DS (6) with leg pains

[Ploom]

DS2 has suffered intermittently with really typical "growing pains" - leg pain at night, no pain in the day.
But now they seem to be more frequent and especially if he's had a really active day. We're just back from a holiday where we were hiking a few days and he was awake in the night crying after one of those days.

We've been today to a big soft play place - we were there for 5 hours and he's woken up 20 mins ago screaming and limped towards me. Have given him some calpol & dh gave him some warm milk and cuddles & he's gone back to bed.

Would it be worth going to the doctor (or I can go to the paediatrician - we're not in the UK) to have them check him over or maybe even do an xray? I'm sure they are growing pains but theres always a little niggle of doubt in my head that there's something else wrong?

Anyone have any helpful tips for leg pains in the meanwhile?

If they are leg cramps, you can get homeopathic tablets from the chemist "Mag Phos" I am always a bit about alternative medicines, but 2 years ago I got such bad leg cramps I tore a muscle whilst ignoring the pain out walking - The mag phos literally stopped the cramps overnight when nothing else did. Worth a try? I give them to my dd (5) when she complains of cramps.

I know it won't help ploon but I've just started a practically identical thread after DS2 has woken screaming for the second night in a row. Whilst I don't have any suggestions apart from calpol and a bit of salt (probably an old wives tale) at least we can take comfort that it's obviously quite common

We must have been typing at the same time. Glad I'm not alone & glad other people have no idea what to do either. Its just so heartbreaking to hear them sobbing & not know what to do to help.

I'm not against using alternative medicine (I take a herbal remedy Agnes Castus to regulate my periods). Will have a look for the stuff you recommended. Thanks.

my ds (6) gets pains in his legs, he is hypermobile so I'm not sure if its growing pains or due to his joints generally. I read that epsom salt baths are supposed to help, not sure if they do or its just soaking them in a warm bath before bed but he sleeps a lot better - complains of aches now rather than pains.
Could your ds be getting cramp? I used to get it a lot after swimming training (I trained 4 days week from 9yrs and it was more when I started seniors school) my mum used to give me salt sandwiches and glass of milk after which helped (not a great combination! I think she did it to see if I really had cramp or was after crisps...)

Might sound weird, but can you try a vitamin supplement?

I had this terribly as a child (saw GP etc, said it was growing pains) and my eldest started a few years ago.

I had to start a vitamin D supplement a couple of years ago, as I was deficient, and one if the symptoms was aches. It dawned on my mum that my pains as a child were worse in winter. I started ds on a vitamin supplement, and the pains haven't come back since.

My DD had this for about six months which I put down to growing pains (and her trying anything to not go to bed as they only seemed to happen just as she was drifting off) I took her to the GP who did blood tests which revealed nothing except a borderline anaemia.
They do seem to have stopped now so I think it was simply "growing pains".

Thanks for those tips altho i'm not sure i'll be giving him salt sandwiches.

I dont think he's Vit D deficient - we live quite an outdoorsy life and he has a bit if a tan so i'm sure he's getting enough sunlight. Did wonder if he was lacking calcium - he eats a yoghurt every day but isnt great at drinking milk.

Just measured him today - well not in cm but we have a side of cupboard where we mark how tall they are. He's grown 3cm since April so maybe it is growing pains & nothing more serious. He needs to go to the doc about a wart on his foot so might just mention it there anyway.

I wouldn't rule out vitamin D on the basis of lifestyle. It depends where in the UK you live, but this thread contains some interesting discussion about it. I hope he feels better soon :)

We're not in the UK - we live in Bavaria so much more sunshine than in the UK. Will have a look on that thread - thanks.