Leg ache and cramp pain in feet, especially at night.

[soosy]

My DS is 3 and 10 months and has spates of leg ache and cramps in his legs. I had Leg ache as a child and I give him a dose of calpol, which seems to work esp if he complains of pain before bed. His leg ache has become more frequent and today he was screaming about the pains in his feet on two occasions, and although I am assuming it was cramp, he did do some 'sport' (using term very loosely here) at Nursery today. But I am now a bit worried about this pain he is getting. Has anyone encountered similar and is there anything I can give him to help - Someone mentioned to me magnesium helps with cramp.

[whispywhisp]

Growing pains? Kids can get bouts of it. Not sure about magnesium helping with cramp but if it does one of the best sources of magnesium is in red grapes.

[hereorthere]

One of my children gets this LOADS! By all means mention this next time you're at the docs - just in case.

[TheMadHouse]

DS1 gets this - we call it growing pains. DH remebers them too. He does seem to grow in spurts and it is usually associated with the pain. poor mite

[whispywhisp]

My eldest daughter still gets major growing pains...and yes it keeps her awake at night too. The pain is usually down the backs of her legs below the knee and even in her arms. She's almost 10yrs old and getting taller by the day. I just give her Calpol 6+ and she's fine with that.

[Ripeberry]

I used to get loads of growing pains when i was a kid, especially around 7yrs old and 11yrs old.
Calpol is all you can do really, but see GP if it's really hurtin.

[NoNickname]

Ds suffers. I use a dose of Calpol, along with a wheat bag (one of those ones you heat in the microwave). Someone else I know suggested ibuprofen (or similar) gel, but I haven't yet found one suitable for a four year old.

[soosy]

Thanks, everyone - I looked up leg pain on NHS direct and it said leg pain in children see GP as soon as possible, which is not helpful! He seems much better today although he said his feet were still a bit sore. I wish he would eat red grapes! and we are using calpol, just rather a lot at the moment.....

[IllegallyBrunette]

Ds suffers with this and has done since he was about 3, he is now nearly 6.

I have had him checked out by a docotr who is convinced it is just growing pains or restless legs.
I did suffer with it alot as a child, and his symptoms are exactly the same as mine were so I know how painful it can be.

One of the main things that sets ds's legs off is if his legs/feet go from being warmish (ie in socks and shoes), to being cold (for example, doing pe at school in bare feet).
The above always sets it off in ds and I have had to ask school that he does not remove his socks for pe.

I was given a tube of Ibuprofen gel to use with ds, as he used to get so upset with it that anything given orally would come straight back up again. I rub a pea sized amount into the affected leg, make sure his legs are covered with socks and pj's, and this usually does the trick.

Ds had it recently on the plane back from Spain, and I had no meds with me to give him. By the time we got off the plane he was in agony and couldn't even walk, and I could of kicked myself for not taking his gel with us.

[CherryChapstick]

Tis growing pains. My 3 all had them. Calpol and Ibuprofen rub.

[IllegallyBrunette]

NoNickname - The ibuprofen gel I have for Ds is a normal strength one, but I had to get it on prescription from my gp.
The pharmacist did query it, but then said it was fine so long as only a very tiny amount was used, and tbh it is so slimey that a little bit goes along way, long enough to do a leg anyway lol.

[CherryChapstick]

Lidl do their own Ibuprofen gel/rub for about £2.

[whispywhisp]

soosy...keep his bed warm...put an electric underblanket in his bed (you can keep on all night) or get him to have a hot water bottle on his feet....warmth really does help with soothing pain.

[NoNickname]

Cheers IllegallyBrunette - will speak to the GP about it next time we're there.