Hi,
My son is now 7 yrs old and was diagnosed with ADHD at 4. We have not however, used any medications. We are able to control the "worst of it" with a diet change and behavioral modifications and it works great for all of us. Recently in the last 4-5 months he has started experiencing chronic neck and back pain associated with headaches. He has been to 2 different Dr's and now seeing a pediatric neurologist. So far they are thinking that it may be migraine headaches but the neurologist did state that she believes ADHD can contribute to headaches, neck and back pain. He does get muscle spasms from time to time but mainly he is just "tight" all over and needs massage almost nightly to relieve the pain. He goes in at the end of the week for another visit since the pain is not getting any better however, I wanted to see if anyone else out there has children with ADHD that may have experienced this.
Thanks for your time.
A~

Hi ...
have you had any X-rays of the back? ... noticed any scoliosis,kyphosis? ... had a test for B27? or noticed a straightening of the back ... as if it is losing curvature - maybe straightening?
Also ... have you had leg length inequalities tested for?

I'll write more if any of the above are of interest?

Whoops --- nearly forgot, is there a family history of back problems?

SB.

Hi,

Thanks for the post. Yes he has been tested for all the above except the B27, not sure what that is. As far as leg length discrepancies he has been to a chiropractor on occasion and before adjustment he is slightly off and after adjustment he is even however, within days he complains of pain again. I am supportive of chiropractic sessions however, working for physical therapists I highly believe that stretching and strengthening is a huge part of any spine/muscle recovery. The stretching does help and he is able to do some strengthening exercises but so far has not been too much help although ice and stretching does relieve some of the pain. We are just at a loss right now and very worried. I know that he is a worrier and stresses over things that 7 yr old kids shouldnt' even be thinking about. Such as where is he going to live when he goes to college, and what happens if Grandma and Grandpa die, will our dog live to be 25 yrs old, if the house catches fire what if I can't find my teddy bear. Things that I would think the average 7 yr old wouldn't be worried about. The nero thinks that can be attributing to tension headaches, thus leading to neck/back pain. Thanks for any help you can provide!
A~

I used to work for a chiropractor, and trust it for helping kids. My son has been adjusted since the day he was born, and I've been adjusted for about 20 years now. The adjustments are very gentle for children. Stress does contribute to muscle tenseness, and can affect the upper shoulder and neck area.

Yes, he does stress a lot for a child his age. My daughter was adjusted when she had colic and acid reflux at birth and I swore by it. I just can't see taking him over and over if that isn't helping him (which is the case). I do trust them for children. In this case I just don't think it is the answer. Thanks for your posts and support.

Hi,

Are the problems in the back and neck always in the exact same place?

Are they sacral ... maybe deep in the gluteals (sciatic-like), lumbar - perhaps a bit higher - along the trapezius - shoulder blade or the centre of the neck.

And (sorry for drilling down on this question) - are there any indications of spinal curvature changes?
My changes started at about that time --- nothing bad (so don't worry) --- but I'm not too sure whether my experience is appropriate to you.

Before ADD I used to describe it as 'carrying the weight of the world's woes on my shoulders' ... I think you perhaps see the similarities with your kids ... you're right - kids shouldn't worry about certain things ... just a sign of the times, I guess.

My changes involved an actual change in structure of the spine.
I have kept an X-ray journal over the last more than 5-10 years.

B27 is an immunological test for Ankylosing Spondylitis.
(Seronegative arthritis) (More common in males)

SB.

Hope that I can give you something useful :-)

Hi,
Thanks for the post. The pain is in his neck, the upper traps, rhomboids, mid thoracic and low back. But a lot of exclusive pain in the rhomboids and low back. Well, I have to say that the neck is tender often as well. They looked at his spine (not in an x-ray) for curvature and have not noticed anything abnormal. They had him do a few physical tests to look for neurological dysfunction and such, however, as to date, no x-rays or CT scans. We are going to request a CT scan this week when he goes in again. When I actually feel his muscles they are tight and lumpy. One of the PTs that I work for looked at him and said that it isn't considered a "true muscle spams" but tight muscle bunches. They hurt when I press on them and sometimes when I do neck releases (per the chiro that he was seeing) it is painful for him. Thanks for your help.
A~

Just to add to the post, I looked those up online but none of it really matched my son at all. Just the pain, but not in the joints, no eye problems (one of them talked about that). I am wondering if tension headaches or just the effects that some ADHD kids have can cause headaches that can lead to back or neck pain. I am wondering why the neurologist would have brought that up. I have never heard of ADHD and headaches having much to do with eachother.
Thanks agian for your help, I really appreciate it!

Hi muggle4,

I had been suffering from back pain-both low back pain and neck and shoulders pain for my whole life....I had been tested for many illnesses that may cause the back pain, and I was finally told that it is a muscular problem of unknown case...until I realised that my main problem is that I am very tense- I have a dificult time relaxing my muscles. I might wake up in the middle of the night and my body feels like I just finished a fight. I do not know if this is caused by my ADD or my anxiety or both but I can tell it gets worse during high stress periods.

My son-12 ,ADD complains of back pain too....

Hi,

A few bits and pieces ...unsure of the relevance just yet...

-maybe you can post the results of your CT ... ... ...

O/Abre los Ojos posted on a medication (popular in Japan) for ... ~~~post~~~ [[[]]] (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=153035&postcount=3)I've been taking Milnacipran for about 3 weeks. It's a great drug. It has very low side-effects and has low toxicity.[[[]]] (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=153035&postcount=3)This is also a very good drug for ADD because if its effect on Norepeinephine and it effect on increasing Dopamine in the Brains Cortex.[[[]]] (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=153035&postcount=3)Scientific studies in Japan have shown show that when you add a Dopamine drug to it, like ritalin, it produces amazing results in concentration, reduction of pain, depresssion, increased drive and motivation.[[[]]] (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=153035&postcount=3)Ritalin and Milnacipran is the best combination of pain medications ive ever taken.[[[]]] (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=153035&postcount=3)

And here's a publication (google #1 using 'idiopathic' 'scoliosis' 'melatonin') on what I suspect to be the basis to my changes ... ~~~publication~~~ [[[]]]from the Nuffield Department of Surgery, Oxford Uni ... http://www.ndos.ox.ac.uk/pzs/Group_3/Rogala.html (http://www.ndos.ox.ac.uk/pzs/Group_3/Rogala.html)[[[]]]

Noting that melatonin and serotonin (publication above) - have the same chemical derivation (from trypotphan).

So ... more later ... questions ... is it a skeletal (and then muscular) imbalance caused by the mind? or a muscular imbalance caused by the mind.
Mental stress and physical stress share the same root.
The root is important in the physical development of the body.

CRF(the root) -> ACTH -> mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids -->
~effects of stress on development~ (google#1 using 'CRF' 'corticoid' 'growth') ... ... ~~~publication~~~[[[]]] (http://showpost.php/?p=153035&postcount=3)Cortisol is the most potent glucocorticoid produced by the human adrenal. It is synthesized from cholesterol and its production is stimulated by pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which is regulated by corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). (http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm)[[[]]] (http://showpost.php?p=153035&postcount=3)Cortisol acts through specific intracellular receptors and affects numerous physiologic systems including immune function, glucose counter regulation, vascular tone, and bone metabolism. (http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm)[[[]]] (http://showpost.php?p=153035&postcount=3)Cortisol production has an ACTH-dependent circadian rhythm with peak levels in the early morning and a nadir at night. The factor controlling this rhythm is not completely defined and can be disrupted by a number of physical and psychological conditions. ACTH and cortisol are secreted independent of circadian rhythm in response to physical and psychological stress. (http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm)[[[]]] (http://showpost.php?p=153035&postcount=3)
(http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm)
Noting that we're on the verge of attributing '... circadian rhythm with peak levels in the ..' (http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm) ... to melatonin ... just like above.

Melatonin and relatives at the centre of the three sections to this page!

SB.

So ... more later ... questions ... is it a skeletal (and then muscular) imbalance caused by the mind? or a muscular imbalance caused by the mind.
Mental stress and physical stress share the same root.
The root is important in the physical development of the body.

CRF(the root) -> ACTH -> mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids -->
~effects of stress on development~ (google#1 using 'CRF' 'corticoid' 'growth') ... ... ~~~publication~~~[[[]]] (http://showpost.php/?p=153035&postcount=3)Cortisol is the most potent glucocorticoid produced by the human adrenal. It is synthesized from cholesterol and its production is stimulated by pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which is regulated by corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). (http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm)[[[]]] (http://showpost.php/?p=153035&postcount=3)Cortisol acts through specific intracellular receptors and affects numerous physiologic systems including immune function, glucose counter regulation, vascular tone, and bone metabolism. (http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm)[[[]]] (http://showpost.php/?p=153035&postcount=3)Cortisol production has an ACTH-dependent circadian rhythm with peak levels in the early morning and a nadir at night. The factor controlling this rhythm is not completely defined and can be disrupted by a number of physical and psychological conditions. ACTH and cortisol are secreted independent of circadian rhythm in response to physical and psychological stress. (http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm)[[[]]] (http://showpost.php/?p=153035&postcount=3)
(http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm)
Noting that we're on the verge of attributing '... circadian rhythm with peak levels in the ..' (http://www.aeron.com/new_page_27.htm) ... to melatonin ... just like above.

Melatonin and relatives at the centre of the three sections to this page!

SB.
SB, tho I am not a professional, my own expereince makes me agree with the above statements .Many sufferers of autoimune diseases will certify to the fact that stress is a major triger....and it is supposed that cortisol plays an important role in those kind of health issues( of immune nature)....

The muscular and skeletal sytems are , in my opinion, so closely related that an inbalance in the development of one will cause an imbalance on the development of the other....Even adults with problems affecting their muscles will complain of back pain or joint pain as well, and in time their spine and joints will be afected....

i am also curious about the results of the CT scan....

Nutritional supplements and digestive enzymes.

Muscle spasms can be low magnesium levels. If he takes magnesium already then it may be low vitamin b6 levels. Magnesium needs sufficient b6 levels to get into the cells.

Enzyme therapy is something that most doctors know nothing about. Most kids who have hyperactivity problems can also have some digestive problems too. These digestive complaints can be a sign of not only malabsorbtion but may indicate the pancreas is not functioning as it should be. Some children complain of acid reflux, which seems odd for someone so young; but this does happen. Too much acid may be an indication, for example, that the pancreas is not producing bi-carbonate. On the other hand, too little stomach acid can also indicate that the pancreas may not be functioning properly either. The pancreas does not produce stomach acid but does play a role in signaling that so this can be related to the pancreas to.

You can supplement magnesium without any concern. This mineral regulates other minerals so should not cause any problems. The one warning about magnesium is that it changes your parastolic contractions and can cause some GI upset. Maginex is the only supplement that does not cause any problem with GI issues.

This site mentions lipase deficiency and muscle spasms. Usually with a lipase deficiency fat soluable vitamins may be low. Sometimes cholesterol can be high as fat is not being absorbed properly. If he has any digestive problelms at all then enzymes might be worth trying, although not that easy to find info on from your doctor or specialist. Sometimes with a lipase problem, I think eating high fat meals may not agree with the person.

http://www.enzymeessentials.com/HTML/lipase.html

It seems that the pancreas can develop problems when there are other health problems going on in the body. The pancreas is important for so many things, not just enzymes, but also for insulin production. But usually insulin problems are the last to develop; enzyme problems (or bicarbonate problems) can be the first sign of a pancreas problem.

might be that add adhd peps have more neves so feel more pain an feel more feelings that most dont feel ..............>> dorm what do any ofve you think to this???