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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Body Pain In A Child?

I have a 14 yr old daughter. She has entire body pain all over. They have tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, Lupus. Nothing everyone came back good. They put her on a Anti Depressant today and Amitriptyline. They believe she is depressed. this has been going in for over a year. There is no relief from Aspirin, Tylenol, Aleve. She feels no one understands her constant pain. The Dr wants her to wait this out for a month. Do you feel this is right to let her deal with the pain? I have to wonder if there is something else going on with her. Please help neither one of us can take it much longer. No wonder were both depressed.
Wed, 19 Nov 2014
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Pediatrician 's  Response
Your daughter should not have to wait this out. The use of amitriptyline for her pain will address the symptom but not the cause. Although she has been tested for some causes of pain, there is as yet no answer and one MUST be found. Your daughter’s pain is not caused by depression, The depression is being caused by the pain. It is well known that chronic pain leads to depression. Chronic pain also interrupts the sleep cycle leading to more pain. Is your daughter “double jointed” i.e. can she place her palms on the floor when bending over, can she hyperextend her knees, elbows? do her ankles seem loose? Does she have lightheadedness when arising from lying down, weakness, generalized abdominal discomfort? If any of these are present, have her checked for Marfan syndrome or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, both of which can cause pain everywhere with normal labs. These are disorders of connective tissue structure and are quite painful. Treatment is possible but accurate diagnosis is necessary. Ask to have her seen by a specialist in pain and or physical medicine and rehabilitation, both specialties will be able to sort out the diagnosis. Knowing why she hurts will go a long way toward relieving the trauma for her and replace her sense of hopelessness with a direction she can take to start to get better.
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What Causes Body Pain In A Child?

Your daughter should not have to wait this out. The use of amitriptyline for her pain will address the symptom but not the cause. Although she has been tested for some causes of pain, there is as yet no answer and one MUST be found. Your daughter’s pain is not caused by depression, The depression is being caused by the pain. It is well known that chronic pain leads to depression. Chronic pain also interrupts the sleep cycle leading to more pain. Is your daughter “double jointed” i.e. can she place her palms on the floor when bending over, can she hyperextend her knees, elbows? do her ankles seem loose? Does she have lightheadedness when arising from lying down, weakness, generalized abdominal discomfort? If any of these are present, have her checked for Marfan syndrome or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, both of which can cause pain everywhere with normal labs. These are disorders of connective tissue structure and are quite painful. Treatment is possible but accurate diagnosis is necessary. Ask to have her seen by a specialist in pain and or physical medicine and rehabilitation, both specialties will be able to sort out the diagnosis. Knowing why she hurts will go a long way toward relieving the trauma for her and replace her sense of hopelessness with a direction she can take to start to get better.