Teen daughter with lower back problems

[dancer67]

My 17 yo has been suffering with lower back problems. She has had this issue since she has been about 13 yo. She has been dancing since she has been 4 yo as well. At first we took her to Shriners. They did a back X-ray, really didn't see anything, and gave her some exercises.

 

Her back progressively got worse again. I started taking her to a Chiropractor. He did another back X-Ray, and said that one hip was higher then the other(but not much), and one leg was shorter. But not enough for her to wear corrective shoes. it is enough though, to cause her lower back pain where it also shoots down her legs.

 

So he has been doing back adjustments. And finally they set her up with PT. He said she can still dance.

 

But she is still in SO much pain.

 

I don't know if this Chiro is doing her much good or not.

 

Is there some kind of other Dr. she should be seeing? I already called an Ortho, but they said they do not deal in backs. I feel bad that she is having this much pain all the time.

 

Will the PT really help her?

 

If anyone has any other suggestions, I am open to them. Thank you.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Perhaps an osteopathic doctor? They can do manipulations but they can also treat things medically.

[DianeW88]

My dd is a ballet dancer. Her PT is her best friend. They are miracle workers...truly. She also gets a massage once a month (ask your PT for a masseuse recommendation). He's another miracle worker. My dd is pain free....an amazing thing for a dancer.

 

Diane W.

married for 22 years

homeschooling 3 kiddos for 16 years

[dancer67]

Oh a masseuse!! That is an excellent idea. And a homeopathic chiro maybe as well??

 

Thank you!:001_smile:

[Dobela]

Have you also looked into other possible problems? Endometriosis and PCOD can also cause lots of lower back pain - even when she isn't flowing.

[Starr]

If these other things don't work she needs to see an orthopedic doctor that specializes in backs. If she's having shooting pains down her legs that are worse from ballet i would question her ability to keep up with dance. I know that's not what she wants to hear. I hope you find some help for her.

[Luckymama]

Are you sure there are no stress fractures in her back? This is common with dancers, especially once they get into their middle/upper teens after being on pointe for years.

[dancer67]

She has had a back Xray and no stress fractures. She has been to the GYN and has no female problems.

 

I made an appt with a masseuse and she is going this afternoon.

 

But the mention of an ortho Dr might be next in line though.

[Mejane]

Are you sure there are no stress fractures in her back? This is common with dancers, especially once they get into their middle/upper teens after being on pointe for years.

 

This was my first thought. My daughter kept complaining of leg pain after a rigorous performance last year. The staff PT told her she had a muscle knot. Turned out to be a stress fracture. She had been dancing on a broken leg for weeks. :glare:

 

X-rays don't always catch stress fractures. My daughter's fx was clearly visible on a bone scan.

[dancer67]

I have decided to make an appt with an Orthopedic Surgeon for a second opinion. If she has a stress fracture, I do not want anyone else touching her. I cancelled the back massage as well.

 

What do they do if she has a stress fracture?

[Mejane]

 

What do they do if she has a stress fracture?

 

My daughter's was in her lower leg. She was in an air-cast and on crutches for six weeks, and out of dance for two months then started back verrry slowly.

 

I'm not sure how they would treat a back injury. Good luck!

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

Just a thought, you said this has been going on since she was 13, I am guessing it has not been a stress fracture that long, have they checked bone density and for other problems? Scoliosis? MS? (sorry, I know those are vicious, but its just a thought:confused:)

[Mejane]

Just a thought, you said this has been going on since she was 13, I am guessing it has not been a stress fracture that long, have they checked bone density and for other problems? Scoliosis? MS? (sorry, I know those are vicious, but its just a thought:confused:)

 

Not to keep hijacking, but... my daughter's osteopath said since dancers have such low body fat, they are at risk for brittle bones. I think it's a great idea to have her density checked.

[dancer67]

She has had lower back pain since she was 13. But it was not this bad. This pain came on severely after she went back to dance a few weeks ago. It never went down her leg before.

 

She has been checked for scoliosis(negative), but no bone density, and not MS.

 

So I am not sure if something else is going on. I think though, that an Ortho Surgeon should be able to tell me if there is something serious going on, correct?? More then a Chiro?

 

If there isn't we will go back to the Chiro again if that is what he suggests.

 

She is scheduled to start PT on her back in October.

 

I just feel like I should make sure there is nothing more serious going on, and have more injury to be caused, KWIM?

 

And if she did have a stress fracture in her back, I have no idea how they treat that.

[Mejane]

Have you considered sciatica?

http://www.back.com/symptoms-sciatica.html

[Teachin'Mine]

Have they checked for bladder or kidney infections? Not likely since it got worse after returned to dance - sounds much more likely to be something dance related, but just thought I'd mention that. I'm sure she loves dance, but without the pain being relieved, it doesn't sound like a good idea to continue. Pain is the body's way of telling you something's wrong. I hope you are able to get some good answers and she's able to continue dancing.

[LibraryLover]

Makes me want to take my dd out of ballet right now. :(

[Mejane]

Makes me want to take my dd out of ballet right now. :(

 

Wait'll you see what a few more years does to their feet... :tongue_smilie:

[LibraryLover]

Wait'll you see what a few more years does to their feet... :tongue_smilie:

 

 

Trying not to think about that. We are trying to do this slowly. She attends a pre-pro school , and they seem to take care in building core strength, which comforts me. She recently started prepointe (stretching, positioning), but only 1 hour/week, spread out over 2 days, in addition to her regular ballet days. I don't see the down side to going slowly here. Right?

Edited September 15, 2014 by LibraryLover

[JFSinIL]

A pain specialist. That is where I am currently taking my 16-yr-old dd, for her stabbing chronic pain deep in one spot of her back right thigh. X-rays, something with needles measuring something (ENT??), ultrasounds, doppler scans, two MRI's of her lower back (which doesn't hurt but is a nerve was pinched between L4 and L5 it would have explained pain in that part of the leg) - NOTHING. Waiting results from an MRI of the thigh itself from a sports med. ortho specialist (referred by the pain doc. who was referred by the neurologist who was referred by the first baffled orthopedist who was referred by the pediatrican. ) Did six weeks of PT, too - scant help.

 

The pain doc. will do local injections to numb the pain, depending on what the latest MRI shows. He may have other tricks up his sleeve too - she just started seeing him.

[Pippen]

Is she sleeping on a good quality mattress? My husband's grandma has back pain so severe she was hospitalized. They didn't find anything significant but someone finally thought to check her mattress.

[Luckymama]

The girls who had back stress fractures (pre-professional ballet company) generally wore a brace for however long. I think most were around 3 months but my memory could be faulty. There hasn't been a back stress fracture in a few years, thank goodness. One girl did have to stop because of hip problems.

 

Dd15 got through ballet without injury. She stopped dancing when she began high school, since she desperately wanted to get into theatre and there was NO WAY both schedules would have meshed.

 

Dd10 has started prepointe, with an hour spread over her three weekly classes. I don't know when she'll be ready for pointe. Dd15 was 10 when she got her first pair of shoes---most girls are around 11---but she was unusually ready early (by whatever criteria---I know they were amazed by her strength and flexibility but there was something else about bones).

[plansrme]

This will not necessarily help you find the cause of the problem, but it may help with the pain itself.

 

I took my 10 yo swimmer to an acupuncturist for back pain due to a very, very tight back muscle. This muscle was as hard as the proverbial rock due to, we have since learned, a significant discrepancy in her leg length. An hour with the acupuncturist, though, loosened it right up. She walked out pain-free. Now, the pain did come back the next day, but it was much less severe, and we eventually found out what was causing it. She now manages it with shoe implants and stretching.

 

I also agree with your plan to take a second look for a stress fracture in her pelvis, femur or back. They are fairly common among gymnasts and not unheard of among swimmers (I have one of each), and other gym moms have been frustrated with how difficult these are to diagnose.

 

Terri

[mhg]

Has she had a DEXA to check bone density? Serious (ballet especially) dancers are at risk for osteoporosis.

[dancer67]

Well, she has a brand new, quality mattress.

 

She really started upping her dance about two years ago. She has been on Pointe going on her third year, and ballet in her third year. She has always done Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. For years now.

 

I do think that dance has put a huge strain on her back. Maybe not. I don't know.

 

I have also thought of Sciatica, because her pain sounds a lot like when mine acts up, and dancing might make it worse.

 

What we do know for sure, is the one hip is higher then the other. Not by much, and one leg a hair shorter. According to the Chiro. The hip being higher I saw myself.

 

But I just have to wonder if there is more going on. I would feel better knowing that an actual back surgeon is going to see her. I am sure he will order an MRI. Which would be fine with me. If everything is clear, then I will see where we will go from here.

 

Although Chiro says it is fine for her to dance, I am not so sure about that.

[DianeW88]

If the ortho gives you the all clear, I would make another appointment with a PT who specializes in dance. My dd's PT is a former ballet dancer and depending on what my dd's problem of the week was, she would have her actually dance across the floor (the other patients would stop and stare at the two ballerinas :lol:) and assess how she was standing, holding her body, etc. My dd's entire painful hip problem was the result of how she had been standing (she also has one leg slightly shorter than the other and that can cause HUGE problems for a dancer trying to compensate for it). Once her PT adjusted her body position and made her go through a barre (constantly correcting her), the pain stopped. Call the professional ballet company in your city or state and ask who their PT is. A PT who works with football players, golfers and stroke victims generally doesn't know how to address the needs of a ballet dancer adequately.

 

Diane W.

married for 22 years

homeschooling 3 kiddos for 16 years

[Liz CA]

Has she been checked for endometriosis?

This caused me years of agony in my lower back. Even young people can unfortunately develop this but it's controllable once diagnosed.

Edited September 24, 2010 by Liz CA

[Laura Corin]

I would definitely see the physio. They can sometimes do surprising things. I was being treated by my doctor for tennis elbow to no avail; he sent me to the physio, who discovered that it was a nerve problem in my neck and set me up with some exercises. An amazing cure.

 

Laura

[galtgrl]

A low cost, non-intrusive approach to try, if you're so inclined, would be something called The Miracle Ball Method (I know, it sounds ridiculous).

Here's a link:

http://www.elainepetrone.com/

 

I got the gift set with the balls & book and it has made a HUGE difference to me. I used to be a rower, which probably contributed to my issues, but my back was so bad that I would sometimes spend days on the floor. One leg was higher than the other, many times. I have never (3+ years later) had it get bad since using the balls. If I start to feel "off", doing a short session puts me right back together.

 

Best wishes on finding a good solution. Back pain is awful...it shouldn't be an issue for someone as young as your dd!

[Ailaena]

Haha, everyone seems to have a different thought, so here is mine!

 

I have been coaching gymnastics for nearly 15 years, and there are always girls with lower back pain. The direct cause for nearly all of these girls has been poor posture and a weak core.

 

Yes, weak core can cause severe shooting pains as the kids will compensate by twisting slightly or leaning slightly and putting pressure in finny spots. Yes, you can be a dancer and still have terrible posture when you walk off of the floor. Yes, you can work core every day with the class and still be weak in that area. Everyone is different, and some kids need more work in certain areas. At this age they are all having growth spurts and some muscles just need some extra working on. I can imagine it would even be worse for a dancer since they are drawn up on relevé or pointe for even longer than any gymnast could ever dream.

 

The PT should pick up something like that, and fyi, there are definitely orthos out there who specialize in back problems!

 

Also, NOT ALL STRESS FRACTURES SHOW UP ON XRAY! Very often, you will need an MRI to something like that to rule it out, especially if it is on a growth plate.

 

I hope you find out what it is so that she can begin feeling better:grouphug:

[Perry]

She really started upping her dance about two years ago. She has been on Pointe going on her third year, and ballet in her third year. She has always done Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. For years now.

 

So are you saying she started ballet and pointe at the same time? If so, this is a huge red flag that she is not receiving good instruction. Dancers need several years of intensive ballet before starting pointe. I'd also be concerned about whether her shoes fit, as they so often aren't fitted properly, resulting in feet, ankle, knee and back problems. I posted this on another thread:

 

 

 

I really like the forum Ballet Talk. Here is part of a sticky that is posted there. You'd have to join to read it all, but it's a great site with a wealth of information.

 

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT GOING ON POINTE

 

1. Pointe work is NOT for everyone, regardless of how long they study and how old they are.

 

2. Taking ballet for 5 years or 15 years or 30 years does not mean that you are well trained enough or have the physical facility to dance on pointe. Some people have had ballet "training" (and that is in quotes because there are, unfortunately, still thousands of schools in this country who hold ballet classes, but have no idea of what ballet training really is) for 10 years, once a week. Others have had 3 or 4 years, but many more classes per week. Which one will be more advanced? This is not a trick question. It depends on the training, however, it is more likely that the one with 3 or 4 years will be more advanced because the kinds of schools who even have once a week classes are not teaching ballet properly.

 

3. In a properly graded school with teachers who know what they are doing, students who have the potential to progress to the pointe level will be encouraged into at least 3 one hour and a half classes a week by the time they reach the age of 10 or 11 and have had 2 to 4 years of training. Pointe work would begin for these students as they arrive at the age of 12 or older and have at least 3 years of training.

When she gets to pointe, make sure she has her shoes fit by someone who really knows what they are doing. If it takes 5 minutes, they don't know what they are doing. Here are a couple articles.

 

Pointe shoes

 

When Can I Start Pointe Work?

Guidelines for Initiating Pointe Training

[Paz]

My dd had back pain around 13 as well. She was a softball player. After ruling anything major out she ended up going to a personal trainer. They specialize in helping athletes condition their muscles and body for competitive sports. They train professional athletes, etc. They found that certain muscles needed strengthened and built up. After a few months of working out with them twice a week her pain was just about gone. Now she is great and is pain free.

[dancer67]

Well, endometriosis has been ruled out.

 

But, she has NOT had an MRI. Which I am hoping the Ortho Dr. will order to make sure nothing is going on.

 

To the poster who mentioned Pointe and shoes.

 

She was professionally fitted for shoes. But you brought up a good point about the intensive training.

 

She only started ballet and Pointe 3 years ago. And she is 17. So she started pointe when she was 14. And prior to that, she never had any Pointe training at all.

 

We do not have a large dance community here, so trying to find a dance PT wouldprobably be impossible.

 

What I will do is wait to see what the Ortho Dr. says. Then go from there and see what the best course of action is.

 

I just want her to stop being in pain. I mean her back hurts, but not every day to the point where she is in severe pain. And it radiates down both her legs. She has no weakness or numbness at all. Her back may bother her on a daily basis, but it REALLY bothers her after dance.

 

Thank you everyone for your advice and help. I will post back with an updat after Wed. appt.

 

:grouphug:

[oldskool]

I had terrible back pain throughout middle school and high school and nobody could diagnose me despite going to multiple doctors. I think it came to people not believing the incredible pain that I had. I remember crying having to sit in a desk at school. Anyway, I finally outgrew it somehow (maybe after child birth?), but never quite figured out the trigger. A few weeks back I started to have the same pain again and I went through the exercises in a book that was given to my husband by a friend. It helped our friend, my husband, and myself greatly. Our friend and my husband had been to multiple physical therapists with no results. After a week of doing the exercises consistently I was pain free. If you don't get any results from your doctor you may want to try it.

 

7 Steps to a Pain Free Life by Robin McKenzie

http://www.amazon.com/Steps-Pain-Free-Life-Rapidly-Relieve/dp/0452282772/ref=sr_1_9?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285377515&sr=8-9

 

Lesley

[dancer67]

Thank you Selmck!!!! I have it bookmarked.

 

All of you ladies have been wonderful!! Thank you!:grouphug: