What causes growing pains?

Since it isn’t due to growing, what actually causes growing pain?

Firstly, we don’t know the exact cause of growing pains, but there are a lot of hypothesis

Growing pains have been linked to a restless leg syndrome, overuse activities during the day (think a super active child), or low pain threshold,

The thought is that, they wear their muscles out with excessive play during the day and at night when they relax and are paying more attention, they tend to feel their sore muscles more. 

Another reason noted was low Vitamin D levels

There has also been linkage to psychological issues in some children.

Growing pain typically occurs in growing children but does not affect the growth of children who have them. 

How do I know my child has growing pains?

Here a few symptoms of growing pains:  Pain

• occurs between ages 3 to 12 years
• occurs on both legs usually – in front of thighs, calves and behind the knees
• does NOT involve the joints
• is intermittent and does NOT happen every day
• starts mostly in evenings and at night and disappears in the morning
• may wake your child up

It is usually diagnosed after history and examination and other concerning ilnesses ruled out.

Blood testing and imaging (X-rays) are rarely needed but sometimes an X-ray maybe done to make sure there was no injury.

How do I help my child to feel better?

There’s no specific treatment for growing pains. 

Reassurance is very important to help your child get through their pain

You can make your child more comfortable by trying the following:

• Leg massages
• Warm or cold pads
• Ice packs
• Pain ointments
• Pain medicine- ibuprofen, tylenol, naproxen
• Give Vitamin D supplements to those with low levels

When should I be worried about OR think there’s something else might be happening? 

• Pain that is limited to just one leg
• Pain occurring over joints
• Pain that migrates to different parts of the body or radiating from the back
• Pain that is noticed after an injury
• Occuring with fevers and other ill symptoms- (cough, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes)
• Swelling in legs
• Persistent daily pain or pain that lingers on till the morning