Worsening ankle pain in 9 year old

I'm at a loss for what to do. My son has been complaining that his joints are hurting for at least a couple of months now.  It started in his neck and flucuates between his elbows, knees and ankles.  But it is his ankles that usually hurt the most.  There is no swelling but some days that are sore to the touch. It has caused him to start limpling and has affected his ablitiy to play and be acitve. He even complains that sometimes when he grabs something he feels a weakness in his hands and often says he does not have any strength, although he does not complain of joint pain in his hands.

He does do karate...but I am sure that he did not injure himself in class.  His doctor said he is slightly anemic and although he has sickle cell triat, doctors have ruled out sickle cell anemia.  They have also ruled out rhemuatoid arthritis.  

So what's next?  Are there any other tests I should be demanding or should he see an orthopedic doctor instead of a primary care physician.  My son  has gone from a normal healthy kid to a child that is starting to walk with the strange gait of a disabled boy.  I don't want to dismiss this as growing pains.  My son is constantly moaning and aching consistently everyday.  The only thing  my doctors tell me to do is keep a journal.  But I what do I write down...pain in ankles everyday...all day long?  Is there some other disease  I should be testing him for?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[ieatcatlitter]

I would guess a nerve disease of some sort. Go to the doctor!

[PedroH]

Hi there.So sorry that your child has to go through this.I would suggest being checked out for Lymes Disease,and go from there. You can probably find a Dr.through you health dept. that would test for Lymes. Good luck to you!

[Phill614]

Good morning D4, my first thought while reading your post is this boys got growing pains.  if this were my boy i'd go to a orthopedic doctor, there is no advice a general practioner can tell me except go to a ortho doctor.  have you looked into a neurolgists?   here's a link that may be of help.  http://www.asktheneurologist.com/

[D4Christ]

I Found out that the bones in kids legs and feet grow faster than their muscles.  This can cause pain in the joints because the muscles have not stretched to the length of the fast growing bones.  His pcp suspected this when my son could not flex his foot back to 90 degrees.  I went to a sports medicine doctor who spotted this immediately.  He suggested stretches for my son-- he had to stand about 3 steps away from a wall and then lean forward keeping his feet flat in the ground...kind of like doing push ups against the wall.  My son had to do this every day 2-3 times a day for about 4 weeks.  It caused him pain and he was unable to do the exercise well at first, but as his muscles stretched the pain lessoned and soon he was able to flex his foot with no problem.  The pain is gone, the limping is gone and now he plays normally.