Hello. Me again. Just to make sure you have the info you need, I will give you the history of this disease with my child. At the end of Feb.2001 my son was six and he developed a flu like virus. He had a fever for a week but only vomited 2 times. The pediatrician said it was the flu. He had body aches also especially legs. He got over the flu then a few days later lost his voice for 2 days. This was a recurrent symptom for about 5 months. At least once a month he would lose his voice. The ped. said it was a cold each time. O.K. back to begginning, About the first week of March he developed a limp. This lasted a few days and went away. About 7-10 days later it came back and this time it was painful if we moved his leg sideways. The ped diagnosed synovitis of the hip. This is inflammation of the hip joint I guess due to the virus. The ped. said it would go away in a few weeks and give him anti-inflamatory med. Well it didnt go away and he was starting to lose muscle so we took him to an orthopedic doctor. He thought it was Perthes but could not be sure until x-rays showed it. At this time he put him on naproxin for inflamation of joint and I started therapy 3 times a day to increase flexibility and strengthen muscles. He was on naproxin approximately 6 weeks and then the doctors and I decided to take him off. This constant medication made me nervous. He turned seven at the end of June and by this time he was not limping nearly as much, flexibility was alot better, and his muscles were built back up to almost normal. This was due to therapy. The x-rays still did not confirm deterioration yet. His July 5 x-ray indicated the right ball was a little smaller than the unaffected left one. The ortho also thought there may be a sign of deterioration but could not be sure. I slowed on the therapy which is stretching and strengethening excercises around Aug. because I thought he was getting better. When school started the stiffness came back due to the sitting, lack of enough therapy, and he also grew which will make them stiffen with this disease. The ortho recommended more therapy which has helped. He was x-rayed again at the end of Nov. This x-ray showed the deterioration. The ortho just said to do the therapy and come back in 2 months. His last x-ray was Jan.24. It showed little or no change and there may be signs it is starting to heal. This disease is very slow progressing. I am doing the exercises with him, he swims 2-3 days a week, I give him glucosomin, chondroitin,MSM,Tumeric,Boswella Serrata Extract combo supplement and antioxodent vitamins for children. I also massage the leg everyday. He does not seem to have pain with this except when he starts to stiffen again and the stretching sometimes hurts. I hope I am not dragging on. Please reply.
Rachelle