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Original poster

Can muscular pain really take 6 weeks to go in a child?

67 replies

FAB5 · 07/04/2011 16:35

DD has been in constant pain for weeks now. Had various diagnosis but none proven. Urine sample fine. Temperature up slightly, blood pressure and blood sugars fine. She is now on 3 lots of medication and the GP thinks she could have hurt herself without realising.

OP posts:
Original poster
FAB5 · 07/04/2011 21:09

Mine is more clever. I can see it and hear it though.

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Lancelottie · 07/04/2011 21:10

Presumably they've ruled out appendicitis?

(Note that 'bloods OK' does NOT rule it out, speaking from experience)

Original poster
FAB5 · 07/04/2011 21:15

Yes on the basis that she would be a lot sicker.

Her blood pressure was fine and her blood sugars 5.2.

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Lancelottie · 07/04/2011 22:30

Umm. DD finally had her appendix removed on the grounds that 'it just might be that after all'. It was. Could have been nasty, apparently.

Lancelottie · 07/04/2011 22:31

And she was not sick, only slightly hot, sore but not screamingly so, bloods fine.

Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 08:04

Oh crap.

I just do not know what to do. I have to phone for her results later. She has her chiropractor appointment tonight. If he can't help or find anything wrong we will only have lost time and £50 but at least we might? will know.

We need a worried sick emoticon.

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Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 10:33

Her urine sample has come back fine.

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Lancelottie · 08/04/2011 10:49

Sorry, FAB, really not trying to worry you more. Given what you've said about her slight imbalance anyway, muscle or nerve could well be the answer -- hope you get somewhere tonight.

If she does get much hotter or throws up, though, head for A&E and insist they rethink appendicitis (or the other one DD's doc wanted to rule out was ovarian problems, even in a young child).

Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 10:56

Please don't apologise. I will worry anyway. I have no idea what is wrong but clearly something is wrong so I appreciate any pointers anyone can give me.

I really need some help for how to help her sleep when she says she can't. Too hot, she won't turn the downstairs light off, won't shut her door, whatever we say to try she says she can't/doesn't want too.

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Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 16:36

We will be leaving in an hour or so to go the chiropractor.

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Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 19:05

DD doesn't feel any different.

DH is sceptical and £50 poorer.

Have booked to go back next week and DH said if she doesn't feel better after that appointment we are not going back.

The chiropractor said she was hypotonic and had loosened her muscles.

I just feel like crying as she says she is still in pain.

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belledechocchipcookie · 08/04/2011 19:19

It does take time, she would have had an assessment today so he could see where the problems are.

Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 19:23

I accept our expectations might have been too high but we are so desperate for her to be pain free. How long do you think it will take or is it impossible to know?

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belledechocchipcookie · 08/04/2011 19:32

It really does depend on what the problem is. I'm not an expert and I think that everyone's different. If her muscles are tight then things should ease for her within a few days. Does changing her position make any difference at all? (extra pillow in bed etc). I used to wear slight heels and would be in so much pain by the afternoon, it would feel as though the lower part of my back was going to explode. I got rid of the heels and I've not had a problem since (touch wood).

herbietea · 08/04/2011 19:32

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Message withdrawn

Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 19:34

Would she need the extra pillow under her body or her head?

herbietea - I wouldn't shoot you, I like you Smile. TBH DH had wondered the same or was she worried about something and it was manifesting itself as a pain but tbh she has seen so many doctors, has missed school (which bothered her) and has to take 3 types of medicine, I honestly think she is genuine. It has been 3 weeks now.

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herbietea · 08/04/2011 19:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

belledechocchipcookie · 08/04/2011 19:41

Under her head maybe?

As she's growing the muscles around the spine change, if her spine has a slight curve then the muscles will be pulled in the wrong way and would cause pain, sounds like this to me. Arnica is good at helping the body to repair itself, can get this from the health food shop. A bath is also a good thing to have as it will help to relax the muscles. If her muscles are tight then they will be painful so she needs to relax (I think this is what the chiropractor will try to do)

Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 19:48

The chiropractor said her legs were the same length and she doesn't have the curve in her spine. She has just come down saying she can't sleep and her eyes are going all blurry because she is so tired. I have just given her some warm milk but she is meant to be going to my MIL's tomorrow and I don't know if she should go if she is so exhausted. Still try the pillow?

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Milliways · 08/04/2011 19:49

Oh, I so feel your pain!

DS had a similar problem 3 years ago with his back. He went from an "Ow, my back hurts" to almost full paralysis over some weeks. We went back & from the Docs working up from Paracetamol/Ibuprofen to diclofenac to codeine & finally diazepam.

Everyone said it was muscular and he was on waiting list for an Orthopaedic referral - months away! I took him regularly to an Osteopath, who helped relieve the spasms with massage type techniques, but was worried he had something more severe & eventually would do no more until an MRI had cleared him. He also wrote to our GP. We went to A&E & got nowhere.

DS ended up sleeping on floor on a camping mat as he could not cope on his mattress. He woke in the night & was sent home from school many times.

In the end, school put him on a reduced timetable & I paid for a private appt. The consultant said he could only bend 15 degrees and was worried about benign tumours etc! He got him an NHS MRI scan within the week that he had to be sedated for as he couldn't lie still at all.

Thankfully the scan was clear but he was given weekly hydrotherapy & physio sessions to help him. They decided it had been a severe muscle strain that caused a spasm which took diazepam & hydrotherapy to ease.

The whole thing was a nightmare and did take a few months to resolve.

I sincerely hope your DD gets some answers & help soon.

Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 19:50

Would rubbing arnica in her skin like we would with deep heat help?

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belledechocchipcookie · 08/04/2011 19:54

Try the pillow, if her head's in the right position then it may help. Is there any places that hurt more then the others?

Blurred vision doesn't sound right. Does she have any weakess in her arms/legs?

belledechocchipcookie · 08/04/2011 19:54

IIRC arnica comes in tiny pills, you swallow them.

Original poster
FAB5 · 08/04/2011 20:00

We have arnica cream but no pills.

Just asked her. She said her left arm felt a bit numb this morning but is fine now but her right arm is numb now.

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belledechocchipcookie · 08/04/2011 20:03

That should do. I'd be tempted to pop her back to the GP and ask for a paediatrician referal, she can get seen by the pain management nurses this way. Any pins and needles?

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