what can cause wake-up-and-cry-inconsolably pain in the legs/knees of a 4yo??

[LadyLaGore]

v sudden
says not in the day, just come on at night.

dp says he vaguely remembers him saying something about sore legs sometime during last week

hes just woken again. screaming. whats going on????

[ACL]

Growing pains at night can be a symptom of Hypermobility Syndrome - www.hypermobility.org.

Not many doctors know about hypermobility - can thoroughly recommend the Hypermobility Clinics - details on the website.

Alison

[FlameNPumpkins]

I seem to recall mine being called some form of rheumatism as a child - don't remember what though. I probably should get it looked at again, but where it is one of those things I have just always had, I just sort of get on with it - like a head ache. I do tend to know when DD will get it in advance though as I feel the starting twinges in mine so can be prepared/dose her up before bed.

I've often wondered if it is because I had always had that that when I got slapped cheek as a child, I ended up being one of the rare cases where it gets into your joints and I couldn't bear weight on my legs . I had had hideous pains the night before and just put it down to very bad aching legs Remember being terrified for ages after that aching legs would = not walking.

Sorry, this doesn't help MasterLaGore in the slightest

[wobbegong]

I get this too, and had it since I was a small kid. Trailed round specialists etc. Told it was growing pains till I was in my twenties, then told it was "one of those things". It is strongly associated with being over-tired. Paracetemol, massage, warmth all help.

I was also was told by a specialist to drink G&T for the quinine in the tonic. Not advising this for your DS obviously. But in 12 years or so?

[filthymindedSixSixSixen]

I had this - and sadly still do. I have arthritis it turns out...like my mum. It is terrible when we have a cold snap. Or if I have been stading around a lot. Or if it is very damp...

both dsses get this. Massage and a hot water bottle help. In their case, I sincerely hope it is 'just' growing pains.

[Grammaticus]

My DS1 gets this. DH says he did as a child

[Olihan]

DS1 gets this. We've put it down to growing pains too. It's pretty sporadic so we haven't actually got any advice about it. We give him Calpol and a cuddle until he calms down then he usually goes straight back to sleep.

[LadyLaGore]

they all had high temps for a few days at end of last week, on holiday.
hes v tired today. i kept him with me and we didnt do much... but he conked out behind a chair in the living room about 4:30. hes asleep on the sofa now. track record says he'll be a nightmare to get to bed now. sigh.

[LadyLaGore]

doc said it wasnt caused by growing.
link says its caused by general active boisterousness kind of catching up with you while you sleep, hence the re-naming of it as activity pains.

i dont think ive ever had these. ive had odd pains i couldnt explain, but never in my sleep.

[Indith]

I don't think I'm growing! We've never been to the Dr with it though because it was exactly what my mum had and she was trailed round various Drs and specialists by her Dr father as a child.

[Othersideofthechannel]

A friends son suffers from purpura. It's extremely rare but he started off with pains in legs. Then a high temperature. Then the rash.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/purpura.htm

[Bubbaluv]

Are you still growing Indith?? When I had my scans you could easily see the over-active growth plates in my bones which were causing the problems. The problem stopped when I stopped growing. If you're not growing and stil getting pain I would ask for a rediagnosis to be honest.
DH has grown over 1cm taller in the last year and he's 31!!! How freaky is that!!

[Indith]

I still get "growing pains". My mum was the same, grew out of it in her 20s. For me it is an odd sort of pain that starts in a joint, usually knees and usually at night but sometimes in the day and in the elbow or wrist. Massage helps me, and paracetamol. If I leave it too long it spreads along the limb to the next joint.

[Bubbaluv]

I got terrible growing pains as a teenager - had no idea they could start so young! I was even sent off for scans to make sure it wasn't arthritis. FlaminPumpkins, have you been checked for arthritis? If the pain is brought on by cold it's worth ruling that out.

[twoluvlykids]

my dd used to get pains behind her knees, "growing pains" - but I discovered it is made worse by not enough sleep.

try a week of really early nights, if the pain is really bad, there shouldn't be too many complaints about early bedtimes.

dd still sometimes gets leg pain, and takes herself off to bed early,sleeps well & that's it, gone, for a few months.

[LadyLaGore]

yup, doc says its growing pains, only theyve been renamed 'activity pains'.
gawd, if its not one thing its another eh? [rolls eyes]

[LadyLaGore]

thanks cyteen, will do my best to get to the bottom of it, but am prepared never to know.

our gp is prtty good tho - i took my 5yo in last yr thinking hed strained his leg or something, thoguht was no biggie at all, and he immediately spotted that i t was a thing called irritable hip and sent him off to hospital

[cyteen]

llg, i had these pains throughout my childhood and well into adolescence, still get them occasionally now. your statement that "its basically doctor-speak for 'i havent the foggiest idea whats wrong with you' isnt it??" is, ime, correct. my mum took me to see loads of doctors about it and none of them had a clue.

i guess just keep trying different things, see what works to relieve the pain (e.g. psycho's advice above). nothing helped with mine but hopefully you'll be luckier.

[LadyLaGore]

man, i dont buy this growing pains lark.
its basically doctor-speak for 'i havent the foggiest idea whats wrong with you' isnt it??

have docs appt at 11:40, will report back.

[scrambledhead]

I had this as a child. My mum took me to the doctor but they said growing pains too.

[FlameNPumpkins]

Oh and can you check your gmail please, I have a random question fo ryou

[FlameNPumpkins]

I get them still now, I have never been convinced by "growing pains".

For me it is down to changes in temp and air pressure - the sudden drops we have had lately have been causing hell. If he has been running round outside towards dusk it tends to make it worse too.

Heat helps, touching and handling does NOT unless it is insanely tight pressure on them.

[LadyLaGore]

morning, and thanks peeps.
just reading that link, and it says GP respond to touching and handling, but he wasnt. he didnt like to be touched, made him cry more.
i'll take him to doc in the morning.

[BlackEyedSpooKDog]

I have this with ds sometimes. I always suppose it's growing or perhaps leg and foot cramps so my method is to stroke his legs and feet. Sometimes it goes away but if not and he's shouting I give him a drop of calpol (not much) and that gives him comfort to sleep.

[PsychoAxeMurdererMum]

growing pains.

my J and flames B get them really badly.

for J, I always have bed socks/ski socks on the tank or radiator to stick on as soon as he starts. the warmth REALLY helps.

I then pile him full of calpol and nurofen, make him a hot water bottle, and snuggle him for about 20mins.

and then he sleeps soundly.

DD3 also gets them....she is inconsolabe with her, and she has been suffering now since shse was 4.....and is now nearly 10.

the bed socks and hotwater bottle are things you NEED.

HTH