Back pain in 7yo

[Songbird74]

DD first complained of back pain (centre of her back) on 31st July after an optician appointment and sitting on the chairs. It made her cry and lasted about 40 mins so I gave Calpol. No other symptoms and fine since, until today when she was hoovering for me (using the handheld nozzle). She was bent over hoovering and then said her back was hurting again, Centre of her back like before). Not as severe as before but made her say a few times over the course of 10 or so minutes that it hurt.

I’ve tried calling the docs but they are full today. What do you think? She has been playing lots and doing hand stands / cartwheels, sprawling on the floor etc. No loss of sensation / numbness etc. She is otherwise well (she has coeliac) and she currrently has a cough and snotty nose which she caught from my other DC. No urinary issues.

Just wondering if I should be more concerned? Thanks

I wouldn’t be worried at all and I’m very anxious health wise.

both occasions she’s complained of it have logical reasons for it - sitting for a long time on an uncomfortable chair + hoovering bending over. My daughter the same age complains of back pain too with things like this.

I would only worry if it was daily and worsening and happening when not having done any activity.

Thank you so much @wobblymum1 - I have horrendous health anxiety for the children. My DD does worry (she calls them “fear attacks”) so whenever she has a pain she will focus on it. I try to be like “don’t worry, let’s see how you go” and offer Calpol where necessary, but you are right - she has been fine otherwise and it’s not a constant back ache over x amount of weeks, it’s literally two separate episodes with a reason behind it. I’ll keep an eye on her and see how she goes.

My DD sounds just like your one! I think my health anxiety has passed to her ☹️

That’s what I worry about too ☹️ my DH is much more relaxed than me and I know that me worrying and asking her questions about her pain / symptoms will only fuel her “fear attacks”.

I am EXACTLY the same

I think it’s more than likely that it’s just something simple like a pulled muscle but I’d be getting her checked just in case. Back pain in under 16s + back pain in the thoracic area are both red flags if you look at the NICE guidance and warrant investigation. Only reason I know these things is that DD developed scoliosis out of the blue around age 14/15, for a long time her only symptom was pain in the area your daughter describes, it wasn’t until much later a curve appeared and we discovered it. It’s one of those things that’s better to be caught early so definitely something I’d mention to the GP x

@clipclop5 thank you - I’m hoping it is a pulled muscle as she manages to contort herself into all sorts of weird and wonderful positions, especially when watching the Tv! If it happens again I will definitely go and thank you for the advice x

So I messaged the GP via their online booking system and they want to see her ASAP today. It’s set off my anxiety again, but will update with what they say. Hopefully it’s nothing x

Backache can be worrying when it starts young.

Some people are just prone to backache and often it comes from posture.

So considering she's had it from specific activities I'd be looking at improving her core stability and posture.

A good thing to try is getting a gym ball and her sitting on that whilst watching tv for 10-15 minutes a day. Especially if she's one of these kids that spends more time turning upside down and flipping than standing!!!!

@itsgettingweird totally! Yesterday she was watching tv with her head on the floor, back bent over the couch and legs in the air! She did have pains in her shoulder / clavicle area last week but I put that down to the way she was sleeping (and she wasn’t in her own bed).

If definitely be looking at her posture then. Poster above explained well in regards to scoliosis and early warning signs.

You can't prevent scoliosis but you can make sure you have strong core and back which will be necessary if it's solely posture or something else.

Hope you have a positive appointment with the GP today.

Thank you @itsgettingweird - hoping it is her posture. She’s only little and when she was at school she would say her backpack hurt her shoulders. I did speak with a clinician where I work and she said it’s highly unusual for a child to get back pain, so she said it’s good I’m being pulled in today.

@itsgettingweird sorry, you mentioned a yoga ball - would a normal adult sized ball work, or would a small 9 inch mini Pilates ball work just as well? DD is small (about 110-115cm if I had to hazard a guess) so think the “normal” sized ball would be too big for her to put her feet on the ground, but would the Pilates ball be too little?

It's about sitting and putting your feet on the ground - ideally with Knees at 90° and using your core to sit up straight. So whatever size works for that.

Thank you @itsgettingweird i will see what I can find. I appreciate the advice 🙂

Hi everyone, we saw the GP and he was happy with DD. He said the two separate episodes over 2 weeks apart wasn’t cause for concern. He said a child with back pain should always be checked out, especially if they have ongoing / worsening pain and generally very unwell with fever / pain at night.

He believes DD’s weird sitting position (flopped over the couch and the floor) and tussling with her older brother were the main culprits for the pain.

I’ve got to keep a diary of when she has the back pain (if it happens again), how long it lasts, what DD would rate it on the pain scale and if anything triggered it.

I hope it helps any one in future.

Glad he didn't have any concerns.

Thanks @itsgettingweird - the GP was very quick but I think he said he was a trained paediatrician and said that there weren’t and major red flags - yes DD is under 16yo but the two separate instances where weeks apart and
she hasn’t developed any other red flags (night sweats, bowel changes, fever, worsening pain at night etc). Hopefully we won’t have any further episodes!

Glad your DD is alright and got checked out, always better to be safe than sorry! X

Thank you @clipclop5 x

@wobblymum1 does your DD ever complain of back pain when doing a long-ish walk? My DD has been fine for a week and then today said her back hurt after a long (well 1/2 hour) walk and she had to carry 3 water bottles (c.750cl ones) for a few minutes. Trying to think about what the doc said as I’m hoping it’s part of a growth spurt / muscular x

Absolutely. During a walk she’ll complain of this. I think (in our case anyway) she over focuses
on an area that has been sore and then any twinge she immediately mentions. i think I don’t help as I immediately go “oh where does it hurt? Are you ok? You’re ok” while clearly showing utter fear on my face 🤦‍♀️☹️

@wobblymum1 thank you - yes my DD is exactly the same! I said “why didn’t you tell daddy about your back pain?” And she said “he doesn’t solve the problem” as in, I don’t think he panders to it so she doesn’t tell him. We have just had a game of bowling and she was lifting heavy bowing balls and has not once mentioned a back ache! She wasn’t thrilled to walk so far earlier and she was hot and tired, so I don’t know if she just said it off the cuff rather than being in actual pain. I asked my nephew who was with us if he ever had a back ache and he was like “yeah, I’ve got one now!” But again, I think that was just because DD had said it. Isn’t parenting stressful 😭 x