Back injury in a 2 yr old with shooting pain to the head?

Question

My son is 2 and a 1/2 and he gets this shooting pain up his neck and to his head. right below the right ear and above the neck . I took him to the ER adn they did a CT scan and there was nothing. The dr's think it is coming from the shoulder area. It looks like it comes up when he moves and had it 3 times today.

Does anyone have any ideas what I can do to stop this. Or massage points? anything please the dr's are saying just log the pain and then call them in a few days.

I really have no clue to where this is coming from. He never hurt his back that i know of. He holds the back of his head and screams. When we went to the er he held his head and then his nose blead. The ER QUACK Nurse practioner ( the dr was on the phone) never acknolegded the pain and said the Nosebleed was from allergies...he doesn't have them. So I went to the reg dr snd she said that the best she can tell is it is muscular and that the nosebleed was due to the bloodpressure shooting up from the intensity of the pain. So they are waiting and seeing ...crap

Answer 1

I really encourage you to take your toddler to a pediatric neurologist ASAP. An MRI is likely in order. I am stunned that they did not suggest this to you in the ER. In the meantime, I would alternate appropriate doses of tylenol and advil.

Hang in there,
~M~

Answer 2

A few people have suggested you see a chiropractor...I STRONGLY recommend you not even consider this UNLESS your childs pediatrician recommends it. Chiro's do way more harm then good with children...afterall, your child's bones and muscles are still developing and you do not want ANYONE to do anything to your child that may screw up that process. Any legitimate chiro won't see a child w/o a referral from a pediatrician, and even then, they still may not see your son.

Does your son currently have, or had, an ear infection? If so, have your pediatrician do a spinal tap to rule out spinal meningitis. The symptoms you describe are similar in nature to the one's I had when I was diagnosed with meningitis. The pain in my ear was so bad the only thing I could do to find relief was tilt my head all the way back. If the CT scan is normal there's no need for a neurologist, however, you may want to consider having a 2nd opinion and have the films re-read. It sounds like the pain generator is his ear...you may want to see an Ear/Nose/Throat doc.

Answer 3

Possible there is a pinched nerve between some disks in his neck. Another possibility is it could have something to do with his jaw/TMJ. I have jaw problems, my jaw pops and clicks, when it is bad this is the type of pain I get. Pediatric dentist would be the best place to have this checked. ? Don't know. Best bet is probably a chiropracter. Even if it has nothing to do with this, it could be a good place to start.
It feels better when someone rubs just in front of my earlobes and down until just under the earlobe and then back and up behind the ear, sometimes even hurts down in my neck slightly just below back of skull on both sides, not sure if this is connected to TMJ or my neck.

Answer 4

First, did they xray to see if the disc are lined up in spine correctly? Was this from a fall or accident you know of? Young spines can be easily injured and kids that age are active. I highly urge you to have the spine xrayed first. Then I'd push for a head/neck MRI to rule out a pinched nerve or possibly a congenital problem hidden until now. Not to alarm but many adults suffer because a problem was overlooked from a fall/accident and only became worse due to lack of medical care.

Try cold packs to area of neck for maybe 5-10 minutes and off for about hour to see if helps. If it does then there is inflammation in the area. I have several spine problems.

As an adult and having had the xrays and MRIs done I have about given up on "specialists". The wait and see approach has done more damage. I found an awesome chiropractor that does adults and children, even infants to correct spine problems from delivery, falls, etc. Not all chiropractors are good, just like any area of medecine. Good and not so good docs out there. But they are the experts on doing spine xrays and what discs/nerves cause pain to which area, etc.

I would push your child's regular doc to take this seriously. Try children's meds for inflammation, ice packs and gentle massage of muscles in upper back. Are the muscles tighter than normal in that area?? That can cause pain. If his doctor drags his feet and not getting any better then call and ask around for a chiro that does infants/children. But you'd want imaging done first to make sure what is going on. If his spine is out of alignment then a chiro can safely get it straight again and take pressure off the nerve shooting pain to head. A reputable chiro will not proceed without knowing more about what the hidden cause could be. Mine didn't. Be ware of one that has "all the answers and can fix anything". I had one tell me he could help my MS?? Hope you get help soon and it is nothing serious.

Answer 5

Not against the lot, only the individual driver. Tell him to go to a personal injury attorney and they will handle it from here. Oh, and make sure he documents ALL his injuries with a physician, not just talking about it to friends and family, that means nothing, he has to have actual medical records.

Answer 6

It sounds like meningitis. He should have been given antibiotics. It is shocking that he was allowed home. I would take him back to a different emergency room and make an appointment with your doctor. Maybe a lawyer.

Answer 7

Forget about the emergency room!! Have your son's pediatrician make him an appointed with a neurologist and/or an orthopedic surgeon, and do it 1st thing in the morning!

Answer 8

You may want to consider a chiropractor.

Chiropractic is very safe for children and can really be helpful.

My daughter had her first adjustment at the age of 2.

Answer 9

find a new doc. this sounds dangerous. what kind of back injury are we talking about? i know he's young but, can't they give him something for the pain? do you have a childrens hospital in your area? i would have him looked at there.

Answer 10

sorry not good enough.you need to go back and demand treatment and tests.this is your baby you know him best,they will try and make you out to be neurotic,tell them where to go and demand treatment.this should not be left.