Watching your teen crying in pain is gut wrenching and makes me as a parent feel so inadequate. Chloe has always had growing pains and during growth spurts I needed to use calpol and rub her legs at night. Over the past 18 months these aches and pains have reappeared in different joints and parts of the body. Most recently it is her wrists that are causing pain and after seeing the GP she has been referred back to physio. The physio’s know my girls well enough and we have had some success with physio so we await more treatment.
However this morning saw Chloe overcome with pain and we decided to go at A&E for further advice. The Doctor we saw was very understanding and thorough. He has given her stronger painkillers as a starting point as the paracetamol and ibuprofen don’t touch the pain. After examining her he has diagnosed repetitive strain injury and believes it will only get worse unless she has physio. He is trying to fast track her appointment and in the meantime she is wearing wrist splints.
All of this is difficult for a girl just starting her GCSE and needing to write. All of this is difficult for a girl who lives for sport especially hockey which is probably exacerbating the condition. All this is hard for a mum who had many of the same issues herself as she grew.
So today I feel a little sad for Chloe as I try to give her mummy cuddles and a trip to Costa for a make it all better Toffee Cooler and chocolate brownie.
School are doing their upmost for her and they are getting her a laptop if writing hurts too much. But resting from sport is going to be difficult for her. Interestingly when you are hypermobile you need to keep active as otherwise the joints get to weak, but overdo it and you get pain too. Somehow Chloe needs to find that line and stay on it. The happy medium.
I have also imposed time on using her phone, whilst she doesn’t have trigger finger from texting, snapchatting, facebook etc I am sure that too cannot be helping her wrists. I am shocked by just how much pain the wrists are giving her and the doctor explained that as she is so slim and has no fat on wrists the loud clicking we hear and she feels is the tendons snapping over the bone.
Hypermobility is an unseen condition but it is a real pain.
4 Responses
I am dreading this happening to my little girl who is nearly 4, she is hypermobile from the waist down plus her wrists. She is already struggling
with pains in her legs. I was told swimming is a good form of exercise. I hope Chloe finds her happy medium soon x
Thanks Rachel, Erin who is four is hypermobile to and we seem to have ebbs and flows. Erin is an amazing swimmer and it definitely helps her.
Oh Emma that must be so hard for both of you. Growing pains can be hard enough but this must make life a real challenge. I’m glad you you are getting the help that you need and that the physio can help.
Thanks Nikki, it’s tough when she is so very active.