Did you find your child crying out in pain when putting on his or her backpack? Did your daughter or son complain of a shooting pain in their lower back? There are various causes that may have caused your child to hurt his or her back.
The physician-run Up To Date publication reports that low back pain is often caused by muscle strain or a sprain.Often a child may harm themselves when playing sports, carrying heavy backpacks, or possibly tripping and falling down. It is also possible that a child could have a more serious medical condition such as an infection, arthritis, or the rare case of cancer.
The publication advises a family to seek medical care for their child if they exhibit worsening back pain, a fever alongside it, history of cancer or tuberculosis, weight loss, leg weakness, or pain that came after an injury. Seeing a primary care doctor is important, who will perform a physical and possibly advise a family to see a pediatric chiropractor.
Some common at-home treatments for your child may be non-prescribed medication such as Tylenol or Advil. These pills should be given according to the child’s weight instead of age. Applying some heat to the injured area for the first two days of serious pain is also advised.
Most importantly, it is best for the child to remain active in order to keep blood flowing to the injured area. High-impact activities are not advised but light exercise is encouraged to keep the muscles from weakening. A chiropractor or physical therapist can also help devise a stretching and strengthening program for a child. Some simple activities a chiropractor encourages for children include walking, swimming or biking.
If your child experiences back problems, follow these steps to alleviate his or her pain and see a healthcare provider if the problem worsens.