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NSAIDs...are they really THAT bad?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/4/2010 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Okay so I'm frustrated here because my daughter (9 yrs old) is in constant pain this past week and I can do nothing to help her. Tylenol does not help. She is crying, doubled over, missing school... sad.  She was just scoped last week and there has been no progression in her disease since last year's scope, which is good. BMs are formed and she is not constantly in the bathroom. But still the pain, which is shutting her down from her life.  All that said, in the past when I have given her NSAIDs (prior to being told NOT to by her GI Doc), they have really helped.  So my question is...would it really be THAT bad if I gave her one on these times when she is struggling so much?  Just one to get her through a school day?  She is on Pentasa, Entecort, and just started 6MP on Friday. The 6MP could take up to two months to have any effect. Thanks.
Posted 2/4/2010 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't. I would see a pediatric pain specialist. I could recommend some drugs for adults (i.e. antidepressents or a non-narcotic - a doc has given my 15-year-old for his back) but for a nine-year-old, this is out area of experience.

If the pain is from her tummy, has your doctor suggested something for the cramping such as dycyclomine or hymomax? I was given these in the past ... but again, for a child so young, I don't know the protocol is ... I'm sure another mother of a Crohn's child would.

A heating blanket or warm bath helps me immensly as do good movies and a back rub if all else fails! I would also look at what foods/ situations are causing her to flare in the first place ....

I hope that helps a tiny tiny bit ...
Posted 2/4/2010 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
I occasionally take aspirin or naproxen when acetominophen isn't enough and haven't ever noticed worse symptoms. I told my gastro and he advised against them, but said taking childrens aspirin should be fine.
Posted 2/4/2010 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
But asprin is not good for kids, esp with fevers ... you really need a professional to help you ... we can only give you some tips of what has worked for us as ADULTS.
Posted 2/4/2010 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder the same thing...and worry about taking tylenol too much. My daughter suffers from headaches and muscle/joint pain almost every day.
My daughter has not been to school for several weeks now and although school can take a backseat to health, it concerns me for the social and emotional stresses it brings when she feels bad day after day and gets more and more withdrawn from the world. It breaks my heart.
Posted 2/4/2010 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
I feel for both of you as parents, knowing how both terrible and unperdictiable this disease is ... you hurt so much when your child hurts. Just keep going to doctors or alternative health practioners until you get help. I had to do with that with my son who suffers from back problems of a 60-year-old (details worth of a different forum)!

Liz
Posted 2/4/2010 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry your daughter is feeling so badly :( You and my mom could probably relate... when I was 7-9 I had a lot of problems with nausea and pain in my stomach but couldn't really articulate what was going on with me so they couldn't diagnose anything. School counsellors and teachers just told my parents I was faking it and depressed but I really did feel sick. Looking back on it now I realize it was probably something to do with Crohns... but after 9 years old it went away again until I was 18.

I'm not sure about your NSAIDs question, the best option might be to investigate with your doctor a good pain management plan... I hope she feels better really soon
Posted 2/4/2010 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
The thing about NSAID's is they can cause bleeding in the bowels so tread with caution.

:)
Posted 2/4/2010 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
Last time I took some I almost ended up in the ER... The pain they caused trumped the pain I was fighting by about 1000. I would stay away from them totally.
Posted 2/4/2010 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
NSAIDS are bad for anyone with IBD and even worse for someone that is flaring. Sure one or two times may not seem to cause damage but that does not mean that it is not. If you child is in that much pain then I would call your G.I. and tell them. If they refuse to do anything then I would get a second opinion with another G.I. There is no reason that your child should have to needlessly suffer and a good doctor should know this. In the meantime I would talk to the school about letting her bring a heating pad or one of those bean or rice bags that you can heat up in a microwave. Those stay warm for a long time and are not hard to make. You can probably get your G.I. to write a note if the school gives you a hard time about it, but it is worth the try. I would not gamble with the potential for disaster by temporarily solving their pain with NSAIDS. You never know when the time will be that it causes damage. I am one of those that found out the hard way what NSAIDS do and ended up with a severe G.I. bleed and pain worse than the arthritis that I was experiencing in the first place.
Posted 2/4/2010 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
I took a couple of NSAID in the past, really didn't agree with my insides, I was constantly on the toilet pooing blood along with another pain to deal with! When i mentioned it to my GP he said they can cause internal bleeding I would ask your doc if there is anything else they can prescribe for your daughter I really wouldn't go down this route Bev x
Posted 2/4/2010 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
MoobyDoo I agree with all of the above. The NSAIDS are not good to take especially while she is still flaring.

What I would like to know is exactly where is her pain? Is it joint pain, or is it tummy cramping pain? If it is joint pain, maybe you can take her to her pediatrician and ask them for something for her to take in those bad times i.e. Tylenol 3's. If it is tummy pain, I think as mentioned above Bentyl, Levsin or Librax might help with the cramping.

She should not have to suffer. GI's are notorious for not giving pain meds, I have to go to my family doctor for those. Good luck!
Posted 2/4/2010 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I would be afraid of giving her the n-saids.Call the dr. and let them know that she is so much pain . There is a website for parents of kids with IBD-It is dragonpack.com.Those parents have been through it all. My daughter is 12 with crohns-diagnosed at 10.I believe we even go the same practice if I remember correctly(geisinger?)

My dd started 6mp in September.She had been on Remicade and Humira.We did Prednsione as a bridge until it kicked in.Knock on wood she is getting relief.She went off Pred around Thanksgiving and is doing well with just the 6mp.I hope the same happens for your little girl.

I love the drs. at Geisinger.They have all helped so much.I have seen 3 differnet ones there(when our Dr. was out of country)and they have all listened to me and DD when we say disfferent things about her treatment.Call the dr. and see what he can advise to get her out of pain.

One other thing,my DD has stomach pain and nausea at times even when her bms are "normal" and it  has been very painful gas.Our gi has allowed gas-x(we use the strips that go on her tongue)and it has helped.She is also on omeprezole(prevacid etc).Have these avenues been explored?

Hope this helps.

Mom to DD 12-6mp,omeprezole,Florastor,iron,calcium,multivitamin

Posted 2/4/2010 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hot baths? Heating pads? Tramadol?
Posted 2/4/2010 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure if you can give T3's to a 9 year old but it's worth asking her GI or family doctor. That's what I use.  Of course, that might make her too drowsy for school...
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