Sunday, April 10, 2011

Help!

This is very out of character for me. I prefer to have my kids diagnosed by a professional doctor, but I'm desperate here! I need help. They just can't find out what is wrong with my sweet Annabelle. So here's a short version of the story...

Randomly one day she started to complain that her shoulder hurt. She could use it just fine, it wasn't swollen or bruised, it just hurt. Most nights she would wake up crying about how bad it hurt so I was giving her Motrin. This went on for about a week when I first took her to the Dr. There is a history of JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) in the family and other autoimmune diseases and I was afraid it might be something like that. So they ran lots of labs: blood culture, CBC, CMP, sed rate, arthritis panel, and maybe a few others, I can't remember. Everything came back normal. So we waited for about another 10 days. One day I went to lift her up and I grabbed under her armpits from behind and she burst out crying that it hurt her shoulder. I was convinced something was wrong and it was breaking my heart to see her in pain all the time so about 10 days later she went back to the Dr.

This time they did an x-ray first thing. After that we went back to the office to look at them. Everything looked fine. No breaks or cracks in the bones, no excess fluid around the joint, all look well. Then they took more blood to repeat the CBC and sed rate to see if anything was changing. When the results were back, everything was the same. So they said to give it a couple weeks and see how she is feeling before we call back. So that is where we are at now.

However, the pain continues. At times she doesn't use her left arm. Like getting on the potty or doing stickers with my mom. The necks of all her shirts are getting stretched out because she constantly pulls them off the left side to hold her shoulder. Sometimes you can just look at her and see her left arm hanging limp so her shoulders looked lopsided. For the most part she does play like normal until it starts hurting. So this it what makes me think it's an achy sort of pain in the joint.

Yesterday she was standing on a stair and slipped off to the stair below. She landed on her feet, but kind of hard because she slipped and immediately burst out into tears. Just that small impact of the landing off a 4 inch step had hurt her shoulder. I wanted to cry too. I just don't know what is wrong with my girl. I don't want her to be in pain any longer. My mom tells me that before my sister was diagnosed with JRA her labs would come back normal so it took a while for them to establish the diagnosis. But hers was in her knees and they were swollen for weeks, which led them to the diagnosis.

Something like arthritis is my best guess right now but I'm looking for ideas. Anyone have a clue what could be going on? I'm considering taking her to a chiropractor for a different approach, but Josh isn't so much into that. But I'm willing to do anything that will get her some relief. So please let me know if anyone has any insight, I'll take all the help I can get! Until then I'll be snuggling my sweet girl with a warm rice bag on her shoulder!

7 comments:

Laura said...

I was going to suggest taking her to a chiropractor, and your last little paragraph made me laugh. That is what I'd do though. It sounds like it could be a quick fix if it's her rotor cuff?

Trapper and Suzy said...

I haven't the slightest idea. I just hope they figure something out soon. We'll keep praying for her. Tell her we love her!

Laura Neill said...

Oh that sounds horrible! Poor little girl :( I really have no idea except maybe check her nerves. There is a main nerve that runs from your neck down your shoulder... Ask them to do an ekg(??) test on her... it's not fun at all, and involves needles, but it can tell a LOT about where the pain is coming from and what's going on.

I would also try a chiropractor. They can be scary if you go to a cooky one, but just get some recommendations for a normal/non-cooky one ;) That way it would make Josh feel more comfortable.

Allison said...

I understand the shoulder pain... I had a pinched nerve in my shoulder and it caused a lot of pain. The nerve test is actually an EMG... This may be a dumb question, but when they did the x ray, did they look at how her shoulder looked in the socket? If her joint is unstable and has a lot of mobility, she might be subluxating really easily and that would cause a lot of pain. It may be a good to take her to a orthopedist that specializes in bone and joint stuff. Just some thoughts...

Danica said...

I don't have any advice, just words of encouragement. Hang in there, you are the best mom and comfort for your girls. You know them the best. When they hurt, your heart hurts also. Keep praying for the revelation of what can help her. We'll keep you in our prayers also.

Melissa and Matt said...

I read your post to Matt and his only suggestion is to go to a pediatric orthopedist. He also said it is very rare for JRA to start in the shoulder. So it might not be that. It's so hard to see kids in pain. We will be thinking of you. Keep posting updates.

J@y kr{}LL said...

She always likes being spun around by the arms and stuff... maybe a sprain or stretched muscle?? I hope she feels better soon. Tell her and Layla that uncle Jay sends lots of loves.