pain in the neck

No, not Hunter himself.

An actual pain in his neck.

The school nurse called me today and told me that he had been complaining of a neck pain when she tested his hearing and vision.  I checked my email and his special ed teacher had sent me an email explaining the same.  I called the doctor, but was on hold for several minutes so I hung up and thought I would try later.  Well, ten minutes later the nurse called me again and told me I might want to come and get him.

I wish I didn't have PTSD.  I wish my brain didn't automatically go straight to the worst case scenario- all I could think of was that he was having the worst imaginable reaction to IVIG- meningitis.  Typically, the reaction would have occurred within the first couple of days up to a week post-IVIG (so I read online).  I still called Dr. G's nurse and told her we were on the way to the pediatrician.  His ears, throat, and everything else checked out.  She thought it could be a viral torticollis, or his six year old molars erupting.  

The last time teeth erupted, we had a week of horrible behavior.  I have read many articles about children flaring when their teeth pop out, due to release of bacteria, etc.

Dr G's nurse called me later to update her call log with more notes and had me have him do a couple of exercises with Hunter (mainly getting his chin to touch his chest).  She wasn't as worried about meningitis due to the fact that he could put his chin down, but wasn't sure about the one-sided neck pain.  He winced every time he tried to turn to the right. I gave him Motrin when we got home and he seemed to liven up around dinner time.  Hoping a good night's rest (last night was a full moon- actually called "Hunter's moon") will help him to wake with no pain.

Hunter actually has had four days in a row of staying in specials.  FOUR days!  His buddy E and A walked out with him on Monday afternoon, holding his hands and rubbing his back.  Hunter was crying. :)  It was so sweet to see these "soft souls" helping him.  He was upset because the teacher would not let him change the screen saver to Lightning McQueen.  I had to laugh to myself.  Poor kid just wanted to see Lightning on the home page!  His little friends asked me about a playdate again, and my heart was warmed.  Love sweet kids!

Say a prayer that we don't experience any pains in the neck through the nice, long weekend- two days off of school!  Woot!