Does this sound like "growing pains"? Do they even exist?

[StealthPolarBear]

5yo DS regularly gets some sort of pain in his bum, keeps saying he can't "stretch his bum out". It was mildly funny to begin with but it's happened a few times over the weekend and he seems quite distressed by it :( Worst was Saturday where he was in tears and screaming, but he was also extremely tired, which we assumed was playing a big part of it.
All I can think is that it's some sort of cramp, or growing pains - are they real or invented by adults to stop kids whining about the slightest thing?

I don't know if it has been proven that growing pains exist, but my DS has complained about them, normally in the shin area. He is growing at an alarming rate so it wouldn't surprise me if they are real.

Thanks, so its not something my aunt invented then? :)
Anyone got any experience of this stretching my bum out thing?

Bump

bump - really didn't want to start a thread entitled "stretching my bottom" but I may have to

Does he say where in the bum it is? Could it be irritable hip??

If it carries on, I would consider getting him checked over

Ds who is now 7, has had odd bum pains for the last couple of years, we have no idea what it is, it comes on now and again and also sometimes makes him cry.

He has had countless dr's visits and there is nothing wrong with him physically. We tend to put Bepanthen on it, so at least we are trying to help, I'm not sure it makes much difference though.

Not that it helps your ds in the slightest, but I am actually quite relieved to hear of another child with something similar.

It could be something like Proctalgia Fugax which is uncommon in children but apparently can present.

I suffer from it very occasionally, normally when I'm very overtired, and it comes on at bedtime or can wake me in the night. It's the worst pain ever, I really can't breathe through it, but generally subsides within 20 or so minutes. The best way to describe it is like both buttocks going into spasm and trying to rip my sacrum apart - and the need for your son to "stretch his bum out" sounds really familiar.

I'm not sure what treatment is available, but there is lots of stuff on the internet about it. Fortunately for me I tend to have a few attacks in a couple of days and then nothing for years, so it's not (to me) worth medicating.

Is it a buttock pain or an actual bumhole pain? I sometimes get arsehole cramp, it's a bit like a stomach cramp - really hurts. I think it might be related to wind...pushing out as if to poo seems to help. Your poor DS, it's not funny at all. Is he windy generally?

If it's his bum hole (poor Ds us talking about his bum hole!) it could still be constipation even if he goes ok, he might not be evacuating it properly.

Thanks everyone, I now have 2 threads so might be seeming a bit disjointed. Im not sure if its bumbole or buttocks but suspect buttocks. Swatch that sounds awful :( nd I don't think his is tht bad Tbh, I hope not, poor boy :(

Poor boy :(

I have no idea about bottom pains, I just clicked on at "growing pain" because I always had joint pain when growing and when especially tired and ds1 does too but his is in his feet.

Gk yes, good to hear they're together in this! I couldn't even google properly for this!

I had growing pains when I was young, but in my legs. A sort of dull ache, mainly at night. I think it's bone-related.

It does sound like your DS has a very specific pain/discomfort - it doesn't sound like anything he could have invented. If it continues, maybe ask your GP to refer him to a paedeatrician who might be better placed to "interpret" what he is actually saying and pinpoint the problem.

It is hideous, but like I say it goes quickly, and knowing that makes it better iyswim. I hope it's not what he's suffering, but it sounds familiar.

Have you thought about googling a few glute stretches that you can do with him when it comes on, so if it is something that needs stretching out you solve it, and if it isn't you can distract him a bit. Try this one with him and get him to do some slow breathing. It normally helps me when I'm having an attack.

I had terrible growing pains when I was younger but all in my legs and joints. No idea about your Ds's pain though, you need to work out if it's toilet related or something to do with the skin or muscles. What is he trying to do that's causing him pain? Has a P.E teacher done something new that could have caused aching muscles?

My DS, who is 8 now, has suffered from growing pains in his legs (upper and lower) since he was about 3. He has all sorts of scans/tests etc (extra nervous due to SIL sudden onset paralysis as a child), but the specialist we saw said to me that although it cannot be found in any official medical book, its was growing pains. The bones and muscles are not growing at the same time. Its worse if he has been very active at footy or gym class, but goes after a while with ibubrofen and massage.

So, sorry no help to you OP with your little ones bum! What sort of chairs do they have a school? Maybe his bum just aches from sitting too long?

If it's a buttock thing, there's a good stretch manoeuvre here, could be worth a try? I get sciatica which is exacerbated by a tight bum muscle, and this helps.

Thanks everyone. I will bear all this in mind. It happened again tonight and I asked if stretching helped. It didn't. I then asked if a medicinal milkshake would help. It did, lots. So I don't think its anything too serious.

I suffered from growing pains all thru my childhood and now get achy legs that need streching,I cant sit down and relax I seem to get spasms that go up thru to my bum.
I use Magnesium one pill relaxes my spasms,you can give them to children as well,might help??

That sounds like it might be it, thank you. Could it be related to vitamin deficiency at all?