get dressedor go to the toilet without help. I was on antibiotics for a month. I know that bone infections take longer to treat and are secondry to cellulitus and will be on long term antibiotics Im only be repeating what honeybunny's said.Make sure they keep on top of his pain as the better its controlled the better his recovery. I hope he gets better soon.

I'm afraid I can't offer any advice either, but wanted to let you know that I'll say a prayer for you and your little one too.

I wish you all the best for the future and that your little boy gets well soon. Would love to know how you are getting on.

just a quick update as I type my therapeutic entries here........ you won't believe it, but the bone scan on my ds came up negative for osteomyelitis..... BUT they gave him an immediate ultrasound afterwards and have found too much fluid (indicating infection) in the joint area of his hip. They have now diagnosed SEPTIC ARTHRITIS although the treatment seems to be the same as before .... mega (perhaps 2/3 weeks long) doses of antibiotics. Today was such a nightmare, I went from him having osteomyelitis, to no it's not that, we may have to operate (ugh) to nah, wait a minute, there's too much fluid there, so it's now septic arthritis.... If i wasn't grey before, I sure am now.

BUT the good news is my darling little boy seems to be responding to treatment for the first time in 7 days ! He was sitting up today and was really chirpy and bright. I could have cried with relief - well I did actually. And wait for this! By the time I came home and swapped with dh who does the 'night shift' our ds had demanded to walk on the floor with no help. He hasn't even attempted that for a week and yet there he was, little thin legs all wobbly with his postman pat slippers on, walk gingerly round the ward from bed to bed. I could honestly kiss everyone right now! I (fingers crossed) think we're on the right road now..... one day at a time.......

thanks again SO much for your kind thoughts. I didn't realise how valuable you all are. xxxxx

Munchkinsugarpie
i am so happy to hear your DS is feeling so much better it must be a great relief to you all , i dont know much about the illness but it is a joy that he's feeling better xxx
great name by the way!

Glad your ds is brighter today. Hope he continues to make a good recovery, Mopsy xx

great news!

this must be very difficult for you all - I must say, he really sounds like a trooper! Hope the progress continues!

Oh, that's wonderful news Munchkinsugarpie. I hope he feels better and better and better.

Great news for you and ds. Hope he's home soon.

Love Mooma X

That's fantastic! Lots of hugs to you all.

Munchkinsugarpie
Great news. I am glad he won't go through what my brother went through. He sounds like a strong willed and determined little boy.

That is great news! Hope he continues to make a good recovery.

you know, I really have to say that I have been honestly boosted by all your messages - I often browse through mumsnet without posting anything, and the way you've responded has brought tears to my eyes. Everyone has their own problems and to take time out to write lovely messages when you don't know me, is really special.

You've taught me that support from strangers is invaluable. A big big thank you again.... My darling little boy is continuing to make progress slowly, but surely - I know we're over the worst and you guys have helped a lot.

Thanks again........ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx