Growing pains-a load of old cobblers or is there some truth in it?

[moondog]

Because dd complaining intermittently about pains in (it appears) her calves and ankle area.
Can't see anything at all and she moves around fine.
Thought it might be because of horse riding but it happens even when she hasn't been on a horse.

She's 4 (nearly 5) btw

DD gets clumsy when she has a growth spurt, but never complained about pain so far.

I think my daughter suffers from growing pains too. She is 9.5 and frequently complains of pains in her legs particularly at night time. I googled "growing pains children" and there is a fair amount of stuff if you want to plough through it. I also remember having lots of leg pain as a child and I had an especially vigorous growth spurt at about 9.5 too.

I don't go with the actual theory of "growing pains" but aching legs I do.

I had them from young, most often if the weather was cold and/or damp. Warming them in a hot bath, thick socks, and calpol would ease the pain.

The reason that I don't go with growing pains as such is that I still get it now, as does my mum. DD (2) has started to complain of it too.

moondog my dd gets growing pains approx every few months and it is usually middle of night. My doctor explained that growing pains are real. It is apparently the bone growing slightly quicker than the surrounding ligaments and they need to catch up ( I am sure he was more scientific than that). His advice was not to make a big fuss about it but she may sometimes need panadol. My dd cries with it (usually her knee area and thigh area) and my dh massages the area and gives her a dose of panadol.

forgot to say my dd is 7 next week and has had a huge growth spurt over last 6 months.

i suffered with growing pains as a child as does my 5 year old dd .it seesm to happen when she gets tired and just before bedtime,i have read somewhere that eating a banana can help as it raises the potassium levels.dont know how true this is though as my dd hates bananas.lol

Thanks everyone.
Must be something in it.She is tough as old boots usually. I'll try the massage and a bit of Calpol.

DS1 went through a long phase of waking in the night crying complainng that his legs/knees hurt. It also coincided with going through a big growth spurt.....so I say there's something in it too.

Yes... i clearly remember growing pains ...and both of mine suffer from them sometimes during a growth spurt.
I just give them a dose of calpol usually.

growing pains

DS1 has had them for years. He even tells me that they are growing pains. He takes paracetamol for them and it helps him sleep. DD1 has never complained of them, but DD2 has started to.

I had excrutiating growing pains as a child. My dad would sit and rub my legs vigourously for hours on end as it was the only thing that helped. Dont understand how anyone can say it dont exist!

Flamebat - are you tall and thin?

Hi Everyone.
I noticed from my stat sheet that several of you have clicked through to my article on growing pains at: www.distanthealer.co.uk/growingpains.htm

I have a 6 year old that wakes on and off with pain in the legs (growing pains for want of a more accurate medical term) and use massage and cold flannel to warm and cool the tender areas. This sets up some vigour in the blood flow, bringing lots of oxygen to the painful muscle. A bit like the physio does to a sports injury on the field. This usually does the trick.

But lately, in addition, I've been using those wheat packs that you pop in the microwave. Then apply wrapped in a towel. They can get very hot if left in for too long, and start to cook, so be very careful to test the pack all over before using against skin. These cool down over about an hour under the duvet and ensure that at least the rest of the night is relatively pain free.

Thought I'd share this with you in the hope that your childs distress will be over as quickly as possible (and everyone can get back to sleep).

Goodnight,
Phil Chave

Viki - not particularly... 5'6'' (can never remember which needs one ' and which needs two), and about a 12-14.

My mum is very slim though.

Don't think final height has much bearing on it, I'm only 5'2"!! And I had terrible growing pains. I think it depends more on how much you grow in a short space of time.

Height and slimness is a trait of marfans syndrome which we have in our family, and is passed down from parent to child. Its not serious as such but the longer bone growth made the pains worse IMO.