3yo constantly complaining of sore legs

[hobnob57]

This has been for a number of weeks now. When walking to and from nursery, on her scooter, anywhere really. Where previously it hadn't been a problem.

She has been rubbish at eating in recent months, often only taking a mouthful of dinner. We're trying the ignoring approach to this after getting into battles over it without success. I'm wondering if she may be anaemic? Do kids get the same symptoms as adults?

The other possibility is that she has orthotic insoles which are causing her legs to ache, but these were checked as soon as we got back from holiday, which is around about the time when all this started. I had her feet measured last weekend and they are the same size so her insole should be fine.

Hi hobnob,
Does she have any other symptoms pale complexion,complain of tummy ache, wind or upset stomach after eating?

I would take her to the GP and check it out.

Booner, yes to all of those. She was/is dairy intolerant. She seems to have a threshold which she will tolerate at the moment. She's always been very pale and we've never been able to change that. But the sore legs are new...

Could be a growth spurt. Some kids find these painful. Worth getting it checked out with the GP.

Hi hobnob the reason I asked is because my son used to complain his legs hurt - we thought he was just wanting to be carried but we even had to carry him upstairs to the bath. He was a poor eater, was pale with dark under his eyes, with wind and tummy ache after eating.

We got him tested for Coeliac Disease and he was positive. You can have lactose intolerance and be anaemic if you are eating gluten when you have coeliac disease.

I woud really recommend getting a blood test for Coeliac Disease just to rule it out. It is a blood test initially followed by a biopsy on the gut.

If you have any questions please ask - it was just the sore legs that got my attention.

Interesting and a little worrying booner. She was very wheat intolerant as a wee thing - I even had to avoid it whilst BF her (and currently her sister too) but we introduced it again when she was 2 with apparently no ill effects. Well, at least not the vinegary diarrhoea which characterised her first 6 months.

The sore legs are only appearing when on walks just now. But what has worried me is that she is complaining of them when on her scooter when really she is not using them that much. I'll maybe think of seeing the GP then. I am always aware of trying not to be an overly worried mum though, when the simple answer might be to add baby spinach to every meal

I second the request for a blood test. My 3year old ds had leg pain before a diagnosis of Leukaemia. Just get everything ruled out.

Oh crumbs, I hope it's just a growth spurt. She needs one!

I'm sure it is, just worth mentioning as a serious side effect to some things.

Hi Hobnob, sorry didn't want to worry you. Just keen to talk symptoms over.
Other symptoms my son had were bloated tummy, night time waking and irritability.

We kept thinking our youngest had a cold beacuse he had started nursery and that was why he was tired and maybe had an upset stomach. After he was diagnosed I felt we should have had him tested earlier.

Good luck.

Just wanted to update. When I tried to make a GP appointment the computers were down for 3 days. Since then she has started eating better and perked up generally and hasn't been complaining to the childminder about her legs. I'll see how she goes this weekend and decide whether to try the GP again. Thanks for your help - I'll definitely take it seriously of it continues.

Hiya,

I had 'growing pains' as a child!
It was my calf muscle mainly.

It lasted quite a while, and was very painful (very achy).