Update on Kylie’s Back Pains
For about two and a half weeks now, Kylie (my 11 year old) has been having tremendous neck pain and back pain. She can’t remember a definitive starting point, but she does know – all too well – that she’s having trouble sleeping, sitting, standing, doing school work, laying, watching a movie, swimming, walking, riding in a car, and so on and so forth. The pain is not localized, yet it travels around her back. Kinda see where we’re stumped?
We called the chiropractor (who frequents the Children’s Carousel, where I work), and she told us that she really would prefer we see her pediatrician before coming to her so that they can do xrays to rule out any breakage or serious damage. I mean, she IS 11, and this is just a really odd “injury” to keep going on for more than two weeks!
We went to the pedi last Friday – WONDERFUL pedi might I add. He bent her and twister her and made her reach and asked her questions and asked me question and.. and.. and..
His conclusion was that he had no conclusion. He referred us to a sports medicine and orthopedic care specialist and told Kylie to take two to three ibuprofen three times daily as well as warm baths, rubs, heating pad, etc. for comfort. Over the weekend, she was hurting so badly, that she was unable to sleep at all, but after a call to our pedi, we found that they do not prescribe anything stronger than ibuprofen for someone her age.
Yesterday, we went to the ortho. The appointment was at 8am, and the staff there is fabulous. She went back for her xrays, and complained that it hurt because of the way she had to sit. I understood that!!
The ortho wasn’t as fab. I mean, he was cool, but he was very “I know what I’m doing – I have the experience” and cocky! He starts off “Well the xrays look perfect. There’s no breaks, or tumors, or swelling from an injury.”
He had Kylie walk and bend and reach and pull and sit and stand and roll and this and that… One of the thing he did was have her lay on her back as he lifted her right leg, then left leg straight up in the air to where she formed a 90 degree angle. After concluding that her back hurt while doing that (more with the right leg than the left), he got a look on his face and said.. “hmm.. that’s a sign of -inaudible phrase-” so he sat her up. While she was sitting up on the table with her legs dangling down, he lifted her left leg.
Dr – Does that hurt?
Kylie – No sir.
Dr – Interesting.
Kylie – (puzzled look)
Dr – You see this? (pointing along her body and down her leg) That’s a 90 degree angle.
Kylie – Yes sir.
Dr – Now lay down…. (he pulled her right leg up, it hurt, and pointed along her body again) That’s a 90 degree angle.
Kylie – Yes sir.
Dr – It doesn’t make sense that it hurts you while laying down, but it doesn’t while sitting up. It’s the exact same position, and there’s no way that it hurts one way and not the other.
Kylie – When I’m laying down, there’s pressure on my back.
Dr – It doesn’t matter. It’s the same muscles, so I’m not really sure that it’s hurting when you’re doing this.
Anyway, the point is, he dismissed her pain, told us to give her 2 Aleve once in the morning and once before bed, and he wanted me to buy some Icy Hot patches for her back. I refused. There’s no way that those little squares are going to help when the pain isn’t in one place! Actually my Sister in Law (she’s a nurse) suggested Aleve first.
With the Aleve, she’s seemed better. I agree that I think IT is helping better with whatever inflammation she has going on better than the Advil. I think she was able to sleep last night, because I didn’t notice her come downstairs, so we’re going to see how she does today and tomorrow, and then we’ll call the chiropractor back tomorrow.
All of that to say that we have NO idea what started this, what it is, or how to heal it.
I will keep you all posted! Thank you for your suggestions and well wishes!
I’m so sorry she’s going through this! If it’s muscular, a massage might help (from a pro)…I was in similar pain (much worse though, couldn’t even go potty) and an hour massage really helped! I’ve never been to a chiro, but it’s just a thought. Get well soon Kylie! I hope she can get off of the Aleve soon!
How scary! I am so sorry to hear about this. I also have a 11yo and would feel so helplesss. Surgeons/specialists can be such pompous jerks! Not all but … praying for quick healing. Good luck with the chiro. Some people find great relief; I hope that’s the case with your baby.
Thanks y’all! 🙂
You know, Mark, someone else pointed that out this morning, so it will definitely be something we’ll look into when we go to the Chiropractor!
Hoping we can get this taken care of soon! 🙂
Sorry to hear that all these visits to different experts were not more helpful.
I’m no doctor, but has anyone considered some kind of nerve problem? Having ruled out some things with the x-rays, and since the pain is travelling, a series of nerves must be firing. As Kylie rightly pointed out, when she lies down, there is pressure on her back. Nerve compression can cause really painful back conditions like sciatica.
Like I say, I’m no doctor, but there is a history of nerve related back trouble in my family so I thought I would chip in.
I hope they figure this out for Kylie 🙂
I wonder if they have thought about other possible non-back causes. I’m not saying this is it (and I’m not a doctor) but when I had gall stones, the only symptoms I had for the first couple of weeks was HORRIBLE back pain (in no particular place), to the point where I couldn’t sleep. Then I started throwing up every night in the third week and they figured it out. Apparently the gall bladder pain can radiate to your back. Anyway, my point is, I wonder if they have considered the possibility of it not being a back problem per se, but something else causing radiating pain? Just a thought.
You gotta love doctors who dismiss your pain and tell you you are imagining it. Like the other posters, I’m not a doctor, but is it possible her mattress isn’t supporting her back enough and so her muscles are sore?
I hope the chiro can shed some light on the whole situation and Kylie feels better soon!
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Cheers 🙂
– Rainforest Mommy