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Painless limp

28 replies

goldenbear11 · 25/10/2022 19:30

My three year old is limping. It's quite severe in the mornings and gets slightly better throughout the day. He had irritable hip a year ago and since then he has this persistent painless limp that comes and goes. They xrayed his hip a year ago and that's how they diagnosed irritable hip. Since then I've taken him back to the GP 10 times for his limp. I've showed them videos. Once I was told irritable hip again, then I was told soft tissue damage then I was told i needed to teach my child how to walk better. I see the orphapedics in November. I'm really hoping they see what I see and at least offer an X-ray of his leg. This morning his limping was so bad I took him to the GP who said it's not an emergency and wait to see the orphapedic team in November. Anyone have any ideas what it could potentially be?

OP posts:
PinkButtercups · 25/10/2022 22:21

Have they done blood tests? If not, request that they do and don't let them fob you off x

lingle · 25/10/2022 22:25

An osteopath could provide a second opinion on this. Medical doctors are better on emergencies, infections and breaks and systemic illnesses but the musculoskeletal professions are better at spotting problems in body structure I think

lingle · 25/10/2022 22:26

…take the old X-ray results with you

goldenbear11 · 25/10/2022 22:29

PinkButtercups · 25/10/2022 22:21

Have they done blood tests? If not, request that they do and don't let them fob you off x

He hasn't had blood tests for a year, he doesn't have a fever so the GP refused us when we asked x

OP posts:
goldenbear11 · 25/10/2022 22:29

lingle · 25/10/2022 22:25

An osteopath could provide a second opinion on this. Medical doctors are better on emergencies, infections and breaks and systemic illnesses but the musculoskeletal professions are better at spotting problems in body structure I think

Thank you for the advice I will take a look into this xx

OP posts:
goldenbear11 · 25/10/2022 22:29

lingle · 25/10/2022 22:26

…take the old X-ray results with you

Can I request these from the doctor? x

OP posts:
lingle · 25/10/2022 22:37

I think so.

Physios/osteos pay more attention to “minor” problems shown on X-rays because it’s their daily job. And rightly so given that they actively push on spines etc.

my friend has been through this recently and there was some reason why the irritable hip diagnosis was demonstrably incorrect but I can’t remember the way she described it….

anyway, don’t listen to me listen to a physio/osteo/podiatrist they will all be able to provide good info

Keepmovingforward6 · 25/10/2022 22:38

I work in a child development service and would recommend you ask for a referral to your local children's Physio service. No one should really limp and they will be able to explore any muscular hip issues that may causing these problems.

goldenbear11 · 25/10/2022 22:39

lingle · 25/10/2022 22:37

I think so.

Physios/osteos pay more attention to “minor” problems shown on X-rays because it’s their daily job. And rightly so given that they actively push on spines etc.

my friend has been through this recently and there was some reason why the irritable hip diagnosis was demonstrably incorrect but I can’t remember the way she described it….

anyway, don’t listen to me listen to a physio/osteo/podiatrist they will all be able to provide good info

Thank you so much. He has a significant limp in the morning and I've recorded so many videos to show the GP but because he has no pain or fever they aren't interested. X

OP posts:
goldenbear11 · 25/10/2022 22:40

Keepmovingforward6 · 25/10/2022 22:38

I work in a child development service and would recommend you ask for a referral to your local children's Physio service. No one should really limp and they will be able to explore any muscular hip issues that may causing these problems.

Thank you I will definitely look into this. He is significantly limping again this past week. The Gp wasn't concerned today when I took him and told me to wait to see the orphapedic team xx

OP posts:
FixTheBone · 25/10/2022 22:46

Based on what?

FixTheBone · 25/10/2022 22:50

In the UK, a child that's been limping for more than 6 weeks should be seeing a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and a paediatrician until there's a definite diagnosis.

goldenbear11 · 25/10/2022 22:57

FixTheBone · 25/10/2022 22:50

In the UK, a child that's been limping for more than 6 weeks should be seeing a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and a paediatrician until there's a definite diagnosis.

He has been limping significantly on and off for nearly a year. Sometimes he is absolutely fine no limp at all other weeks he is really struggling with the limp. I have taken him so many times to the GP who eventually referred us to orthopaedics and we've only just received an appointment through due to it not being an emergency as he isn't in pain and has no signs of infection. x

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PinkButtercups · 26/10/2022 12:49

What a load of bull from your doctor.
Go back and demand bloods.

And yes you can retrieve any of your medical
files as well as your sons. So sometimes there is a fee but I believe that got wiped as you're entitled to your medical information.

goldenbear11 · 26/10/2022 12:59

PinkButtercups · 26/10/2022 12:49

What a load of bull from your doctor.
Go back and demand bloods.

And yes you can retrieve any of your medical
files as well as your sons. So sometimes there is a fee but I believe that got wiped as you're entitled to your medical information.

Genuinely you would not believe how I've been treated by the GP surgery. Thank you I will retrieve a copy of the X-ray and take it with me to my appointment. X

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PinkButtercups · 26/10/2022 15:04

@goldenbear11 Oh I can only imagine. They try fob people off left, right and centre. Then you get some really good GP's who are tarnished by the bad ones. Can you see a locum GP if your practice have them? The locum GP's at our practice are amazing the doctors that work there full time are not.

goldenbear11 · 26/10/2022 15:06

PinkButtercups · 26/10/2022 15:04

@goldenbear11 Oh I can only imagine. They try fob people off left, right and centre. Then you get some really good GP's who are tarnished by the bad ones. Can you see a locum GP if your practice have them? The locum GP's at our practice are amazing the doctors that work there full time are not.

It seems his limp is getting worse so I will take him back to the Gp tomorrow and hopefully they will see us. Thank you for all the advice x

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Gifthunter · 26/10/2022 19:25

Not too sure why people are so keen on bloods. Unlikely to be helpful in this situation. What are you all planning to test for?
If xrays have been normal then referral to paediatric orthopaedics is the correct management. In a decent healthcare system this would happen in a week or 2 so I appreciate the frustration hut this isn't within the GPs control.

goldenbear11 · 26/10/2022 19:28

Gifthunter · 26/10/2022 19:25

Not too sure why people are so keen on bloods. Unlikely to be helpful in this situation. What are you all planning to test for?
If xrays have been normal then referral to paediatric orthopaedics is the correct management. In a decent healthcare system this would happen in a week or 2 so I appreciate the frustration hut this isn't within the GPs control.

He had a hip X-ray a year ago. I requested they xrayed his leg but they wouldn't. If he had a fever and pain I would want blood tests but he doesn't. I just really want a leg X-ray for him x

OP posts:
weegiemum · 26/10/2022 19:34

My dd2 had a painless limp at age 4 and was eventually diagnosed with Perthes syndrome, which is degeneration of the ball of the hip. She had lots of physio and a lot of time not weight bearing, lots of swimming. Unfortunately it didn't heal properly in her later teens and at 18 she's waiting for a hip replacement. It took several X-rays to diagnose.

goldenbear11 · 26/10/2022 19:39

weegiemum · 26/10/2022 19:34

My dd2 had a painless limp at age 4 and was eventually diagnosed with Perthes syndrome, which is degeneration of the ball of the hip. She had lots of physio and a lot of time not weight bearing, lots of swimming. Unfortunately it didn't heal properly in her later teens and at 18 she's waiting for a hip replacement. It took several X-rays to diagnose.

I have looked into this as maybe a possibility. How was it disguised? Hope your little one is doing ok now x

OP posts:
goldenbear11 · 26/10/2022 19:47

Diagnosed*

OP posts:
weegiemum · 27/10/2022 16:45

My dh eventually took her to A£E as GP was fobbing off. Dh is a GP so he pulled the concerned parent card and they were a bit huffy with him and the did the x-ray, it was clear straight away what was happening.

She was referred to the Perthes clinic in Glasgow (the West of Scotland has one of the highest rates of Perthes in the world so the clinic was really good). They basically took her off her feet, no running, jumping, limited walking and standing, and we were given a Major buggy that day that she used until she was 7. As her hip crumbled she had very little pain, but it was weird to watch on X-ray. Once it started to regrow they were really pleased with it, and she was discharged at age 14.

Unfortunately she started to get pain at age 16 and she was referred to the Young Adult hip clinic, where they discovered it had overgrown and the ball had become misshapen. The only treatment now available is total hip replacement. She's 18 and on the waiting list, but it could be another 2 years due to covid backlog. She takes tramadol, has painkilling lidocaine patches and is just getting fitted with an orthotic insole as her right leg is shorter.

She's so brave, she's a full time beauty therapy student and also has a job in a spa 2 days a week. The main concession to her illness is she uses taxis for some journeys, though she is learning to drive. We're lucky we can afford this.

If there's anything else you might need to know, please don't hesitate to ask!

PinkButtercups · 27/10/2022 17:06

Gifthunter · 26/10/2022 19:25

Not too sure why people are so keen on bloods. Unlikely to be helpful in this situation. What are you all planning to test for?
If xrays have been normal then referral to paediatric orthopaedics is the correct management. In a decent healthcare system this would happen in a week or 2 so I appreciate the frustration hut this isn't within the GPs control.

Because a limp can be a sign of other things and blood tests can tell you a lot.

Gifthunter · 27/10/2022 18:01

I agree with an acute limp but this is a 1 year history and says up thread he has had bloods and x ray a year ago.