Toxic Synovitis

Toxic synovitis
Toxic synovitis is an irritation and swelling of the lining of the hip joint. The condition causes pain and tenderness that may move down to the thigh and knee; it sometimes makes a person limp.
Toxic synovitis is the most common cause of hip pain in children. It occurs most often in boys between the ages of 4 and 10 years. It commonly follows a mild injury or an illness with low-grade fever, such as tonsillitis or an ear infection.
This condition usually resolves on its own, but treatment may be given for pain and inflammation.
Toxic synovitis is also called transient synovitis.

Self portraits by Cameron

WARNING: I wrote this for journaling purposes, read on if you wish but it's kinda lengthy!

My dear sweet little 5 1/2 year old Cameron has been sick this week. He has been complaining that his knee hurts, the first few days we wrote if off as growing pains and gave him Advil for the pain. But by Thursday when he was limping and had not been able to sleep for three nights I started to worry and let him stay home from school. He literally laid on the floor all day and kept telling me that he needed to go to the Dr. and get an x-ray. If he needed to get up, I had to help him. I took him to urgent care that night and the Dr. said that he needed an x-ray and blood work, Cam grinned at me and said, "see mom, I told you I needed an x-ray!"

After x-rays of his knees and hips and blood work we still didn't' know what was wrong. Dr. said it could be growing pains and just keep giving him Advil but if it's not gone by Monday to bring him back in. Yesterday, he was not any better, today, not any better. The night of ZERO sleep are starting to take their toll on Mark and I and Cameron too. The pain keeps up all night, he literally can't sleep, he lays there staring at the ceiling asking how long until morning. So by 4pm today when he could not go from the floor to the couch, we called the on call pediatrician. We were starting to get really worried and were ready to take him to Primary Children's. Dr. Larson called us right back and after listening to his symptoms told us exactly what is wrong. He literally hit the nail on the head with out even seeing Cameron. He said that he has what is called Toxic Synovitis. He said it is painful and the kids usually are pretty self limiting and that they shuffle around like and old man because it hurts to walk. He said that it lasts from a week to ten days. Well, we are in the 6th day so hopefully it turns around soon. OH THE RELIEF we felt to hear this news from the Dr. This has seriously been so hard to care for him this week. I felt so bad for him and frustrated at not knowing whats wrong. GOD BLESS Doctors and SICK Kids.