Are pains all in the head?

[molliec]

DD has been having severe pains in her legs for 3 years and take regular prescription pain relief, She is often brought home or worse seems to collapse when out with friends or at school. Often paramedics have been called but no longer take her to hospital. There has been no diagnosis and she has had every possible test. Her grades are slipping and she is giving up hope at AS level, saying she cant do it. She did see CAMHS a year ago but thought they were patronizing. She decided a month ago to go back to them. It seems as though this might be a control issue, a bit like an eating disorder, but I am no expert, just desperate. Any advice.

I'm sure you have but was she tested for RA? Is it pain or are there any other symptoms?
I had pains in my legs esp my knees throughout my teenage years but nothing was ever diagnosed (it was all in my head apparently) and I had no other symptoms except coming down with glandular fever when I was 17... Fast forward 2 years and at university I come down with pain, swollen joints and stiffness so bad that I end up disabled in a wheelchair. Swiftly diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis for which I have been treated ever since and thankfully nowadays I'm a lot more mobile and permanent joint damage has so far mostly been avoided due to some potent drugs.
GP's are notoriously bad / reluctant at diagnosing RA... But if her symptoms match anything on the arthritiscare website I would insist on her getting a specialist consultation, hopefully to prove nothing but it may be worth looking into.

My sister used ot get pains in her joints, she would find herself unable to go upstairs or ride a bike. She was often told she was making it up (especially from our parents since I also get joint pain but I was believed as it was the same as my mum used to get. It is hypermobility related. This is relevent). Eventually, in her 20s my sister was diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome (which is hypermobility related joint pain) and fibromyaliga. It can take years and years to get a fibro diagnosis and quite a lot of drs don't really believe in it and fob you off.

RA has been dismissed because of the type of pain. It doesnt relate to joints at all. It seems to be more nerve or spasm like pain. I have been looking for a physical diagnosis for years and felt that everyone was trying to fob us off with the mental angle, but now I am beginning to believe there is something in it. I believe that the pain is very real but that it might be stress induced. I have always suffered from severe migraine attacks which usually hit me hard just after stressful times in life. Could this be a similar condition/

It sounds an awful lot like hypermobility/FMS, the latter can be made worse by stress and has a HUGE range of symptoms, including nervy pain and muscle spasms. Unfortunately there isn't a cure for FMS, but keeping gently active helps, as can cutting wheat and dairy out of the diet, and Pregabalin (usually prescribed for neuropathic pain present in diabetes) has been shown to help.

GPs and psychologists seem to like fobbing off with the "it's all in your head" diagnosis, especially when several years down the road of having to deal with constant pain and fatigue you tell them your mood is low, they say "Well, that's why you have pain" and just don't seem to listen when you say that you were fine before the pain etc. started.

I hope your DD finds something that helps.

My daughter has hypermobility which cause pains in her legs. She sees a physiotherapist who recommends non-weight bearing exercise (e.g. swimming) and pilates type exercises at home to build up her core stomach muscles which means there is less stress on her legs. She has to avoid exercise which would cause repeated impact - no hurdling, or Irish-style dancing! Her physio checks her shoes, to make sure none make things worse; basically, no high heels, and no flimsy sandals; she doesn't have to wear school uniform black shoes to school, but wears lightweight walking boot style boots.

She's grown up with this so its all second nature now, and not restrictive to her school life, hobbies or social life!

Has your daughter been assessed for hyper-mobility?

Thanks for the suggestion. Im afraid she has been assessed for just about everything but no diagnosis. She has a CAMHS appointment tomorrow but I am worried that this might make things worse. She is so down now that it is almost as if she doesnt want to get better.

My legs are sometimes like this due to ME

How do you deal with it?

My friend's teenage dd has been having unbearable cramp like pain in her arms and legs recently. She's just been diagnosed with CFS/ME.
Could it be this?

It is possible but getting anyone to make a diagnosis is impossible. We just get brushed aside. When I mention what has been suggested or I have read, I am told that mothers spend too much time interfering and looking on the internet!