HELP!! 2 year old Suddenly having trouble walking at times!!!!?

Question

In December my 2 year old had an incident where he could not walk, his legs were very stiff and looked funny. He was crying and trying to walk, but could not move his legs, when he did move them, they buckled and he fell. We took him to the ped, but he thought it was an injury or transient synvotis. Eleven days later, he had another incident, same thing-stiff legs, not able to walk, crying in pain....Back to the ped, blood work-everthing looked normal. He did manipulate his legs a lot-we came home still hurting-and he developed a 103 fever-gave him Motrin-and he was GREAT. Woke up the next day wonderful, no problems. 3 weeks later-we had more problems-this time he was telling me his legs hurt-and moving them funny-he was walking like he had casts on-almost moving them in an arc. I noticed this again yesterday-I am wondering if he has been doing this all along-we just did not notice it. Please help-I am very worried-and have no idea what could possibly be wrong!!THANKS!!-

To answer some posts below-I have taken him all 3 times, the final time I DEMANDED to be referred-we are being referred to a ped. orhepedic doc-but we have to wait 2 months!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

As I read your question, The only thought I had was Multiple Sclerosis (MS). My grandmother had it, My aunt has it, etc. Sometimes my grandma will wake up and not be able to walk because of it. She takes vitamins and stuff and leads a pretty normal life. I don't know of a time when my aunt had an "attack".
I am not a doctor though.
I would recommend getting your son the the ER the next time that he has this condition. Sometimes tests can be normal unless the condition is actually going on or has just finished. He may have been fine for hours or days when you see your Ped, so nothing is showing up. It doesn't mean that you have a bad Ped. Sometimes it takes a long time to figure out what is really going on.

As for your son walking funny on occasion, I don't think that it is something that you would have overlooked. He is probably just over-coming his condition is ways that we only wish we can understand, Kids are very resilient and we have a lot to learn from them!

Answer 2

I can only imagine your frustration! This is YOUR child and YOU know best when something is truly wrong. These symptoms are serious and need immediate attention (not in two months). Often, early treatment can mean the difference between a poor or successful outcome. I would echo a previous answer and encourage you to go to a children's hospital. If you are getting the brush-off when trying to set up an appointment, then I would head straight to the ER and they'll have to deal with you immediately. Just a hunch, but you might want to consider a pediatric neurologist for the symptoms you've described. Good luck!

Answer 3

Don't you hate that?
You as a mom,you are worried to death for your child...you are looking up all the symptoms on the internet,asking friend and family what it could be,and you stumble upon these ailments that you cannot even pronounce. Its never just a cold,or growing pains..it is always something more serious that you discover on the internet..
Then you go to the doctor hoping that he would find an answer just to make you feel better,even if the news aren't so great, and he/she looks at you shrugs his shoulders and says:" I don't know what it is" and sends you home on your way,so you can go worry again. I mean at this point did the doctor really do his/her job?
I have had doctors and they did the same thing everytime.
I looked around and found a doctor who is on the same page as me...he will test until he knows what is up.
You don't need a Pediatrician that can cure colds and scratches(you can treat those at home), you are entitled to a doc that can diagnose your sons ailments and treat it.
So look for another doctor and BE PERSISTENT until something is done. Don't downplay his ailments,if you have to exaggerate at times to get some results then do that...it is your childs health
As far as the sypmtoms that you are describing it could be anything from the way he slept,if he woke up and could not move (the fever might have been unrelated to his stiff legs), it sounds like it might be his hips...if he walks like a cowboy...or something more serious like Muscular Dystrophy...but you need to know that.-So Change Docs, find someone that takes his time with your kid to find out what is going on..

Answer 4

sometimes an infection in the hip joint is misdiagnosed as transient synovitis. The blood work should have detected this, but it wouldn't hurt to double check.

I would keep a symptom journal. Record your son's daily activities, the food he eats, and any medical symptoms he has even if they seem totally unrelated. Check for lymph node swelling, see if he complains about his ears, throat, etc. Take his temperature routinely. You may recognize a trend. When you are able to see a specialist, bring your journal. They may see a trend that you missed.

Contact your insurance company to see what your options are. Keep seeking help from different doctors until you are satified with the care your son is receiving.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I can only imagine how frightened you must be. If it would not offend you, I would like to pray for you and your son.

Answer 5

I would take him to a pediatrician at a local children's hospital. At a children's hospital, they will work hard to find the answer. This child is in pain! I can't imagine a doctor doing tests, tests come back normal and then sending the child home. They're not running the right tests then. You're going to have to be forceful and strong. Don't let the doctors brush you off. Stand up for your child. If you don't do it, who will? Don't put this off, act today! Good Luck!

Answer 6

I'm sorry I don't know what could be wrong with him but since his ped hasn't figured it out I would take him to a children's hospital. If you don't have one in the area I'd take him to the ER somethings not right. Good luck and I hope you guy's figure out what's going on.

Answer 7

Sometimes if your child has an ear infection that can cause them to be clumsy. Certain medicines can also interfere with walking. I'm not sure beyond that. I hope you find out soon.

Answer 8

IMHO I would take him to the ER next time. And my thoughts is that since it is an intermittent problem that at rip to a neurologist would be in order.

My only thought is that it might be something like Cerebral Palsy.

Answer 9

Please get another ped. If your sons doctor cannot find out why this is happenening then find one that can. it can be very serious. dont wanna scare you or anything but it is a very common symptom of muscular distrophy. please take him simewhere else and get a second opinion. he might have broke it when he was younger and you didnt ever know it..it happens. if nothing else take him to get xrays to check the bones for fractures.

Answer 10

My daughter was like that and diagnoised with Guillain-Barre and if it continues could be CIDP sounds more like CIDP my daughter's MRI showed it and her proteins were elevated in her spinal tap.