Help! My Daughter Is in Pain

What about leg cramps. They will wake you at night like that. Just a thought. Try giving her more bananas, see if it works. If it is constipation, that might help also. I wouldn't think constipation would cause leg pain. Stomach and back pain ,yes, but leg pain????

I would try a chiropractor, most of them see children. My daughters hip rolled out of place, it was so minor that some one reading an x-ray would not have seen in, or would have thought it was to minor to report, this is what the chiropractor told us. she went once a month from 3-8 months cause she couldn't use the bathroom, so the chiropractor adjustments helped her use the bathroom regular. Its worth a try, i would take her and let the chiropractor look at her, and maybe its something small, but if its in the leg it can cause a lot of pain. I hope you find out what is going on. good luck

A simple xray will show whether she is truly constipated or not. You can see the impacted bowels. I don't know, but maybe they could even tell with a sonogram. I understand that people, especially children, should not be exposed to MRI's and xrays unnecessarily, but this seems ridiculous that the doctor wont prescribe sedation. I would insist on an xray or ultrasound to prove the constipation, and if they agree and it is that, you will know what to do from there. If the doctor refuses or the results don't show constipation, get another doctor. You don't have to stay with the same pediatrician.

Did the doctor prescribe anything for the constipation? If you are constipated to the point of pain (and yes, it can get pretty bad), something needs to be done medically. Fiber and prunes won't cut it. There is a liquid laxative you can drink, makes you feel awful and crampy, but it takes care of it. I don't know what they give to children, but that is what they do for adults. If the doctor hasn't done anything for her at all, I would not hesitate to find a new doctor.

My oldest son was walking great. At age 18 months he just stopped walking. My pediatrician sent me to Dr. Mark Christofersen at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance. He found a rare kind of infection between the joints in his foot. He did surgery on my son and he was in the hospital for 7 days. Dr. Chris told me that if I had not been so persistent about something being wrong with my son that the infection could have crippled my son. Dr. Chris is a great pediatric orthopedist.

http://www.toa.com/physician/detail.cfm/doc_id/A79C6732-1...

I was reading some posts-growing pains could be the culprit, but I am especially aware that dehydration-which goes hand in hand with constipation, also goes hand in hand with muscle cramps. I get these alot, I am 9 mos. pregnant ans live off of coffee and hate hate hate water. Try more water, if she hates it,too, try orange juice, which is high in potassium(like bananas) and especially good at combatting leg cramps-which usually happen at night, too

I haven't read all the posts below (did read a few and agree with what I've read about seeking another doctor, etc), but it could possibly be leg cramps as well.

Try, while waiting to get in to be seen, giving her a banana a day for a few days and see if that helps. I know I've had leg cramps wake me up so hard I felt like screaming and then be sore for a few days after that.

I'd also keep after it though and if her regular doctor won't do anything, find an orthopedic doctor that will check her. It could be just growing pains as those do tend to hit at night.

Hope you are able to get it figured out soon and get her some relief!

I do not have experience with this but have heard of growing pains in legs. Supposedly it is severe pain. Try giving her Tylenol before bed to help her sleep with less pain. It is hard when she is too young to describe her pain. Ask the doc symptoms of that. Oddly enough the doc should have maybe said something about that. Not sure what else it could be at that age. Good luck, I am sure it is frustrating, sad, not to mention expensive. I would think the docs have heard of this before.

I like the recommendations to seek a diagnosis from an upper cervical chiropractor. Another option is a craniosacral therapist, which is a very gently therapy that uses only a nickel's weight worth of pressure. I have not heard of contipation causing limping. I would get a second opinion.

Has she has shots lately,my son has had this in the past but I bypassed the pediatrician took him to a child neurologist she gave him sedation and done a MRI and EEG,check in to that if this does not go away soon.

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H.,
I would agree with the growing pains. My son has had them since he was about three and he is now nine. He wakes up screaming and crying in the middle of the night. I give him ibuprofen and rub his legs and it eventually goes away. We had his legs x-rayed a few years ago just to make sure it wasn't something else but it showed nothing. My pediatrician agrees with the growing pains and says that as long as it seems to happen to both legs and not just one, he thinks that is what it is.
The fact that your family doctor tried to dismiss this as constipation would make me think about finding another doctor. I am a nurse and that is the most absurd thing I've ever heard! Lynnie

I agree with getting another doc. At least for a second opinion. Chiropractors are great for kids too...there are many issues that can be helped with regular adjustments.

Also, I would ask if she recently recieved any vaccines in the leg. They can cause some pretty nasty things to happen. Most doctors will completely deny that vaccines cause certain symptoms or problems...so be aware of that and do your own research if you decide to explore this possibility. Two places to help: www.nvic.org & a yahoo group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Vaccinations/

Personally, I'd seek out an Integrative Doctor if you can. They are MDs but usually have a more wholistic view. They can help your little one more naturally. Definately look for a second opinion..whether they are wholistic or not. Good luck mama...I hope you get some answers soon :-)

I have never heard of that but could it be a bad dream she keeps having and in it, maybe her leg is hurt?

What about severe growing pains?

I would go to a different doctor if you aren't happy with the current one.

Good luck!

H. I never heard of a child limping due to constipation but you can talk to your Pedi about using children's glycerin suppositories if she is constipated. The thing that instantly came to mind is "Growing Pains" both of my children had issues with that and it hurt and they limped. My son is almost 21 and had them for years as it was painful for him as his bones grew, my daughter is 7 and still occasionally gets them as well and I just give a bit of motrin. I too had this as a child and it hurt so bad it made me cry and I even thought at one point that I had some terrible disease that was debilitating... of course I didn't but it is that painful.

One week before my sons 4th B-day he was playing in the toy room and fell to the floor and started crying. As he would walk toward me he would favor his right hip then fall to the floor crying in pain. I initially thought that he had fallen on a toy but found no scratch or even reddened skin. It was like it came out of nowhere!
X-rays were normal doc said it was growing pains. After a few days of the same thing I was fed up and took him to my UC doctor. After the treatment he was out of pain but had small limp. Within two days that was gone too. I don't understand why it happened but I am sure that it was not "Growing Pains"

If you live in the Memphis, TN area try Dr. Alan James. He is a Pro Adjuster Chiropracter. I have found him very effective on most any type of pain and other situations. He does have children clients, including infants. If not in the Memphis area, look online for a "Pro-Adjuster" Chiropracter in your area. Dr. Alan James number is ###-###-####. You might give him a call.

If she is still having issues, have her checked for Legg Perthes disease. My youngest son had an issue when he was 5. He was limping and complaining about it hurting behind his knee. I took him to the doctor for something else and mentioned it to them. They did an xray and found the issue. My son had problems for about a year, but we did what the specialist said and within a year, he was doing great.

Hi H.,

Obviously your doctor is not going to help. I take my kids to a principled upper cervical chiropractor. (You can go to upspine.com and find one if you don't have one.) These chiropractors are great diagnosticians and can give you solid advice of how to combat whatever it is. If there truly is a need for medical attention they will tell you.

If it is simply a leg cramp an absorbable multivitamin will do the trick. Most don't absorb or have enough nutrition in them to help. Flintstones and those type are better off in the trash. They do more harm than good. If you don't have one, I'lll be glad to recommend one. If it constipation, good nutrition, water and exercise will help there. My first guess would be the leg cramping. That kind of pain is hard for even a 10 year old to explain if they've never had that happen.

God bless,

M.

It is so hard being mom and trying to figure out what is wrong with your baby. I would get a second opinion. MRI show alot more than an xray. It could eliminate doubt you may have. I read some of the other response and have pretty much the same ideas...leg cramps or growing pains...my daughter had them worse than my son. Chiropractors are a great way to go too.
Stay persistent...take care

I sent you posting to a friend that her son had some similar symptons. I felt she might be able to give you insight on how to handle this.

Dot Dunn January 14 at 10:41pm
Ok,I am not going to try to scare you and I pray that this is different than our pain.....Dec 6,2007 our 4 year old had pain in his leg and hip area.We went to our doctor and he sent us to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital.Found NOTHING.Everything was ok.Did not run any tests....other than blood.
We played with off and on pain until January 18,2008.Somedays Andy would be fine,some days he could not walk.On this day,Andy got a fever at school.We went back to doctor and was sent to Vandy Childrens Er again.We explained that we were not leaving until we knew what was going on.
The next day we were told that Andy had cancer...a rare cancer...Neuroblastoma,Stage IV high risk but many more tests would need to be run to make sure.By the end of the week,Andy had about 2 weeks to live unless we got chemo started immediatly.
Now,this is a VERY RARE case.But my advice would be to maybe get a CT scan.They do not take long.That would show constipation.We had that problem in the middle of chemo.
It just is not worth not getting checked out.Again,our case is very RARE>
Please do not let this scare you but it is worth getting checked out.
Praying,
Dot
www.caringbridge.org/visit/andydunn

My daughter also had a bacterial infection in her leg and was in pain as well. They did a simple drainage surgery. It was a tough time since she was only 5 months old.

Did they rule out a dislocated hip or knee. Like others have said constipation can be found by an x-ray. Also growing pains are very real. When my daughter was about 2 and a half she wouldnt step down on her feet. She started crawling again, wouldnt walk at all. I took her to her dr and they did x-rays and found nothing wrong and we decided it was growing pains. This lasted about 2 weeks then not to long later I had to buy her a new shoe size. I really hope you figure this out and its nothing serious.

I've never come across this myself, but being a stay at home mom and watching the TLC channel all day, they show people with weird side effects for all sorts of more serious problems! I would defiantly seek another doctor and get the MRI.

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no thats really odd.... talk to another doctor and another doctor until you get an answer this is not normal and my child is constipated alot and never limps of course everyone is different. but that just doesnt sound right to me