DS2 waking in the night crying with joint pain

[Virgil]

Any ideas what this is? Last night it was his knees. Tonight it's his wrists. He's crying with the pain. He's five.

DH says its growing pains. I never even knew there really was such a thing?

Hi, this is something that seems to be recognised more in the Pakistani community, they have a special name for it I can't remember what. It's a bit strange but if you heat some olive oil (not too hot obviously) and rub it on the joints that's supposed to help.

I have heard of people saying about growing pains and I'm sure its true. But I'd get him checked out at the gp just to make sure.

It's growing pains OP, I think anway

My ds (3 and 1/2) complains of them and cries occasionally. He gets them in his knees and ankles, and I also got them very badly as a child.

Just massage the area and give him lots of cuddles, that's all you can do really

DS1 had bad joint pain last year when he was 3, took him to out of hours GP (wasa bank holiday), they kept him in hospital overnight worried that it was viral arthritis (I think, I may have got the name wrong) - he had just had chicken pox so that might have been an issue. We never really found out what it was but he was let out the next day.

As a child would have really sore knees, mum dismissed them as growing pains (not one to make a fuss). I'm now nearly 6ft so seems legit to me! One of those heated bean bags might be nice?

Look at vitamin supplements too - esp vit d - he can take up to 1000 international units daily, which is a lot more than standard supplements have. If he is dark skinned esp, it's worth a vit d blood test.
There's also a magnesium spray from holland and barrett. I use it more on tired muscles tho

Look at vitamin supplements too - esp vit d - he can take up to 1000 international units daily, which is a lot more than standard supplements have. If he is dark skinned esp, it's worth a vit d blood test.
There's also a magnesium spray from holland and barrett. I use it more on tired muscles tho

I personally don't believe in "growing pains" - too easy to dismiss real pain by giving it such a patronising label!

Children's joints are softer than adults' and so can be more easily overstressed. Has your son been particularly active today?

I used to get horrible pains in my knees and hips. Turns out I have mild hypermobility which causes the pain. If your son is very flexible this might also be a factor.

Calpol and heat (wheatbag or hot water bottle) should help.

I used to - and still do, occasionally - get this in my knees. Obviously it is not growing pains!

I have had all manner of tests, but nothing was diagnosed. I realised that it was an inflammation because paracetamol doesn't work (it isn't an anti-inflammatory drug), and then when I was pregnant I didn't get it at all, which made me realise that it was likely a ligament thing. When you're pregnant your body releases a hormone called relaxin that works on the ligaments.

DS2 also occasionally suffers from this.

I take aspirin for mine, but that's not a drug you should give under 16s. Liquid Nurofen worked for my son.

there's a condition called osgood-schlatter disease which is not as serious as it sounds. I'd take him to the GP though.

My 5.5 yr DD gets this off & on also. Trampolining is the worst offender, particularly after a couple of taster sessions at trampolining club (less elastic surface than junior home mesh ones?), so I won't be taking her to a club until she's older. Her aches seem to be all over - difficult to pinpoint whether joints/muscular. Sometimes massage helps. I also remember getting really bad aches in my legs when I was younger. Always at bedtime.
Is it better to use a coldpack then heat? If it's inflammation?

can be a symptom of coeliac disease also.

I have growing pains, i have since i was very young, and im now 24. There is nothing medically wrong with me, but when i get these pains i can only describe them to be as if someone is putting their hands between your joints and pulling them apart. They are very uncomfortable, and disrupt my sleep.

I remember getting pains in my legs that the doctor said were growing pains, but they weren't in my joints, they were in my shin bones. That was when I was a bit older too.

You should probably go to the GP though, I agree with the others.

My DS2 is now 8.5yrs and suffers on and off with growing pains. Normally at night and more often in his ankles or lower legs. The only thing that helps is calpol and a loong cuddle with massaging the effected area. It usually takes a fair while to soothe it though.

Hmm might be a trip to the doctors then

Ds2 suffers like this. GP said growing pains, but they got worse and he also developed awful foot cramps. He also had a tendency to fall over a lot - seemingly falling over nothing, or 'over his own feet'.

He is now 8 and on the advice of some lovely MNetters I took him to the GP and asked to be referred to a paediatrician for further investigation.

It turned out that he has Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, for which he is now having regular physio to improve his core strength, muscle strength and joint stability. School have also had to make some adjustments for him in terms of seating and PE etc.

If your ds has any other symptoms at all, don't be fobbed off with 'growing pains' by the GP. Ds has recently told me that his ankles and knees have always collapsed (subluxed/partially dislocated) several times a day, but he didn't know it wasn't normal and also didn't know how to explain it to us.

I actually came on the children's health board to post this question! Very interesting to hear all the replies/theories. I took ds (also 5) to the GP today, after a few years of these pains (always knees) I wanted just to rule out any problems. She didn't suggest growing pains, and has referred him on to have it checked out - hope it's not any of the scarier things mentioned on here.

I was also coming here to ask a similar question - for ds its not specifically his joints -it goes all the way up his leg to his hip one side... So trip to the GP?

I'd also check for hypermobility. Ds1 has it and takes ibuprofen when it's painful - as it is anti inflammatory and eases it a bit. If it is HMS, you might be able to see the joints moving further than they should do. ds1 can bend his hand back so his thumb touches the back of his arm and double cross his legs.

Subluxations cause pain, but even just everyday stuff can cause it. Some joints may be affected worse than others.

mylovelymonster it might be worth checking your dd for it too. Trampolining can aggravate hms, ds1 has to avoid anything high impact.