Worried my son has Muscular Dystrophy- need advice

[Loves2bGreen]

My son will be 18months old in a few days and is still not walking. He didn't start pulling to sitting until 15 months although if you put him in the sitting position he'd stay there. He can now pull up on furniture, but only walks with lots of help. When he walks barefoot his toes curl. oh, and he is a butt scooter, who just started crawling a month ago. oh, and he struggles with BMs. He's a huge grunter and doesn't get much for his efforts.  Our pediatrician has referred us to a pediatric neurologist at a muscular dystrophy clinic in the city. We had him in PT and it seemed to be helping. The PT said he has weak hip and shoulder girdles. I looked up muscular dystrophy and a separate neurological disorder that the clinic specializes in and MD fits him to a T. I know I shouldn't borrow trouble before we see the doctor, but I can't help worrying. I feel like I'm going to explode! Any help or support you could provide would be much appreciated!

[Just1More]

I have a neice that wasn't walking or crawling at 18 months.  They decided to take her to a chiropractor first.  It turned out that she needed some significant adjustments, and SO much improved rapidly.  My SIL was just telling me that she didn't know that so many things were signs that a little one needed adjusted...like BM trouble.

She still isn't walking, but is cruising, taking some steps, and crawling well (at 21 mo).  The chiro said not to rush it, and that she needed to go through the same process as everyone else learning to walk.  But, she is making regular gains, and quickly.

[Aufilia]

My daughter wasn't walking at 18 months.  She crawled and sat herself up at 8, but only started to pull up around 13 or 14 months, and at 18 months she would only cruise or walk while holding both hands.  She has low muscle tone, particularly in her legs.  She started walking around 21.5 months after a couple months of PT. 

FWIW she was also constipated pretty much from the minute she started eating solid foods and this was an issue until 3.5 or 4yo.  She seemed to have a great love affair with several foods that are constipating (bananas in particularly were hugely problematic for her).

So that's our experience.  It may or may not match yours, but there are definitely other causes of walking delay and constipation.

[organicviolin]

I would get the Dr's opinion for a diagnosis while simultaneously bringing your LO to an osteopath or chiropractor. How very worrying for you!

[petrom714]

hi, i have limb girdle M.D., i am still walking and am 55 y.o.  But I am told I had normal early development and first symptoms were cramping brought on by exertion.  There's so many different types.  Do you notice builit up calves? sunken clavicles? lots of outer flexibility at the hips?