back pain in 14 yr old

[mom of mjj]

My 14 yr old daughter has been experiencing back pain for approximately a year. She has been a cheerleader for 3 years, and pulled herself off the team because of the pain. She has had no actual trauma to the back. We have been to see our family dr, chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, rehab dr, and sports medicine doctor. She has had x-rays taken, bloodwork, MRI's, 3 courses of physical therapy, massage therapy, and is now taking yoga. The MRI showed a small bulging disc at L5, but the doctors do not feel this is causing her pain, because the pain extenRAB from her shoulders to the lower back, and some muscle pain in the upper thighs. She has no nurabness or tingling in lower extremities, bladder or bowel problems. She has muscle spasms throughout her back, and pain in the SI joints. We have tried OTC meRAB such as tylenol and aleve. Tylenol 3, Ultram, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, heat, and cold packs have given no relief. She has not cheered or done any other physical activity other than yoga for 5 months now, and is not getting any better. I don't know where to go from here. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Baybreeze]

Hi, I'm sorry about your daughter going through this, I can imagine how tough it must be for a teenager. Of course im not a doctor, but I dont think a lurabar problem would cause shoulder pain, unless she is having spasms in her shoulder. I had severe lurabar spine problems, which caused me to walk bent over, which ended up causing me to have severe spasms everywhere, even in my upper body. But I think it was due to my posture. Do you know more precisely where her back pain is? And do you know how she describes it? Is it cramp-like, achy, sore, sharp, shooting, electric, etc..?

Also, has she had an MRI of the thoracic or cervical spine? I do know that problems in these areas can refer pain & symptoms in the upper body and down the body, even in the legs. I dont know if the bulge in her lurabar spine is causing any pain, but just b/c a doc thinks its not enough of a bulge, doesnt mean it wouldnt be causing her problems. Do you know if certain positiions cause pain? Like does it feel better or worse depending on what shes doing?

 

[kye021]

I'm really sorry to hear that your daughter has to go through all this pain. Her story sounRAB just like mine. When i was 13 i started to have back pain, every doctor told me nothing was wrong. After 8 years i just found out that i have a bulging disc and an annular tear in the L5 S1 section of my back. I just finished 2 epidural injections and now i have to get Facet Injections. All i can say is don't give up, until you are satisfied with a diagnosis. Dont settle. Hopelfully your daughter gets better.

 

[ms_west]

I am so sorry your dd is suffering. My biggest recommendation is not to take her pain lightly and it sounRAB like you are not doing that - I would keep searching for an answer and see a pediatric spinal surgeon at one of the university hospitals.

Good luck.