Posted by Aimee Stockdale on November 13, 2003 at 14:35:10:
My five year old developed a limp about 2 weeks ago so we took him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with Perthes. I live in the backwoods of Alaska so the doctors do not know much about Perthes. I probably know more from all the research I’ve done on the net. Our doctor called a doctor in Seattle, because that is what doctors here do, and the doctor in Seattle said to do nothing. The Doctor in Seattle said go back in and take x-rays in 3 months. The doctor in Seattle said he had seen many cases of Perthes and that they are finding that casts and braces don’t do much for the child so they are just going to observe him. Well his limp is getting worse and the pain is increasing in just 3 days after his initial visit. I am sending in an application for the Shriners Hospital in Spokane to get a second opinion, but there is a waiting list. Would you suggest I buy him some crushes to keep him off his leg or are there some other things I can do for him?