Transient Synovitis

The last few weeks here in the Nylund household have been full of illnesses. A severe stomach bug made its way through the family, then, I had a sinus infection, Rebecca got croup which turned into bronchitis and Emilie had a few days of fever. But this week, we had the strangest illness yet.

When we picked the kids up Tuesday, James was sitting in the cafeteria reading, instead of practicing soccer with him team. He could barely limp over to me to tell me that his leg hurt, that he could barely walk. He swore that he didn't strain or pull anything. The only way he could walk was to bunch his pant leg up into a ball and lift his leg by lifting his pants. It took forever for him to get out to the car.

We kept assuring James that he would feel better the next day. He must have pulled a muscle and all would be well soon. He was in tears at bedtime, though, saying that he couldn't climb the stairs. We thought he was carrying the drama a bit too far.

The next morning, James flat out informed us that there was no way he could go to school and he wouldn't listen to us telling him that it must just be a strain or pulled muscle. So, we told him it was either school or a trip to the doctor's.

An hour and several piggyback rides later, we were at the pediatrician's office. Rebecca and I stayed in the waiting room while David and James saw the doctor. When James and David came to get us, James' face was all aglow. "I have to stay on the couch for 3 days, Mom!" he announced excitedly, clinging to his Dad's back.

David explained that the doctor, remembering that we were just in last week with Rebecca's croup and bronchitis and had mentioned the stomach bug, knew right away what the problem was. A quick blood test confirmed that James had transient synovitis, more commonly known as hip flu. Whatever virus or viruses that have been lurking around our house settled in Jame's hip joint, inflaming the lubricating lining, or synovial membrane around the joint and making moving the leg very painful. This condition occurs in children (usually those aged between 3 and 10 years) and is more common in boys than in girls.

The cure is bed rest and James also got a prescription for a strong pain reliever. By the next day, he was much better, but the doctor wanted him to come in today for a check. A quick ultrasound showed that the hip was still inflamed, so two more days of rest. Two more days of David and me hanging our heads in shame over doubting our son.

At least James' fingers are getting exercise -- he's never played so much Nintendo DS in his life.