Is there such a thing as growing pains?

[fadingfast]

DS (4.3) is going through a difficult stage at the moment - very Jekyll and Hyde type behaviour and being very restless and fidgety (which I appreciate is part and parcel of being 4). Nights are particularly bad and whilst he generally goes to bed reasonably well, he is frequently waking up, crying and being unsettled. He has occasionally mentioned sore feet/legs, but with no obvious signs of injury and during the day runs around with no difficulty. DH thinks it could be 'growing pains' and claims he had the same as a child, but I always thought they were a fabrication.

Anyone agree that growing pains might be an explanation?
(I appreciate that this could be better placed on the health board, but it's a behavioural issue as much as anything)

Growing pains are indeed very real.I know because i had them very badly as a child.I would think it was a possibilty for your ds.Maybe a trip to the GP is in order?

both my dss had growing pains, although I don't think as young. DS2 now 13yo, still has them occassionaly. have you tried hot water bottles/wheat bags?

There must be. My dc gets them. Especially after a lot of running around I think. I rub them for her, give her calpol and just say poor you a lot.

My Mum used to say, don't be so silly go to sleep! poor me!

Just thinking about them bring me back to my childhood. Between the ages of 8yrs and 12yrs i used to get deep aching pains in my thigh bones and hips and they would keep me awake at night.
Growing pains are real, not everyone get them.

oh yes - I remember them well. Real horrid ache down the front of my legs. dd doesnt really get them fortunately.

I definitely had them in my legs, can still remember how it felt! I think I was taken to the doctors and that was the diagnosis. I was 8 or so.

Can't have grown very far though, I'm still only a shortarse!

I used to get them a lot in my shins when I was younger. My mum used to just rub them for me and it helped.

I remember having them.

DD has them right now.

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yes i remember them too.
felt like a heavy weight was pushing down on my legs.
i mainly used to notice at night when resting.
much to my mothers annoyance

I used to get them - they were really awful.

Would not wish them on anyone.

This is interesting - DS1 went through a phase of complaints of painful feet at night. We checked his shoes and they were fine and there was nothing obviously wrong with him. What we did then was just rub his feet with a bit of E45 cream - it wouldn't do any harm, and strangely enough it calmed him and he just went back to sleep. I think he's a hypochondriac and the placebo effect works!