Update - Results In
 

So I just received a call from nurse at daughters GP office. All blood work tests are normal. MRI shows lack of curvature in neck due to spasms!!! This is the exact same results we received in 2011. No reason as to why she is having constant spasms in her neck.

She is scheduled for Physical Therapy work up on the 5th of December. She has an appointment with Orthopedics next week but I doubt that will be helpful since the MRI shows nothing.

Now I am wondering if she should continue the Gabapentin. She is taking 600mg a day. If we do decide to stop is there a certain way to withdraw her from it?

I am sooooo frustrated!

I hear your frustration. My thinking is why not see a qualified chiropractor, MANY work with children from birth. I would not use the drugs, they have their potential side effects and can cause more issues than one already has.

Hope you will find down the road the root of her pain and work in a more natural manner.

I've never taken gabapentin but I think one has to withdraw slowly. Not sure.

So many chiropractors have gone on to work holistically and that is what I'd be looking for if it were my child.

Thowell,

I know this is frustrating to you and it seems impossible that after 4 years of her suffering that something else is not showing up in her blood work or on the MRI. But in all honesty, her doctors are just repeating what has already been done because that is all that is required of those who strictly practice within the guidelines of what is called medical standard of care. They are not required to go beyond that type of care if they believe they are treating that person within a reasonable and acceptable manner. So a typical journey for a person under this type of care, which is evident of your daughters journey thus far, would be to have her symptoms treated with medication and at some point possibly surgery. Physical therapy may or may not help at this point simply because the root cause of her pain is still unknown.

I'm sorry, I know I sound like a broken record. I feel for your daughter and because of my lengthy career in the healthcare industry, I sincerely encourage you to give serious consideration to seeking help from an Integrative medical professional or a physician who practices Functional Medicine. These are the doctors who will look beyond the routine test results to try an uncover the root cause of her problem.

I wish you and your daughter well. I hope things turn around for the better for her very soon.

Bryanna

I have made a decision to withdraw Dd from Gabapentin. I will decrease it by 100 mg a day until she is off it completely. I have also made an appointment for her with a highly regarded Chiropractor next Friday.

Bryanna, I was able to find a Physician in our local area per the site you linked for me. I have a call into them now to see when we can get in for consult.

Traditional medicine has failed this child for 4 years and she has lost alot of her childhood to this pain. I am willing to go outside the "norm" to find her the solution to her pain. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for all the support and suggestions so far!!

Neurophysiology
 

The gabapentin taper of decreasing 100 mg per day seems rather fast.

Have you spoken to the prescribing physician about your desire to taper your daughter off of gabapentin? I'd hope s/he would prefer to give you a safe tapering schedule than getting locked into a disagreement with you on this topic. It doesn't hurt to ask for a doctor's input on tapering off the gabapentin.
Ultimately, you can still do things the way you want to do them.;)

It's possible the gabapentin is offering your daughter some relief, albeit not enough relief. It's difficult to know what symptoms she may feel as she is withdrawn off of the med. Additional signs/symptoms may surface as the taper continues. I'd take this withdrawal/decrease more slowly and note any changes she reports/exhibits.

As I read your posts, the cause of your daughter's discomfort seems more neurological than orthopedic.

It's important any possible neuromuscular/movement disorder be investigated. This is done through testing done by a neurophysiologist.
I had linked in information for you in a prior post.

An integrative approach can be taken to treating neuromuscular conditions.
These are often genetic in origin, although not always.
If genetic, epigenetics may potentially be explored, as well.

I like the functional medicine approach and I hope a functional medicine physician can help to sort this out. I still encourage a full work-up in a neurophysiology lab. I hope the neurologist will order these tests for your daughter, sooner rather than later.

I hope a functional medicine doctor can help your daughter with comfort, asap.

You might also get some assistance from reading up on magnesium here. There is a lot of information on magnesium and more. The search engine on this site will lead you to a lot of information.

You and your daughter are in my thoughts and prayers.

:hug:
DejaVu

Thowell,

I just replied to your private message. Please check that when you get a chance. Thanks :)

Hopeful for today!!!
 

Dd12 is seeing Chiropractor today that her new IFM Physician has suggested. Not expecting much to happen on first visit but very hopeful that someone will finally be able to tell us what is causing her pain.

BTW she is back on 600 MG Gabapentin. While it may not be helping her actual pain, it is definitely helping her mentally handle things right now. Once she was down to around 200 MG of it her mood started to change dramatically. This in turn makes the pain even worse. So, for now she is on it. Not happy with this but the Doc will have to help me remove her from this when it is time. I will update after appointment. Keep prayers coming our way!!! Thanks

Well today was a huge disappointment and waste of time. Dr had appointment with Orthopedics. The Dr. Walked in and within 5 minutes and not even examining her, decided they couldn't help. She said if there is headache involved then it is neurology. But neurobiology told us the same thing!!!! Ugh

Positive note dd has her first appointment with IFM physician Wednesday. She also had her first visit with Hollistic Chiropractor last night and he spent more time examing her than any other physician so far. He will have her do a series of test on next visit to try and determine issue.

Off Gabapentin!!
 

Yay!! Today is dds first full day off the Gabapentin. She has actually done really well. Pain is no more or less. She is having hard time sleeping so I may have her take a Melatonin to help her tonight.

Final evaluation at Chiropractor tomorrow. Very interested to see what muscle tests reveal. Will update with any news.

Side rant on the Gabapentin - I am so angry that her PCP put her on this dangerous medication and did not even bother to go over the dangers with me!!! Ugh - just glad to get her free of it finally.

Thowell,

Glad to hear that she is off the Gaba and doing okay.

So what is the latest regarding the Chiropractors examination??

Bryanna