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Children's health

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Original poster

More than growing pains?

25 replies

BlueSteak · 27/02/2019 11:30

DS (nearly 12) who hasn’t been to the dr since he was a toddler has asked me to take him to see a GP re his leg pain as it’s really bothering him.

They’ve probably been sore around 4-6 weeks but he’s been more vocal the last 2 weeks. Both legs from knee down but one leg more than the other. Better when lying down and much worse after exercise. He’s also always tired but says he struggles to fall asleep at night so maybe it’s lack of sleep.

He’s tall & slim if that makes a difference. I’d put it down to growing pains so didn’t think there was much point, although will take him just incase, if your dc have had them has it been similar?

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Original poster

BlueSteak · 27/02/2019 15:44

OP posts:

MrsMaisel · 27/02/2019 16:18

So take him to see the GP. If it really has been that long since his last check up he must be long overdue. Great that he has been so healthy - no point putting off a visit though...

StopMakingAFoolOutofMe · 27/02/2019 16:19

Can you pin-point where the pain is coming from?

It sounds like it could be Sever's.

Mishappening · 27/02/2019 16:23

No such thing as growing pains. He needs to be seen by |GP.

CouldBeAnyoneReally · 27/02/2019 16:28

If it really has been that long since his last check up he must be long overdue. Is this relevant? My dd is nearly 11 and hasn’t been seen by our gp dr since she had her 6wk check. She’s never needed to go. I don’t feel she needs a checkup?

Op I was reading something about rickets in children being on the increase. Symptoms include bone pain and trouble sleeping. Def worth a gp visit either way.

anniehm · 27/02/2019 16:30

Shin splints quite likely- especially as after exercise but go to the gp as whilst it's likely to be minor just in case!

Original poster

BlueSteak · 27/02/2019 16:45

Sorry wasn’t quite true about the doctors visit as he has an ongoing bowel issue so gets regular consultant check ups - but I meant the last time he needed a GP to see him due to illness.

I didn’t think growing pains were a thing but nhs website disagrees. I also wondered about rickets as his diet is not great but he takes vitamins so seems unlikely.

Thanks everyone I feel less silly making an appointment now, lots of people with teens I’ve spoken to have almost all said they’ve had sore legs at a growth spurt, which DS is due. That coupled with the fact me & DD have had multiple health issues over the last few months so never seem to be out of GP, always worry about them thinking I’m exaggerating things.

I’ve just told him to tell me exactly where it’s sore as he’s always so vague, it’s around both knees and just under them front & back. I’ll call for an appointment tomorrow.

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Fatted · 27/02/2019 16:49

My DH always had growing pains when he was younger. Turns out he is actually flat footed, has been since birth, and the pain was caused by this.

Definitely take your DS to the GP to get it checked out. My DH was sorted out with some insoles.

Original poster

BlueSteak · 27/02/2019 17:27

I have no idea about flat feet, I’ll check them later but I’m sure I would have noticed that over the years, or shoe fitters would have?

I wonder if GP will just put it down to growing. I’ll update when he’s seen.

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Imperfectsusan · 27/02/2019 20:01

Definitely sounds like Osgood Slatters, common in tall teens, as their ligaments can't catch up with the speed of bone growth. He'll grow out of it. Best take him to doctor.

Original poster

BlueSteak · 27/02/2019 20:12

Ah Imperfect that sounds just like what it could be!

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Imperfectsusan · 27/02/2019 20:42

They may refer to a podiatrist if his feet hurt too). He needs the games teacher to know if he needs to stop sometimes.

TwigTheWonderKid · 27/02/2019 20:54

Definitely sounds like Osgood Schlatter. We took DS to GP who diagnosed it then we decided to pay privately to see a kids physio who taught DS how to use Curatape to strap it and a range of exercises to help in just one session .

Cuddlysnowleopard · 27/02/2019 20:57

I had similar pains as a child, but the doctor put it down to growing pains, and DS1 had the same. A high strength vitamin D tablet seems to sort it for us. Maybe try, as well as seeing GP?

badgerread · 27/02/2019 21:20

My son is 14 and suffers with Osgood Schlatters. It's very common in sporty teens and means their bones are growing quicker than their muscles so they're tight all the time. He was referred to a physio for exercises but I took him back to the GP this week as his knees and ankles are still hurting when doing any sport.

He said there's nothing really that can be done, it will stop when he stops growing. For the time being he has been told to take ibuprofen half an hour before sport to see if that helps and we've got to go back in 3 weeks to see if there's any improvement, if not he could be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon but even then the surgeon will probably say the same thing. It is a type of growing pain unfortunately but not curable...

AnyFucker · 27/02/2019 21:25

Most likely Osgood Schlatters or some other adolescent musculoskeletal pain

However, I would ask the gp to do some basic blood work to check for stuff like leukamia

AnyFucker · 27/02/2019 21:25

*leukaemia

Original poster

BlueSteak · 28/02/2019 09:16

He’s not very sporty at all, but I did read it can happen in non athletic children too. His feet aren’t flat and no pains there. His tiredness does concern me though, I’m considering getting him Fitbit or similar to see how much sleep he is getting.

He gets woken at 7.30 on weekdays & dozes on the 10 minute drive to school, on the weekends if left he’ll sleep til lunch.

Can you request bloods be taken etc? I always thought dr had to suggest it...

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AnyFucker · 28/02/2019 11:05

Yes, of course you can suggest it himself.

He might just be a proper sleepy head but dozing in the car on the way to school doesn't sound right. Sleeping until lunch also generally kicks in a bit later in the teen years.

I would get him checked out and definitely mention the generalised leg pains and fatigue.

AnyFucker · 28/02/2019 16:13

*yourself

FraterculaArctica · 28/02/2019 16:19

Glad I found this thread, did anyone's DC have pains in the legs as a much younger child? My DS aged 5 wakes up perhaps 2 or 3 times a month screaming that his knees hurt. Usually a couple of nights in succession and then it passes. GP was dismissive when we saw him 6 months or so ago but it's been going on at least a year now. DS is also tall and skinny. I'd never heard of some of the conditions mentioned here, is there anything we should be looking out for?

Original poster

BlueSteak · 28/02/2019 16:20

GP wanting bloods done re tiredness & he’s seeing his consultant next week anyway so hopefully the results will be in by then and she can advise. It never even occurred to me I could bring it up with her because he goes there for a specific reason

She’s suggested gentle exercises for knees and if no improvement within 2 weeks then physio.

Thank you all for the advice.

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CouldBeAnyoneReally · 01/03/2019 06:57

Hopefully blood results will reveal all then. Let us know how you get on.

And as an aside, I wouldn’t have brought up another issue with a nurse we were seeing for a specific reason - it’s pretty much drummed into us that it’s one ailment per appointment!

Original poster

BlueSteak · 01/03/2019 08:03

That’s a good point although I guess a consultant is a bit different, the GP said if anything showed or no improvement with knees then we’d probably end up referred to her anyway.

At least I can say now that the GP told me to bring it up...

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Original poster

BlueSteak · 10/03/2019 21:08

Little update, bloods normal although there was query with glucose so he’s doing a fasting blood test later in the week.

However when the consultant examined his legs for the knee pain she noticed non blanching purple pinprick rash. She thinks it HSP
(Henoch-Schonlein Purpura) which is usually harmless but can cause liver/kidney issues, so she’s to see him fortnightly to keep an eye on it.

Glad I took him in! Tiredness she thought was due to not being active enough.

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