toddler complains of back pain

[sarah2032]

I have an almost 2 1/2 year old son who began complaining of back pain in mid-October.  We had just had another baby, so I didn't really think much of it at first.  Then in early November he wouldn't walk, after x-rays and blood work all came back normal our pediatrician diagnosed him with toxic synovitis.  He began walking and was back to normal in a couple days.  However, the occasional complaint of back paincontinued, most of the time when he was laying down.  We took him back in to the Dr. and had more x-rays done.  Then in the beginning of December he began to complain of back pain when he was in his car seat.  Again, i just took it as he wanted out, nothing too alarming.  It has gotten worse that now he will scream like he is in enormous pain whenever he's in the car seat.  I have since paid close attention to what it is that hurts.  He always grabs for the middle of his lower back with his right hand and says that's where it hurts.  We had a Britax Boulevard carseat since April and were praying that it was the carseat that we went and got a new one.  Same thing in the new one.  I then began watching him sit.  When he sits he will not sit with weight equally distributed on both hips, he'll immediately shift his weight to one side or the other, or need to sit sideways with a leg up, then he's fine.  Since a 5 point harness prevents him from doing so, he can't figure out how to fix whatever it is that hurts.  This week he also started it in the stroller.  He will not sit on my lap without shifting to one side or the other.  Even if I distract him with TV or a snack or anything he's all over the place.  If I try to make him sit straight he will immediately begin kicking his legs and squirming his back all over the place, and then scream.  Our pediatrician ordered more x-rays but I don't know what else to do or who else to see for a consult.

[DrTanase]

Sarah, I would suggest you look into finding a pediatric chiropractor... Someone who's specialized in pediatrics, not just any old chiropractor though... A good source for finding a referral is here:  http://www.icpa4kids.org/locator/index.php

Pediatric chiropractic adjusting is VERY gentle, involves no pain, and is completely safe. It could be all that's needed for your toddler's problem.

[evygrace]

Hello,

  My son will be 3 in August and has been complaining of back pain when he is in the car for 6 months. At first it was infrequent and I thought it was discomfort from car sickness, and now much more frequent and now he tells me that it is his back. We have tried changing the seat, adding a pillow, changing cars, and it is always the same thing.
I took him to a pediatric orthopedic, and he took an xray and said that everything was normal (although did not show me the xray) I was dissatisifed with his service and will be getting a second opinion.
After readining everyone's experiences, something must be going on, and I notice that all of our children are close in age.

[PortlandMom3]

I am desperate also. My daughter is 32 mo. and wakes up in terrible screams at night. The Dr. thought it might be night terrors but she does say that her back hurts and it is usually were the kidneys are. The dr. did a tap test on her kidneys and she nearly doubled over yet all urinalysis came back with no growth. She also screams in the car seat arching her back and pulling at the harness, but honestly I never put two and two together until reading your comments. I thought it was just two year old stuff. I am very concerned. She has had this problem off and on since she turned 1. The suggestion about the pediatric chiro. is a good one. We are also checking her for milk allergies. She was nursed until 11mo. and that is about the time it started (when she was switched to milk). My oldest daughter is casein intolerant. Milk allergies are directly associated with night wakings; so that is our next step. Thought that might help. I will let you all know the results. We go to a holistic pediatrician and she has written medical papers on food allergies and intolerances relation to behavior and sleep patterns. Hopefully this will do the trick.

[sec1176]

This is a popular complaint of toddlers huh? My 24 mo old daughter has been saying her back hurt off and on for a couple of months. She has a history of urinary tract infections. So initially I freaked out and took her to Patient First. They did a blood panel and urinalysis...nothing but a virus detected...stomach they said...The back pain radiated from her stomach. So after that I ignored her saying that and dismissed it as gas. Well I mentioned it at her 2 yr old checkup and her doctor did not like that one bit! She is ordering complete blood work, xray and MRI. I am also going to request another urinalysis. She told me it hurts 2x today and 4x 3 days ago. The pain is real. We have not even mentioned the word "back" in front of her for days and she will touch her back and say softly that it hurts. She has also said her hair hurts and fooled with the bottom of the back of her head (which of course is the top of her spine) She also has a rash called pityriasis right now. Obviously my imagination is running away with itself. Help feedback anyone....waiting stinks!

[happygirls]

I don't want to frighten anyone but its better to error on the side of caution with this matter.  My younger sister complained of back pain around age 3 to 4.  It was much worse when sitting and lying down she had to get up and move around.  After many Dr visits and test over several months an MRI revealed a tumor on her spine.  She had some blood test come back with odd results prior to having the MRI but the Dr just didn't put it together and xrays did not show the cancer.  She even had MRI's of the neck done but the tumor was lower so they did not find it at first.  She then had surgery and radiation to remove the tumor.  The good news is that she is now 29.  My advise would be to get another opinion and an MRI.  Some Dr told my parents that nothing was wrong with her that it was all mental.  Your the parent and you know when something is not right with your child.

[wendy411]

My two year old has been complaining of back pain for 8months mostly in car seat and when sleeping. Doctors ordered mri came back she had lypomitosis just went back for another mri last week because of three uti's, also went to neph doctor that said she may have a neurogenic bladder caused by the lypomitosis. However her second mri results show no lypomitosis. This mri states a vessel but cannot exclude a spinal sinus tract. Now i dont know what to do. Hope this helps someone.