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.

[kenkayla524]

Have y'all asked the doctors to check for legg-calve-perthes disease. My child at the age of three started complaining about back back. It would hurt to sit in car sit. If she was very active for the day she would kind of limp. The doctor diagnosed it as Synovitis. Thinking she was just having joint pain after having a virus. He stated it would get better within 4 weeks. Well 6 weeks had went by. She had been very active that day playing on a blow up water slide. That night she couldn't even walk with out holding on to the wall. I took her back to the doctor the next day. He sent her for x-rays. He diagnosed her right on the spot. He said the only reason he knew what is was because he had one patient before to have. He said it is very rare. This disease is where the head of the femur bones blood supply for some reason cuts off making the head of he femur bone die off. If caught around age of 3 it is more likely to heal better. If not caught until later around age 6 you may be looking at surgery. Just have them look into it. And at their age around 3 there may not be much deterioration of the bone yet.

[mmrj1396]

I am amazed by the amount of people with this problem. I myself also thought, "A 2 yr old with back problems?" My son didn't have any health issues until he got on milk and regular food at 1. Every since then he is always sick. He was treated with milk allergies and a few others. About 4 months ago he started complaining about his back. He complains all the time, not just in a seat, etc. He screams and cries and when it is hurting he pretty much sleeps all day!

He also has respiratory problems, bowl problems and now that I'm thinking of it hasn't grown too much in the last year (he was such a chubby boy then once he got on food and milk it slowed dramatically and hasn't gained more then 2 lbs in 10 months which I overlooked because my oldest son is tiny!

The back is bad though. His lower back actually swells a little when he complains it's hurting. He runs fevers all the time and they reach 104-105 almost always! Our doctors have began to say it just appears he runs high fevers.

We have finally been tested for new things. We are being sent for gluten test. We are going for xrays and all that soon also. I'm hoping we figure this out.

A note to all: I did a lot of research and gluten intolerance and Celiac are very often misdiagnosed, overlooked, etc. One of the symptoms in children are often lower back pains. I suggest if it continues and nothing seems to help ask your doctor.

[mykidsaremyheart]

:) You are one smart, and loving mother! Becoming dairy free was our answer for us, it's been 3 years. It's nice not dealing with any sort of sickness or fevers, and pain. I love watching my kids grow very healthy. I didn't know how sick our family was until we went dairy free. Good luck to you.

[fatimah360]

I am truly speechless on how long this forum has been going on about the same complaints.  We are in 2012, sending people out to space, and able to zoom in with Google maps and visit a neighborhood virtually, and yet still no consistent diagnosis for our babies pain!  Very sad.  My 2 1/2 year daughter has same complaint, but more in her mid back and sometimes of to the side of her rib cage.  Not everyday, but sometimes, in car seat and lying down.  My family is vegetarian, and at one point was vegan.  Times got hard and living a vegan lifestyle can be very costly.  I will admit, I started letting my children take in some diary (butter & cheese), and this is now when my 2 year old started complaining.  I don't know what the deal is, but I know one thing, I will learn from all you guy's lesson.  I choose to not put my child through painful testing, because many of you have unfortunately and still haven't came back with  anything conclusive.  I will stick with what I know best, I learn from other people's mishap or mistakes.  I will definitely remove dairy again from her diet.  I will also increase her magnesium and calcium intake with some homeopathic medicine, as another person posted.  I will get her a foot rest for car seat, although she doesn't ride in a care often (I am a stay at home mom).  Some gentle messaging and helping my baby stretch regularly may even aid her.  I will do all of these things, along with some serious prayer, and hope that she will eventually grow out of this.  
God Bless all of you.

[tynellebaby]

I was reading all of these comments.... My daughter is 3 and has been complainingabout her back hurting as well. Its so strange after reading what you all have on here. She hurts in the car seat mostly and also while laying down. We have had xrays on her back as well as her hips. And everything was negative. She still complains and I have no idea what to do next! I'm thinking of printing these comments and showing them to our pediatrician. I hope we can figure this out.

[esas]

If your child continues to have episodic back pain and/or pain in peripheral areas (particularly the hips, knees or feet).....I recommend your pediatrician do a simple blood test for the HLA-B27 marker.  Positive for HLA-B27 coupled with the physical symptoms could indicate an auto-immune arthritis called Spondylitis.  Cases are classified as Undifferentiated Spondylitis or Ankylosing Spondylitis based on initial MRI/X-Ray results.  My daughter began with pain at 2 and positively diagnosed at 4.  She still has flares periodically, but has been doing quite well recently with treatment by her Pediatric Rheumatologist.  She is now 8 years old.  Feel free to post any questions and I will do my best to respond.