ortho appointment in the morning

[busymomof4]

Just asking for some healing fairies and good luck fairies for my DD at her ortho appt in the morning. This past week her back started hurting in her spinal area mid to lower back and although it hasn't been going on for long it worries me. Her twin sister has a stress fracture at L5 vertebrae that is not healing from a year ago while she was in gymnastics, so needless to say I am probably more cautious than most people would be. I know that for now they will probably just say to limit activity and come back in x number of weeks if it is not better, but at least we can get some basic xrays to start with even though it won't show a stress fx without a CT and bone scan. Coach thinks it is just "muscle tightness and soreness". I hope that it is only a pulled muscle, but I would think that would be more painful on each side of the spine where all her muscles are and not directly in the middle. DD had a rough december with a sprained wrist, and jammed foot and toes on beam along with the flu on Christmas Day. She was just getting back into the swing of things again. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[UnoMas]

I'm so sorry she is hurting!!! Back stuff is scary. I hope it is nothing that can't be healed with some rest and limited activity. I am sure that is NOT what she wants to do after just getting back at it though. Good luck. Hope everything is just fine.

 

[bogwoppit]

Feel free to vent, I totally know how you are feeling. My oldest had back pain for ages and kept being told it was a strain, in the end it was a stress fracture with 'lysthesis, end of gym for her. We are still waiting to see the specialist.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

 

[mariposa]

Sending you lots of positive energy. I hope that it is just a muscle strain. With her twin sisters history I would be erring way on the side of caution as well. Keep us posted.

 

[Deanna]

So sorry that your DD is having such pain. I hope its nothing to major and can easily be "fixed". Im late getting to this and she has probably already gone to the ortho..how did it go? Please do update us ASAP. She is in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Gymnasticgrandkids]

Hoping that everything will be okay. Healing fairies have been disbursed.

 

[busymomof4]

Thank you everyone. DD will have a bone scan on monday morning. Xray looked fine today. She will be taking at least 5 days off then limited training until results come back. I will update next week. Bogwoppit, I will definitely keep your DD in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all goes well with the specialist.

 

[busymomof4]

UPDATE....My DD had a regular xray which was fine and also a spect bone scan which was also fine. Of course the bone scan is not full proof because her twin sister had a bone scan that was "normal" and still had a stress fracture. DD took the week off from gymnastics and went back with limited activity on tuesday. Today was her first day attempting to do her full routines and said she was still sore but that it was getting better and if she has a good day tomorrow then she will get to compete on saturday. Of course if she starts hurting worse then she will definitely limit her activity. I am hoping she can stay well for states in 2 weeks and regionals (if she qualifies)

 

[mariposa]

Thanks for the update. Have been thinking of you guys. That has to be frustrating. It is sad that there doesn't seem to be a definitive way to diagnose lower back stress fractures/lower back pain. Hope that her pain continues to subside and she can compete at States. And hope that it ends up just being random lower back pain.

 

[busymomof4]

Mariposa, thank you. They didn't want to do a CT scan so soon due to radiation amount. DD's sister with the stress fracture was diagnosed by getting a CT, so I have more faith in the CT. Normally an ortho dr. would not have even ordered a bone scan this soon, but with sister's history they wanted to be extra careful. If DD was to get worse, I am sure that would be the next test she would get.

 

[sportyfam5]

This information is very helpful as my daughter is having the same issue. She has been having back pain since last summer though. We tried a chiropractor first and he determined her spine is completely aligned. Xrays showed no abnormalities. She is doing PT and that seems to be helping. She has pretty much been put of the gym for almost 4 weeks. She is going for a bone scan and bloodwork on March 21st. They want to check for swelling in her joints as well as vitamin deficiencies. The problem is this - she is so worked up and nervous about these tests that I am afraid she will pass out or something. Do you have any advice as to how to help calm her down. Obviously she has not had blood work before and is a wreck. Anything will help,thanks.