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.

[Kelly899]

I have read all of the posts about back pain in these toddlers and Im freaking about inside about my 2yr old, he has been complaining about back pain , feet pain, and has a rash on his face and neck. I took him to the dr. today and they wouldnt do anything . No blood work  at all, just told me to give him Advil as needed. Im scared because he to complains everytime he is in his carseat, and about 3-5 times a day at home. He wants me to rub it. I wanted to know if any of you have found anything new out.

[Vols4me98]

My back dr told me to bring my son to him after he was born because of the trauma to the spine while being born with squeezing thru the canal.I don't know if this will help but do not let the "Practicing DR" dismiss you and your child listen to your guts they don't have anything invested in YOUR Child. It would be different if it was their child.

[JLancaster]

We have a Recarro and a Britax Marathon car seat...Both of our boys hate sitting in the car seat but my 2 and 1/2 year old is able to tell me (our other baby is almost 9 months old) that his back hurts while my infant just screams like I am torturing him.  The back pain has been increasingly noticeable as my son screams and puts his arm behind him as though he were creating a lumbar support...This has been going on for about a year but more and more consistently and more and more painful by the expressions on his face.  I have switched car seats around and still no improvment.  Today after his bath I tried to massage his back to get an idea of where the pain is originating from and found that when he faced me and stood up straight, his right shoulder was hanging lower than his left...I have never noticed that before.  He did have an injury to his right upper arm around 1 years old when he tripped and fell with his arm in a toy...not sure if there is a connection or if when he does flips etc. he has possibly hurt himself.  He has never liked sitting in high chairs or car seats but my little boy is in serious pain.  I will post back with what we find.  We are calling the doctor first thing tomorrow morning!

[susanb2327]

Thought I'd also add that the chiro said it could be an injury, one that was minor initially, but has become exacerbated over time.  Chiro said he sees this several times per year in pre-schoolers, it's not rare (as we've all seen by all these posts).   We've cushioned the back of the car seat, added a support at the kitchen table, and for the car seat (just a box to put his feet on).  And we are doing the stretching the chiro recommended.  Out little guy is complaining MUCH less!

Thanks to all who posted the other diagnosis.  It's good for everyone to check out all the possibilities.  In our case it's something simple the chiro can fix over time.

[TOtt780]

Your child's case seems the most similar to mine. My 2 1/2 year old daughter woke up not wanting to walk, she would slide off of the couch but struggled to even push herself up. We are going to take her into the doctor today, but I wanted to mention that she also had pneumonia this year.
Tara

[Cami2]

My daughter is almost 2 and is also complaining about back pain on the right side of her back just below her ribs when she lies down at night and while riding in the car. It seems like a mystery. My husband and I have thought that maybe it is her kidney that is bothering her caused by not getting enough to drink.

Cami