To ask does this sound like growing pains?

[SleepingStandingUp]

I have NO idea why DS 3.5 wakes up crying but he does seem to be in pain.

If asked, he can tell me his back or knees hurt. He might settle eventually but cries really hard and then falls asleep but will wake up similar later.

Google thinks it could be growing pains in his knees and to give calpol before bed.

DH in particular is uncomfortable about this as a solution but DS and I need sleep that isn't disturbed by 30 minute screaming sessions and pain. Last night was much better and he only woke twice but not in pain.

He doesn't seem to have pain in the day, although if you ask will say his back hurts.

Could it be growing pains??

We're already waiting for an MRI for hs back to rule out anytiing else but now his knees hurt too!

My DC suffer terribly with growing pains. We call them niff knees! Calpol does the trick but I tend to only give it if they're sore before bed or when they wake up crying, I don't give it preventatively.
Ruling out anything else is a good plan of course, sounds like growing pains to me though. Hope DS doesn't suffer for too long.

Is "growing pains" actually a thing then? As in a proper medical thing?

It isn't actually caused by a growth spurt from what I can find but it is linked to children of growing age and particularly ones who are active.

Aaghjhh doctors for knees or not??

Problem with calpol when in pain is he has is through a gastrostomy so I need to undo his vest, attach the tube etc which quite frankley pisses him off and he's still had to wake up screaming.

I could have written this, my DS was exactly the same last night, calpol did the trick but as you say is fine in the day. Very odd but as long as it’s fine in the day I don’t think there’s any cause for concern, obviously your DS has other things going on with his back but often if I ask mine he will say it hurts and I think that’s because of the cuddles etc he gets in the night. Hope he gets better soon x

Sorry forgot to say was knees as well!

And this has been for a few weeks... always knees and legs and he is very active. Sorry for the multiple posts

I'd probably make a GP appointment to make sure.

Do his joints swell at all? Definitely worth a GP visit if so as it could be juvenile arthritis which responds best to early treatment.

I was in agony in my legs at night as a child and my doctor told my mum I was making it up! I never found out what it was (always assumed growing pains). Hope your little one is ok :( xxx

Is "growing pains" actually a thing then? As in a proper medical thing?

Yes. I had no idea, until DD had them.

My dc have always donethis. Always at night, never any bother in the day. Always in spates, so every night for a few weeks then nothing for a few months. I’ve never given them anything for it other than a leg rub, some sympathy, and some extra food helpings to get the growing done (haha)

I don’t know if they are actually related to growing but they are very common and yes, a medical thing, but they don’t know why.

I took my DS to drs at about this age with almost the exact same circs. He said growing pains. They eventually eased. He's 6 next month's and occasionally gets them, usually before I have to go out shopping for a new wardrobe!!

Every day is a learning day!
I always thought growing pains was an old wives tale. I now know better 😀