OT--Growing pains??

[mrsbornkuntry]

**Disclaimer**I'm not asking for medical advice or diagnosis, just for some experiences/ideas I can discuss with my DS's doctors.

I am at my wits end here, my poor DS is in so much pain right now. He just turned 10 and he is very small, he's in the 5th percentile for height and 10th for weight. His health is closely monitored because he had a stem cell transplant for leukemia in 2003 and he's been very healthy. At the beginning of April he started complaining that his legs hurt and it got to the point where he didn't want to move at all because every time he stood up they would hurt. Then it radiated to his back. Then his back stopped hurting and now his arms hurt. Through all of that his legs always hurt. I took him to the pediatrician. She did extensive bloodwork that he requires and everything came back perfect. She said she didn't think it sounded like growing pains and that she would put in a referral to his oncologist. That was April 23rd. I have yet to hear anything back about the referral being in .

I am giving DS Tylenol and Motrin. It's to the point now where I even have to come to school in the middle of the day to give it to him. He hates Tylenol and is calling and asking for it so I know he's in alot of pain.

Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Do you have any ideas of ways he might find relief (for example, a relative suggested warm baths)? Any suggestions of other medical things that could be causing this pain (again, not diagnosing, just things for me to discuss with his doctor)? I am really desperate, I hate seeing him hurt like this.

 

[karen624]

When my dd has growing pains, they are usually just below her knee and happen in the middle of the night. I would push for that referral to see if they can figure out what is going on. A visit to an orthopedist may also be of benefit because there can be joint issues that occur in kids.

If you are dealing with Tricare (looks like you are Army) you have rights to get referrals within a certain amount of time. Call the health benefits coordinator if you need to get it pushed.

 

[CLEO Z]

I can't imagine how much y'all have been through and how hard it must be to see this particular DS in pain.

My DD has growing pains in her legs. DH reports having them a lot while a kid.

My DD uses hot pads. Here are the best ones IMHO: http://relaxwraps.com/catalog.php?action=110&cat_id=3 . I strongly suggest getting the "unscented ones". I (and DD) like the XL Standard Wrap bc you can put it wherever needed and it isn't as heavy as other microwave hot pads that use rice and heavier materials.

Good luck and best wishes.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

When my dd has growing pains, they are usually just below her knee and happen in the middle of the night. I would push for that referral to see if they can figure out what is going on. A visit to an orthopedist may also be of benefit because there can be joint issues that occur in kids.

If you are dealing with Tricare (looks like you are Army) you have rights to get referrals within a certain amount of time. Call the health benefits coordinator if you need to get it pushed.

It doesn't bother his sleep, only when he's awake and moving around.

I am dealing with Tricare (reserve select), Dh is in the National Guard now. I am going to call them today and see if I can get things moving.

 

[karen624]

I believe if you are reserve select it is like being Tricare Standard which means you do not need a referral to be placed into the system to go see a specialist (which you would have to do if you were Prime). Your pediatrician may "refer" you, and you just make the appointment, no waiting on a prior authorization. I have tricare standard, and when my dd's have been sent to specialists, I just call and make the appointment after the pedi tells me who to go see. No waiting game.

http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/Plans/ReserveSelect?

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I believe if you are reserve select it is like being Tricare Standard which means you do not need a referral to be placed into the system to go see a specialist (which you would have to do if you were Prime). Your pediatrician may "refer" you, and you just make the appointment, no waiting on a prior authorization. I have tricare standard, and when my dd's have been sent to specialists, I just call and make the appointment after the pedi tells me who to go see. No waiting game.

http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/Plans/ReserveSelect?

Thank-you for that info! We haven't had it very long, just 2 months, and we had Tricare Prime before that so we did have to have referrals. His oncologist is very hard to get in to see (he only takes very high risk patients and not very many at a time) so I think I'll email him first and see what he suggests I do.

 

[ferrytale]

When I was younger I had severe pains in my legs and lower back, and they discovered it was from flat feet and went to a podiatrist for years. Though I don't really think that this would be you DS's issue since he has pain in his arms too. Just figured it couldn't hurt to try to rule out every little thing.

Best wishes!

 

[bumbershoot]

Couple thoughts...

Get on them for the appointment.

Sounds pretty rough for growing pains. Hubby had those big-time, and DS gets them, but they didn't go into hubby's back, and stay focused in DS's legs.

As a child I had nasty awful rotten deep-bone leg aches, and was tested for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It wasn't that, I never got a reason for them (I sometimes still get them so I doubt they are growing pains since I haven't grown taller since I was about 12), but they did test me. Sounds like they probably have tested for that, but make sure.

Could be something a chiropractor could help with. Gentle gentle, of course. If you can find someone who uses Network Spinal Analysis that would be lovely.


Warm baths with epsom salts help my deep leg aches nowadays.

Arnica cream helps DS with his growing pains (and the aches he gets when he runs and runs (another trigger for my own leg pains). We used to use Boiron brand gel, but then I found a relatively local (to me) company called Salmoncreekbotanicals dot com and that stuff is amazing. I'm not sure how I could deal with DS's growing pains without it, and it's helped me out, too. They sell online, but I found them at my local farmers market 2 years ago and our bodies have been happier since then.


I hope it's something simple like growing pains or the need for gentle chiro work!!!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[mrsbornkuntry]

Thank-you for all of the replies! You've given me alot to look into.

I did email the oncologist today. I trust him completely and he feels strongly about "mother's intuition" and has always taken all of my concerns seriously so hopefully he can either see DS or give his pediatrician some ideas of what tests to run on him.

Bumbershoot, I love the epsom salts bath idea, if nothing else that'll help with his eczema and it can't hurt him so I'll definitely try that and see if it gives him some relief.

 

[badblackpug]

Potassium? Low potassium levels can cause muscle cramping. Make him eat bananas? The only other thing I could think of for relief, until you do figure out what is going on, is maybe try some of those heat wraps under his clothes when you send him to school.

www.thermacare.com

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Potassium? Low potassium levels can cause muscle cramping. Make him eat bananas? The only other thing I could think of for relief, until you do figure out what is going on, is maybe try some of those heat wraps under his clothes when you send him to school.

www.thermacare.com

That was my first thought, that his potassium, magnesium or sodium levels might be off because he's had issues with those before and they made his feet hurt, but the doctor tested his levels on all of them with his blood test and they came back normal.

I will look into these and the ones Cleo Z recommended, thank-you.

 

[RMulieri]

As an oncology RN. I am going to tell you it does not sound like growing pains.You need to get with the Oncologist ASAP for a work up.He is a Stem Cell transplant, they should follow up pretty quickly. My prayers are with you guys

 

[61292cna]

Sending warm wishes for a great outcome.