[QUOTE=caroline2;1180867]This is probably far fetched but thought I'd make this comment.

A few years ago my grandson who is now 15 complained about a lot of pain. He's a very active boy, tennis player, vollyball and just always in motion. The pediatrician said it's probably growing pains and more exaserbated by his constant motion. Just a thought.


It would be great if that was the problem. Unfortunately I dont think we will be that lucky. Especially since this is the second time she has suffered with this. She isn't overly active and doesn't play sports. She had her MRI yesterday so hopefully that will give some answers. I will post results once we get them.

At this point, I worry as much about her mental state as I do her pain. She seems to be getting depressed having to deal with the constant pain. I am not sure if the Gabapentin makes the depression worse or not. Thank you for all the suggestions I am checking into each one.

Hi Thowell,

While some doctors refer to gabapentin as a mood stabilizer, it's certainly not an anti-depressant. I have felt very depressed on low doses of gabapentin.
It can be so sedating. I do not like the idea of a 12 year old using these anti-epileptic drugs unless they are very helpful. Yet, that's simply my own opinion.

Sometimes, doctors prescribe drugs in a certain class because the response, or lack of a response, may help them to reach the correct diagnosis.


I had almost touched upon your daughter's emotional state, as this has to be so very difficult for her.

Does gabapentin help her in any way? If so, which symptoms does it help with?
Is there another med which will help in the same way and maybe help more than gabapentin?

Any chance your daughter might see a therapist? Family counseling can be helpful, too. Socially, these are some important years for your daughter. I hope she does not have to "sit out" too much. I hope you can get some helpful answers soon. I know you are, and have been, trying very hard to get answers.

I definitely feel for you both.


DejaVu

Today is not going good......

Dd woke up this morning in alot of pain and with alot of nausea. Yesterday afternoon seemed to be pretty good, she even felt like learning how to make an apple pie. It was short lived. ......

She had another MRI and blood work on Saturday not sure when we will get results back. Her next appointment is with Orthopedics on the 12th. Today is proving to be a bad day for her. Lots of prayers today for she and I.

Hi thowell,

I'm sorry to read that your daughter is having another difficult day. I truly hope she improves a bit as the day goes on.

In a previous post, I had mentioned seeking help from an Integrative practitioner. I don't know if that is something you would be interested in or not but here is an informative link from the Institute of Functional Medicine that offers people an opportunity to learn about FM and even helps one to find a practitioner in this field.

https://www.functionalmedicine.org/a..._a_functional/

I hope today gets better .... for the both of you

Bryanna

Thank you Bryanna. I will definitely give it a look. I am not above trying anything that would help her.

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

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.

>>She has a constant muscle spasm on her right side of her neck which runs from the top of the shoulder to under the base of the skull. Her right shoulder is obviously higher than the left.

Can you pinpoint the exact area? http://www.curecandida.website/wp-co...es-diagram.jpg
One answer could be to use Botulin toxin (under ultrasound) if the spasms don't stop. Perhaps worth asking the Dr.