In April 2024, Logan began experiencing persistent right shoulder pain. What made it particularly confusing was that he hadn’t experienced any recent injuries or trauma. His family, concerned, took him to see his pediatrician, who, after a thorough examination, referred them to a local pediatric orthopedic specialist. Whittney, Logan’s mother, recalls, “When the pain started, Logan was hurting all the time. He kept his arm in a sling for a little over a month, but there was no improvement. He had trouble putting on his own shirt and couldn’t lift a carton of milk. He couldn’t play baseball or do any of the things he enjoyed so it started to affect his mental health.”
The local orthopedic specialist was diligent in trying to pinpoint the cause of Logan’s discomfort. Over the course of a month, he ordered a series of lab tests and imaging studies. Despite these efforts, the specialist could not find an answer. It was then that Logan was referred to Dr. Richard Kruse at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Here, Logan was diagnosed with mild Poland syndrome, a rare condition characterized by chest wall asymmetry, and chronic right shoulder pain.
“Dr. Kruse was absolutely amazing,” says Whittney. “He really listened to what Logan and I had to say and it really concerned him with how much pain he was having. He was the one who noticed his chest asymmetry and started us on that path.” Dr. Kruse’s empathetic approach and his genuine concern for Logan’s well-being set the tone for the entire treatment process.
The journey took another positive turn when Dr. Kruse referred Logan to Dr. Robert Brislin and the Musculoskeletal Wellness Program. Dr. Brislin introduced Logan to acupuncture, a therapy that had a transformative impact on his pain management. “Acupuncture was the only thing that helped with Logan’s pain,” Whittney shares. “Dr. Brislin saw him for probably two months, and he had great improvement and was able to start back with Physical Therapy and actually have some improvement.”
Today, Logan’s pain is much better, and he has returned to all his regular activities. “He is back to playing baseball and doing the things he loves,” says Whittney. “Logan made a travel baseball team this fall so he plans on playing baseball with them and for the school team in fall. He is also playing soccer for his middle school. We have made a full recovery so we would definitely do acupuncture for maintenance as needed. It truly helped so much.” Logan’s journey has taught his family the value of exploring all available treatment options. “If you have a child that is dealing with chronic pain and inflammation and you have tried medication, I highly recommend that you give acupuncture a try,” says Whittney. “I don’t fully understand everything about it but I can honestly say that it works. It was the only thing that helped with Logan’s pain and the inflammation in his body gradually went down so he could come off his Gabapentin. Logan truly looked forward to seeing Dr. Brislin and we will forever be grateful that he got him back to doing the things he loves.”
