Anderson's Random Hip Virus

Since I will most likely print this blog at some point as a keepsake for the boys, I figured this was one for the books- mostly for posterity in that it's just SO random.  Last Friday morning, Anderson woke up complaining/crying hysterically that his left leg hurt.  Go figure...Reese was out of town for work, so it was Mommy and Grammy standing at Anderson's bedside wondering what in the world was going on.  After carrying him downstairs to the couch, the situation didn't improve.  Over the course of the next few hours, Anderson proceeded to not move an inch except when Grammy and I tried to play doctor and figure out what was going on.  When we did get some movement from his leg, we also got tears.  Not just tears, painful tears.  He seemed to not be able to put pressure on it, but also not be able to bend or twist it properly.  I even tried at one point to stand down the hallway with a miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cup candy so I could coax him to walk a few steps.  No such luck, although his tearful attempt earned him his bite of candy and lots of sympathy.

So, the morning went on with Grammy and Mommy carrying our little invalid around everywhere very, very gently.  We realized that an umbrella stroller doubles nicely as a wheelchair.

I took Anderson into his pediatrician around 11:00 that morning and it didn't take long for his doctor to agree that he was certainly hurting.  It wasn't his knee, or thigh, but his hip.  And after a some questions and an exam, the most unexpected diagnosis ever:  Toxic Synovitis.

Toxic Synovitis is a viral infection that settles in the hip joint and causes swelling.  It's most common in boys and affects preschool to early school-aged kids, but younger kids also can develop it.  Basically, it comes on like a light-switch, but often follows some other viral infection that the child might have had recently (Anderson did have a stomach virus the previous weekend).  There's no treatment for it besides monitoring for high fever, rest and pain relief.  


So, we were sent on our way with instructions for lots of rest, TLC and Motrin.  Off to Blockbuster and Chick-fil-A we went.  Anderson proceeded to park himself on the couch for the next 8 hours and literally just didn't move while he was treated to endless Little Einsteins, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse and his favorite lunch on a breakfast-in-bed tray in the living room!  He couldn't move and I've really never seen him be so still for so long.  That night during his sleep we kept hearing him moan every time he moved, which was probably the saddest thing I've ever heard from Anderson.  :(  Poor Buddy.  


Thank goodness that the next morning he woke up and was walking again.  He was visibly limping, but at least he was upright!  By Sunday, he was back to his usual self with the occasional explanation to us that "it still hurts a little, but it's getting better".  


So, moms of preschoolers- especially boys - now you've heard of this odd 'thing'.  If your little one wakes up or suddenly complains of leg pain and there's no obvious reason for it, you can at least remember that there is such a thing as a hip virus!


I thought this article was really helpful too! Mysterious Limp Strikes 100,000 Kids a Year