Growing Pains - Nighttime Screaming...

[stripey]

My 31/2 year old ds has been up screaming with pains in his legs/knee the last couple of nights. My husband says its probably growing pains but I am a bit worried as he did a similar thing a couple of months ago and the following week couldn't walk for a week. The hospital couldn't confirm what the problem was but were fairly sure it was a post viral thing (He had been ill the week before then but is healthy now)?

Has anyone experienced anything like this? Could he just be dreaming and imagining the pain as he seems fine the following morning with no pain at all.

I am not looking forward to tonight.

DS2 used to do this. He suffers from night terrors too, so it was sometimes difficult to work out what the problem was.

However, he definitely used to complain of pains in the leg during the night. This went on for some time and then, whilst visiting the osteopath for another problem, they noticed that the muscles in the lower part of the leg were very tight. They did something to his tummy area and he's been fine since. So, if you are concerned that it might be more than just growing pains, try an osteopath.

Thanks Freckle. I will see what happens tonight. How do you know the difference between night terrors as opposed to a nightmare?

With nightmares, they tend to know that they've had one and can usually tell you what it's about. With night terrors, they may not even wake up properly and very often have no recollection the following morning. With DS2, he'd come screaming and crying from his room, saying that he wanted mummy, but, even when I was right in front of him/holding him, he'd push me away saying that he wanted mummy. His eyes would be open, but he didn't seem to be conscious of what was going on around him. Very unsettling and distressing for us, but he seemed oblivious the following morning.

As he's got older, the episodes are further apart and he seems to have some idea the following morning, but is still not totally aware.

It did seem like he didn't know what was happening last hight and hardly seemed to be aware of me in the room - didn't calm down when he usually does but each time he woke he said it was the left knee that hurt so I believe he must have had a pain in that particular knee.

It is so hard to know what to do I remember reading about night terrors and I think the advice was not to try and wake them just let it happen. He hardly ever remembers if he wakes in the night the next morning but he does sometimes mention things during the night if he is dreaming.

Maybe the pain in the knee is enough to disturb him but not enough to waken him to full consciousness. I was told that DS2's right leg was just growing pains, but I would have expected such pains to be in both legs. The osteopath said that, in her opinion, there was no such thing as growing pains and he certainly never complained about leg pains again after she'd treated him. Might be worth checking it out with an osteopath.

DS also cried with pains in his knee at same age. My friend a medical herbalist made him some concoction to help with the growing pains which did the trick, can't remember what the ingredient was but am hoping to speak with her later today so will post again if do...
otherwise you could see a herbalist, it worked for us

how weird - my ds also 3.5 who does suffer from night terrors, had this last night too. He woke at about 12pm with quite a high temperature and screaming that his feet hurt. He has done this a few times before but usually after he's been to an adventure playground (so i had always assumed he'd jarred his feet jumping off things). Wonder if they're connected ?

Hi

I used to suffer terrible growing pains in my legs when I was a child, so was very sympathetic to my 3 year-old when he started to wake up crying saying his leg or foot hurt.

We went to a homeopath a few weeks ago and have had no pains since. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Hi Meysey Did the homeopath give you a herbal remedy. How often does your child have to take it? My ds has been OK the last 2 nights but told me his calf hurt this morning.

Hi - us too...
My DD (3yrs 3 months) wakes in the night saying her feet and lower leg hurts. She dosn't scream but it is enough to wake her up and prevent her getting back to sleep. It does tend to happen if she has had a "busy" day, ie been at nursery but other than assume it was because her legs/feet are tired I have been at a loss - sorry no advice but needing it please!!

hi stripey

we had to take one homeopathic pill at bedtime for 5 nights, and she said to give him another when he woke up in the night. but he did not wake up in pain during the treatment or for the past few weeks since. he had been waking up crying every couple of days prior to that. here's hoping the pains stay away.

Thanks everyone at least I know he isn't the only one with these strange night pains. He is very sensitive to any sort of pain so perhaps it just seems worse because of the night time screams.

I think if it re-occurs I will seek some sort of treatment osteopath or homeopath - I wonder what a GP would say. I don't think mine would be too interested.

I have actually started to measure him so at least I will know if he has actually grown!!!