More and more parents, desperate to help a child with a chronic illness or disability, are considering "CAM." It stands for complimentary and alternatives medicines. Here are some pointers to help with the decision-making.
17-year-old Hannah Arner has complex regional pain syndrome - a chronic condition that started six years ago with a softball injury, "Went to slide into home plate and just twisted my ankle wrong."
Nothing broke, but the pain never let up. But then Hannah said, it began to spread, "It spread up both my legs and into my back and into this arm. That was when it was at its worst."
There's no cure. So looking for ways to ease Hannah's suffering, her family decided to complement standard physical therapy with alternative options like acupuncture and energy therapy.
"I definitely feel like its worth trying," says Hannah's dad, Bob.
So do doctors at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where they specialize in rehabilitating kids with disabilities.
Suzanne prestwich, m.D.
"I think it really helps them with pain and spasms occasionally. And I think just the general overall feeling of relaxation and ability to cope," says Dr. Suzanne Prestwich.
Dr. Prestwich says families need to learn all they can about the treatments and make sure the therapist is well-trained, "There are different credentialing bodies for acupuncture and massage and energy, but they're not standard and it depends what state you're in."
She says, let your child's doctor know you're considering unconventional treatments, "If your physician is discouraging it, I would listen and say why are they discouraging it and then do some research."
Even Hannah was skeptical at first. But now? "Both of the therapies help you relax which is good," says Hannah.
Dr. Prestwich says families can find information on cam on the national center for complementary and alternative medicine website. That site is www.nccam.nih.gov
