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Original poster

15 month dd can't stand up

124 replies

lenaschildminding · 28/11/2007 14:13

My 15 month DD could not roll over until 7 months and did not crawl until 13 months and still cannot weight bare.

Her hips, knees and ankles all pop out of joint and if we try to stand her up, her legs just bend in ways they shouldn't.

She was refered in September to physio and I've just got an appmt for December 10th.

Just wondering if any one else has had this problem with their kids?

OP posts:
HereComeTheGirls · 12/12/2007 11:18

Sorry, it must be really hard for you ~hugs~

Original poster
lenaschildminding · 13/12/2007 12:53

DD had her eye apmt this morning. They discovered she is
longsighted, but say that it's not bad enough to need glasses at
this stage, but they will monitor it closely with regular check ups.

The doctor who was meant to do the muscle strength tests around her
eyes would not do them today, as DD was too tired. We have been
given another apmt for March 27th.

I just wish we could have answers now, everything takes so long. It
took 5 months for Jack to be diagnosed.

It's looking like I am not going to get any answers until April next
year, what with the waiting list for the referal for her legs and
now the eye ampt being put back. She see's the consultant again in
April for her constipation too.

I am seriously thinking about jumping our NHS waiting lists and
going private, DD is almost 15 months and unable to stand up,
and that just can't wait in my opinion. She is getting so
frustrated.

On another note, please take a look at this link:

www.justgiving.com/climbingforjack

Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
lenaschildminding · 30/12/2007 21:33

DD has an appointment with orthopaedics next monday. Luckily the appointment came through really quick.

I was nearly sick this evening. I was settling her down for the night and I had my hand on her leg.

The two bones that run down below the knee to the ankle (forgive my medical lack of knowledge for not knowing their names) moved beneath my hand.

I can't really explain what I mean, it was sort of like the bones were not held in place by anything and they seemed to roll across each other, it made such a loud and disturbing noise and felt so horrible. The knee moved too. This happened several times and I called DH up so he could hear it and feel it too. It made us both feel bad.

We have noticed lately, because DD has had a high temp and has only been wearing a vest, that when we hold her up on her legs her right leg looks twisted. The knee looks outwards and so does the ankle. When she is sitting down she tends to hold that leg in a strange position and doesn't want to relax it. She seems to be increasingly distressed with her legs.

I'll update next week.

OP posts:
Original poster
lenaschildminding · 07/01/2008 15:56

Just seen orthopaedic doctor, she has lactive joints throughout her body, he wants an x-ray of her hips to rule out any further problems, the wait today for x-rays was 3 hours and that would have been through dinner time and we were not prepared for that, so I'm going back tomorrow morning for the x-rays.

As far as standing up and walking are concerned, he says her feet are too small at the moment, she is too young and don't worry!

Too young to stand alone? Too young to wait bare on her legs? Too young to walk?

She is 15 months, I know you shouldn't compare, but my other two walked at 12 months, her best friend is 2 months younger than her and walking. It's not that she is lazy and doesn't want to walk, she's frustrated because she can't do it, her legs just buckle beneath her.

How can she strengthen the muscles to support her joints if she can't stand up and walk? How can she walk if she can't strengthen the muscles to support her joints?

AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!

brick wall.

head.

bang!

OP posts:
HereComeTheGirls · 07/01/2008 16:15

Sorry you didn't get anywhere. It should be reassuring that he is not too concerned though! Interestingly my DD has tiny feet too! Still no signs of walking from her either.

HereComeTheGirls · 07/01/2008 16:17

18 months is still considered normal for starting to walk..and some kids don't stand up until just before they are ready to walk - I personally did not pull up much but just got up and walked one day..so I don't think you should be too worried yet either!! I know its hard when you see nothing but younger babies walking around though!!

Elibean · 07/01/2008 16:19

Not had time to read all posts, but...

dd2 is nearly 14 months and nowhere near walking, or even standing. She has small feet too, was 'borderline' at hip xray as a baby, and her ankles seem to turn easily - but tbh I'm not too worried. dd1 also had tiny feet, and walked at 16 months, though she could stand earlier with a finger to hold.

I think 15 months is well within normal range

Original poster
lenaschildminding · 07/01/2008 16:20

By the way, we had to put DD in a bed over Christmas, the strength in her upper body enabled her to pull herself up on her cot side and DH found her balancing across her tummy with both arms and legs in the air! .

I hope you have lowered your mattress!!!

OP posts:
HereComeTheGirls · 07/01/2008 16:22

Yes, we have, and my back is feeling it..i KNEW we should have gone for a drop sided cot [grin}

She is the same..she won't/can't stand but can pull herself up onto things easily if you are holding her!! Her top half used to be weak and floppy too so I think she is just strengthening up from the neck down!!

Original poster
lenaschildminding · 07/01/2008 16:23

Thanks for sharing your stories, I am feeling a little better now.

OP posts:
HereComeTheGirls · 07/01/2008 16:24

Elibean - sounds almost exactly like my DD..glad there are more of us out there!! I realised I should stop worrying the other day when my DD was crawling so fast around the library that I was having to run around to keep up with her..I don't think there is much wrong there

HereComeTheGirls · 07/01/2008 16:27

Lena - sounds like she will go straight from not standing to running around and being athletic!!

Original poster
lenaschildminding · 07/01/2008 17:06

Maybe she'll join the circus with yours and elibeans as a contourtionist act! Escapology would be a good one too...

OP posts:
littlelapin · 07/01/2008 17:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
lenaschildminding · 07/01/2008 17:52

Thanks for that...

Just a thought, did she also have bowel problems?

OP posts:
lulurose · 07/01/2008 17:55

My dd2 had hypermobile ankle and knee joints and has only started to walk recently at 23 months. She had a couple of physio sessions and was referred for Piedro boots. She walks perfectly now....we waited 10 months for a physio appointment.

littlelapin · 07/01/2008 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HereComeTheGirls · 07/01/2008 18:51

Surely a lack of muscle strength would affect her all over though - Lena's DD sounds very strong in her upper body indeed...?

littlelapin · 07/01/2008 18:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
lenaschildminding · 07/01/2008 19:00

Yes, she has a lot of upper body strength, I would have thought if it was something like that, all her muscles would be weak.

The consultant did say today though that ALL her joints are lactive. I'd never noticed it in her arms.

She's still permanently constipated and her muscle tests on her eyes are in March.

OP posts:
cory · 07/01/2008 23:37

Have you checked out Ehlers Danlos syndrome/benign hypermobility syndrome? It is a connective tissue disorder (or actually a bunch of slightly different c. t. disorders) which might just cause the type of problems you mention. It basically means that all the connective tissue (muscles, ligaments) that should be firm end up floppy because of a genetic chemical imbalance. This can affect the joints, the eyes, the bowels, the bladder, the skin (some sufferers tear really easily and end up with scars). It doesn't have to affect all joints- they test the joints on something called the Beighton scale.

My dd has the above, affecting her joints, bowels and bladder (but not her eyes). She did not walk until 19 months, though she did stand up holding onto things earlier. She is now 11 and does have some mobility and chronic pain problems, but it's not too bad.

Original poster
lenaschildminding · 08/01/2008 13:42

cory, the consultant performed the Beighton scale test on dd and she passed with 8 points.(if thats the right words to use!).

She does have constipation and eye problems.

I have looked at EDS but I'm not convinced because of the skin issues. I'm not aware that she bruises easily although her skin is very smooth and there is no family history that I am aware of.

DD has got a hemangioma on her head, it appeared when she was 3 weeks old, becoming very deep purple and raised by 1cm at it's worst, it has started to go down now and fade, the doctor said it should disappear by the time she is 2. Don't know if that counts as bruising? It's basically a blood vessel tumour, a cluster of underdeveloped blood vessels that rupture under the skin.

She has bruises on her knees, but thats to be expected while she is crawling.

OP posts:
HereComeTheGirls · 08/01/2008 14:16

My DD started climbing on things today..not very high things but I am hopeful this is the beginning of standing!

Original poster
lenaschildminding · 08/01/2008 14:20

Thats good to hear.

OP posts:
HereComeTheGirls · 08/01/2008 14:23

They will be forming their circus acrobatic act together very soon I think!