Possible Sufe in 9 year old

That's a long wait! Thanks for your reply. I've phoned the Gp several times today, just keep being told the result is with the doctor and they will only phone me if there's anything wrong. Surgery closed now so will be calling every chance tomorrow. From what I've read it seems this condition can be easily missed in the early stages. Just want to know what's causing pain and get it sorted!

Dear StressedMum. i hope all is going well for you both. My son had his hip pinned 4 days ago and all seems well at this point. he is up and about on crutches although in pain occasionally. all early days as yet. i dont think your son should be waiting 2 weeks for an op though. thats unreasonable. although my boy waited 3 days they made him stay immobile in hospital for this time. they refussed to allow him to wait at home.

Glad to hear your son is recovering well.  We spent most of yesterday at the children's hospital A&E as my son started to limp and refused to put any weight on his right leg.  The hospital are disagreeing with the first diagnosis and are insisting it isn't SUFE.  They did another x-ray, ultrasound and bloods to rule out anything else.  We finally got sent home with crutches and have to return to clinic next week.  They don't know what's causing the pain and have said they might do an MRI if he isn't any better next week.  I'm very confused.  Don't know if it's worse to have been told your son has a serious condition or to be told nobody knows why your son can no longer walk unaided. 

A SUFE should be treated as an emergency, the child should not be walking on the leg as the consequences are disastrous if he trips over. My son was left and he has been in a wheelchair/crutches for nearly 2 years and I have had to have over 18 months off work to care for him with all the treatment he's had to have. Go to A and E of a hospital with good paediatric orthopaedic care. Please PLEASE DO NOT WAIT it has to be treated as an emergency. Any questions contact me through the UK Charity STEPS. Ruth, let me know how u get on.

After lots of tests in a Children's A&E yesterday my son was sent home with crutches.  The doctor disagrees with the initial x-ray findings but can't give an answer as to what's wrong.  We are hopefully getting an MRI soon.  I'll update when I know more.

Hi there

Thanks for the update - at least you have been given crutches as a precautionary measure.  You will need to see a paediatric orthopaedic specialist (A&E doctor will not have enough knowledge of this) as often a SUFE in the early stages does not always look like a slip as it can be very subtle, but good that they have ordered an MRI scan, and been given crutches, hopefully you won't have to wait too long.  Where are you in the UK?  Which hospital?  Best wishes Ruth

I feel for you stressed mum, my son started with groin pain last summer on his right side but now also his left, we thought it was a strain from being so active, GP referred for possible SUFE and took xrays which came back clear.

During our first appointment with the consultant I was told he was not limping and they couldnt find anything important in his examination, second visit much the same and was told the pain was not coming from his femoral heads and it might be a traction issue he has been on complete rest for months now, got a bit narked with me when I dared to ask if SUFE had been completely ruled out. 

3rd Appointment my husband took him :-)  On this occasion with the consultant was a new one who appears to be taking over, first thing she noted was that he was limping and that the pain IS coming from his femoroal heads, she was excellent which is a relief.

She also said he had a weakness one side when standing on one leg, she felt an MRI was needed as xrays were clear, but as she said the child is clearly not right.  We get our MRI results next Wednesday.  We were also told he has retroverted hips and slight loss of internal rotation, which they say is unusual, but give no reasoning as to why. 

I hope you get your MRI soon as I know the waiting process is very painful.  If one doctor thinks your son has a slight sufe maybe its worth asking why as I think as Ruth says some are better at picking up early ones than others, it is my understanding MRI can show pre-slip changes and early sufe which isnt seen on xray.  Ruth has been a great help to us xxx

Thanks for your reply.  I am very concerned that the A&E doctor didn't agree that there is a slight slip.  We have an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant next week and I will be taking my husband with me!  My son took a few steps yesterday (forgetting he needed crutches) and was in huge amounts of pain when he put weight on his right leg.  All I can see is that over 6-7 weeks his mobility has decreased significantly and the pain has increased.  I am now giving him paracetamol for the pain.  He has rested from all sports for over 4 weeks so I would have thought there would be an improvement if it was a soft tissue injury. 

Hi, its the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

No it doesn't sound right at all and poor chap is obviously in lots of pain, I think you are right to be concerned that one doctor thinks he does have a slight slip.  I hope they get it all sorted for you both very soon.

Great that you are taking someone supportive with you too, I wish my husband had come to the previous appointments, the last one I went to,  I was asked if I wanted my son on crutches and my reply was of course not if he doesn't need them (it seemed like the doctor was agitated with me for stressing that my son was no better after 2 months of rest and disagreeing with him), felt like such an idiot when I left, hence sending my hubby the 3rd time.  Fortunately we have a new consultant now :-)

Hi, just wondering how your son is getting on - did they diagnose SUFE?  My son had his mri today but we are now waiting again, probably another week before we hear anything.  Trying to be patient...

Hello

Good news you have had the MRI, I hope the results come through soon I know its hard all the waiting.

Well as usual nothing goes to plan, we went for results on 10th June, MRI was there but no report from radiologist.  Consultant said he felt it looked normal but could not be sure without the report.  So was a bit of a wasted appointment.  We found the MRI department and they said the report is there and was sent to consultant on 29th May, he just doesn't know how to read it!  Have been waiting for a call from one of the consultants since last Thursday.

I dont think he does have SUFE, but will await the report

Hope you get yours soon xx

Sorry meant to say he didnt know how to find it on the computer so thought it wasn't there.

It's so frustrating having to wait.  I hope you get some news soon.  I just hope that we find out what's wrong and can then start treatment.  Will update when I hear more!

Hello it is frustrating, hopefully yours will be a quicker wait than ours.

We finally spoke to the consultant who said his MRI was all clear.

Next step for us is various blood tests, she said she saw him and isnt happy to not have an outcome at this point

We are pleased the MRI is clear but as she said it does raise further questions, because he isnt right and doesn't have a diagnoses

Hi, just an update.  I got my son's mri results back today and the mri was mostly fine but shows some trauma to the bones at the front of his pelvis.  We have been given an appointment to return to clinic next week.  Seems that all the scary things have been ruled out and no mention of SUFE.  Feel relieved that a reason has been found but will now have to wait and worry about what caused it and how long before it heals!

Hi pleased you have some answers, hope they can now help him to heal