Panic Attacks Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Migraine Lexapro Amitriptyline
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My daughter is 13 yrs old. She was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome last year. She started having panic attacks around the beginning of September. We didn't know that's what she was having. Three weeks ago the doctor told us that's what it was. They put her on 10 mg of Lexapro. She hasn't had any more panic attacks. But she started having a severe headache seven weeks ago that hasn't let up for a second & then she started having severe pain in her stomach. We brought her to the doctor yesterday & they put her on 10 mg of amitriptyline. So now she's taking both Lexapro & amitriptyline. She's only thirteen. I hate her being on all this medicine & I've read all the side effects but I don't know what else to do. I just want the pain to subside. She was perfectly healthy & happy & this all started after she just fell & bruised her knee in PE at school October 2011 & from that she is in constant pain just living on our couch. If any body has any recommendations or suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

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I have crps & all the same symptoms as your daughter & meds, panic attacks then are followed by the crps full blown attacks lasting up to 15 minutes. I did not feel as if the Lexapro helped at all, in fact I felt and tracked it seemed to be causing my migraines. Although I still get migraines they are not as frequent.
I tried to stop taking the amitrip. But I had to resume due to the panic attacks.
I take Topamax for nerve pain & it also aids in migraine weather prevention or pain relief I don't know. Hope this helps.

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You have been a great help! Thank you so much! Hopefully we'll get to talk!

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His name is Dr. Robert Schwartz. His practice is in Greenville, SC and is called Piedmont Physical Medicine & Rehabilitaion. You can google it. There is lots of info on his site. I tried putting my email in a reply but they would not post it. I will try to find a way to get my info to you.

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She did have an epidural. She had it in February & the headaches & sensitivity started in October. Do you think it could still be the epidural? Can you give me the doctor's info? I would love for us to be able to talk. I don't know how we can without putting our info out there. How often do you go see the doctor? I live in Louisiana.

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I have tons of details I can tell you so hopefully we can talk soon. Did you daughter have an epidural injection to help with her pain. If so, there's a chance they punctured the sure ( that sac that holds in spinal cord fluid) and it did not seal correctly. That causes spinal headache, light and noise sensitivity and nausea. If that is the case, they can do a CT scan to find the leak and fix it with a blood patch. You should look up spinal headache, CSF leak and blood patch. You may find some quick answers to some of her biggest problems. As for my RSD, it also started in my knee but was due to surgery. It took a year to diagnose and I had many epidural injections to help control the pain. It took years to go into remission. I then injured my wrist and then shoulder, both of which needed surgery and flared into RSD. I have also had flare ups in both my feet. I made great strides once I met Dr. Schwartz and have continued with him for seven years. I also have a new local pain specialist who does more simple procedures. I have met others who see Dr. Schwartz with out insurance and it is quite expensive but often worth it. I hope this helps. Like I said, we should figure out a way to talk. Keep in touch.

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Hi, Wendy. Thanks for responding. I don't have insurance, so I probably would not be able to go see the doctor you're seeing. You said you had RSD for 20 yrs. Could you just kind of tell me, without specific information-I'm not trying to invade your privacy, what it's been like & just maybe try to describe to me your symptoms? Did your symptoms increase as time went on, or get better, or go back & forth? What have you found that helps? Did you have headaches & were or are you sensitive to light &/or loud noises? My daughter seems to have good days & bad. Some days it just seems like we're making progress & I think she's getting better & then she'll really hurt in her legs & her head. She can't stand any loud noises. I'd appreciate any info you can give. Thank you so much!

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I have had CRPS for 20 years. Things got really out of control back in 2006 and my husband found an RSD specialist in SC that has been amazing. I am a different person now. His name is Dr. Robert Schwartz. The practice is called Piedmont Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. I travel to see him from NC. I usually stay there for a week and he sees me everyday. He does all the diagnostics and treatments in his office. Whatever test you have done, you get the results at that same appointment. I would be happy to tell you more.

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Hi, thanks for replying, Joy. They put her on the Lexapro for the panic attacks. She hasn't had any since they put her on it & her mood is improved. They started her on 10 mg & then 2 wks later wanted to up her to 20mg, but I wouldn't let them. So she's still at 10 mg. She was having headaches for about two months before they started her on the Lexapro, so I know the Lexapro is not the culprit for her headaches. Her head has been hurting nonstop now for about three months. The headaches is why they put her on the amitriptilene. It doesn't seem to be helping. I don't know what to do about the headaches. They never leave. I hate her being in constant pain.
I hope you get better too!

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Hey i was on lexapro before for anxiety and some depression, made me MUCH WORSE and did give me headaches. I was pacin the floors n crap. Now i take the amitriptyline. Much better. I would NOT NOT NOT NOTTT recommend taking lexapro and the other together. I personally woudl throw that lexapro crap in the garbage cuz it even affected my grades in school, everything. Everyone else I know whose taken that drug says its no good. Least not for us. Everyones different. I would try weaning her off then keeping her off for a while n see if she gets better. (I wish the docs solution to everything wasnt to feed kids a pill! [Im only 17 btw n started bein on meds since 14 or 15])

HOPE I HELPED AND THAT YOUR LITTLE GIRL GETS BETTER, I FEEL FOR YOU BOTH! :)

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Thanks for replying Verwon. She was diagnosed with the CRPS in Lafayette, LA. From there we went to The Children's Hospital in New Orleans. They did all kinds of tests & said the tests confirmed that she had the CRPS. They did an epidoral, but it didn't help. She has had all the symptoms of CRPS. The burning pain, the color changes, the temperature changes, the slightest touch to any part of her leg causing severe pain & swelling. I do have an appointment with a therapist for Dec 3rd. That's our next course of action. Everyone has told me she needs to see someone to help her cope with the pain & just everything she's gone through this past year. Right now we're seeing a children's pediatrician. But they said if she doesn't improve in the next two weeks with this new medicine (amitriptyline) they put her on, then we're headed back to New Orleans. I'm just so ready for her to have relief from the pain she's in.

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What type of doctor do you have her seeing? Is it just a generic practitioner or a specialist?

My first suggestion would be that she see a neurologist. Over my years of medical studies, answering posts like this and through my own medical adventures, I've seen many people who were misdiagnosed and your daughter is far too young to risk that happening.

Learn more neurology details here.

And my next suggestion would be to have her see a counselor, psychiatrist, psychologist or someone qualified to evaluate her mentally. Please note, I AM NOT trying to say that your daughter is mentally deficient or screwed up in any way, but if she is stressing over what she is going through, that can contribute to the pain and headaches that she's experiencing and make everything worse, so this is also an important step.

I really hope things improve for her and a solution is found very soon.

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