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Hypochondria / injury issue

Zoe

Hi all, 

My daughter is 10 and received her autism diagnosis back in September. I’ve got most struggles figured out, but one thing I can’t seem to get my head around is injury/illness. For example, in the last two months she’s had two x-rays for a sprained wrist and sprained ankle… both very very minor injuries from playing in the garden at her dads (to the point I’m sure the nurses thought I was completely wasting their time) but prior to the x-rays she made out like her limbs were falling off. The latest is she ran into a goal post at school, according to the accident slip.

When I say she moans every 2 minutes, I mean it. She reacts the same about a paper cut as I think she would about a genuine injury. The tiniest of scrapes has to be shown to everyone and talked about until there is no hint of a scab left. I have absolutely no idea if she’s actually hurt, as she seems to pick and choose when it hurts. If she had gymnastics or cheerleading practice, she insists on going but sat on the sofa in the evening these ‘injuries’ are apparently unbearable. I don’t know if it’s something she feels intensely due to being autistic or if it’s just an attention thing. I can’t take her to A&E every time she falls over but I can’t tell what’s genuine or not. Has anyone else had experience of this? 

Any help appreciated! Thank you.

Parents

  • A few random thoughts:

    It could be that she is hypersensitive to the pain - a simple test would be to do a blind testing for her. Put on a blindfold and ask her to describe which of the experiences she feels as painful.

    Hold her hand and try gently pushing something blunt (eg the non-sharp end of a pen/pencil gently onto the back of her hand.

    This will give a baseline response that should not be painful. Warn her there are 2 more she may feel uncomfortable but will not hurt her.

    Next try a pin -  a firm but not puncturing push that should get a pain response

    Next try the pen/pencil again to make sure the same response is given - do it on a different part of the hand in case the pin has scratched her.

    Next try a phantom response - ie say "can you feel that" when not actually doing anything - that will eliminate her making things up.

    Lastly repeat the pin again to see if you get the same pain response - maybe skip it if she had a really bad response to it first time.

    I'm more inclined to think it is a case that she may be doing it for the sympathy response - if the blind test shows she is making stuff up then this points the her trying to get attention from her situation.

    Can you let us know how the test goes so we can suggest a more targetted approach please?

Reply

  • A few random thoughts:

    It could be that she is hypersensitive to the pain - a simple test would be to do a blind testing for her. Put on a blindfold and ask her to describe which of the experiences she feels as painful.

    Hold her hand and try gently pushing something blunt (eg the non-sharp end of a pen/pencil gently onto the back of her hand.

    This will give a baseline response that should not be painful. Warn her there are 2 more she may feel uncomfortable but will not hurt her.

    Next try a pin -  a firm but not puncturing push that should get a pain response

    Next try the pen/pencil again to make sure the same response is given - do it on a different part of the hand in case the pin has scratched her.

    Next try a phantom response - ie say "can you feel that" when not actually doing anything - that will eliminate her making things up.

    Lastly repeat the pin again to see if you get the same pain response - maybe skip it if she had a really bad response to it first time.

    I'm more inclined to think it is a case that she may be doing it for the sympathy response - if the blind test shows she is making stuff up then this points the her trying to get attention from her situation.

    Can you let us know how the test goes so we can suggest a more targetted approach please?

Children
  • in reply to Iain

    Thank you, I appreciate the response and will try that. We recently had a hospital stay due to suspected meningitis, she was very poorly but at the end of her treatment ended up needing to be sedated for a second cannula (which never happened because she woke up and fought against it). It was a largely negative experience which I thought would put her off hospitals but she seems to not be able to move on until a medical professional has confirmed she’s fine. 

    Wondering if it’s a couple of issues, attention and the intense need for reassurance. I do think her pain threshold is incredibly low though so will try what you’ve suggested.