my legs hurt mummy

[Pandora]

DS1 is 3 and a half.
Lately he tells me, sometimes during the day, but mostly at night, that his legs hurt, behind his knees.

He goes to bed crying or wakes up sreaming in pain becuase his legs hurt.
We are going to the doctors today, but Im scared they will just say its "growing pains" - is there usch a thing?

My cousins daughter has the same thing, shes now 10 and still wakes up in tears with sore legs - I really dont think its just growing pains but thats all the doctors have ever told them.

IS there any other reason for it?
Are growing pains real, or a cop out, and how long do they last?

[Floweryfields]

I had what they called growing pains as a child, very painful. Not sure what the actual scientific reason is behind them.

[Purple Penguin]

Growing pains do exist, DD gets them here and there occasionally. HAving said that if you are concerned then most definitely go see your GP.

[Lady-bug]

I still get 'growing pains' and I'm 24!!! I mainly get them when I'm really tired. So yep, they are real! Heat packs are good.

[Liz]

My bro had growing pains. My 3yr old complains of a sore leg lately and was up a lot last night saying his knee hurt 'inside', but then he was also complaining about the graze he got on his knee at preschool yesterday stinging. So not sure about last night.

Could it be cramps?

[Just Me]

Oh RayRay - your poor DS! I read the link about growing pains and it sounds awful (and very sad to watch).

Sorry no advice but found the info in here interesting because I didn't know anything about growing pains until now.

I hope the pains are short lived for your DS and don't cause too many sleepless nights.

[Nai]

Yep the leg bones grow from around the knees so that's where the pains come from. DD1 had these a few weeks ago too.

[skybie]

aw poor little guy!
growing pains are very real and very painful. i had them as a kid and still do occasionally now, always at the back of me knees and my thighs..to a point that i'd be in bed punching my thighs to make it stop, mainly only happened at night time too.
the joys of being 6' hey?!

[Tanya]

Ray,
DD#2 gets them in her knees and has been getting them for a couple of years now. She cries and says her knees hurt. I have taken her to the dr and had bloods done and an xray, but that all came back clear.... She gets them mostly when she is really tired.

xx

[Moi]

I suffered from awful pains in my legs growing up and was always told they were growing pains. But I still get them now on and off and I am 33 so I'm not sure if they are growing pains because surely I am not growing any more.

Anyway, I find that it is worse when I am tired (not enough sleep) or if I've been very active.

What helps me is:

1. Sleep
2. Warming up the legs as much as possible (heat packs, very warm bath, deep heat). As a child I would put two pairs of socks on sometimes.
3. Massage

The other thing I find is that panadol doesn't help me at all. Sleep is the only thing that fixes it.

HTH

[Early Kids]

Poor thing

Hope you can help ease the pain for him.

[aussienic]

My Eldest used to do this and still occasionally does. (rarely though) We were told it was growing pains as well. None of my other kids have ever done it. When he got really upset we would give a dose of panadol and massage his legs while he went to sleep

[boomba]

My cousin in law got this and went to a osteopath and it had something to do wiht the bones, cant remember exactly but she said it wasnt growing pains!
Maybe see one and get a second oppinion?

good luck

[Jaycee]

I used to get this too as a kid, it was awful.
My dad used to massage my legs and put deep heat on them, not sure if that's recommended but it worked for me.
I hope your DS is ok, poor little mite.

[Bathsheba]

I have heard that growing pains are real and that they can be due to a mineral deficiency, I think it's calcium. See your GP or natropath. I got them during my pregnancy... and was also due to a similar thing: mineral deficiency. Maybe try applying dencorub behind the knees.... heat is good for bone related pain. Ask your chemist about pain relief like Osteo-eze (I think that's what it's called) and if it's safe for children.

[Pandora]

thanks everyone.
My cousins also told me to get a pillow case filled with corks at his feet, not sure how this one works but she said that and a heat bag help too
Bath - o.m. you so dont look it!

[Pandora]

well, not more sore legs so far, i hope it was just a one off thing.