3 year old with knee pains

[crkm]

DD wakes up in the night crying with pain. not every night but every month for 3 or 4 nights in a row. she refuses to walk to nursery anymore. She used to insist on walking everywhere. if you make her walk she whimpers and cries the whole time. Sometimes in the day she says she hurts and when you ask where she points to her knees. I know the standard answer is growing pains, and i have been wondering if its an attention thing (she is the youngest of 4). She seems fine whilst at nursery - she doesnt complain of pain when she is there and she doesn't limp at all. I have made a doctors appointment but am worried they will just fob us off. how can i be sure the doctor does a proper check? dh and me quite concerned now.

are the pains more in the morning when she gets up?
and when during the day, do you know what she has been doing beforehand?

is there a history or arthritis, psoriasis or rheumatism in the immediate family?

anyone with brittle bones or other bone disorders?

she complains more in the morning because thats when i make her walk. we were taking the buggy to school in the afternoon as she was tired. Now i have to always take the buggy. she gets most distressed in the night time though. She complains after ballet on saturdays, but again i make her walk home. Ended up carrying her the other day. No history of anything nasty in the family. I just think it has been going on too long to be just a sympathy thing.

sounds as if they could be 'growing pains' but definitely worth getting her checked out. A good GP should examine her and if they are not sure or you don't feel fully reassured ask to be referred either to a paeds physio or paediatrician - often depends on your local services.

Is she particularly hypermobile ? often a bit more prone to the growing pains and complaints with walking etc - it is really hard to work out how much may be habit of asking to be carried/ moaning when walking etc though

True night time growing pains are a known entity - should be recognisable to any good paeds physio/dr and they shoulld be very able to rule out any other problem and provide you with the right reassurance etc.

agree with pushki. my son has growing pains but mostly in his shins for some reason.
the end plates of kids are very soft and ''open' to allow for further deposition and growth. much walking/running/dancing etc could be wearing the end plates somewhat and causing extra pain than usual which is why you may have noticed this more. a good doc should see this for probably what it is.

hypermobility can certainly play a part in joint pain in kids as the joints move around more within the socket or whatever sort of joint it is.

does she get enough minerals in her diet like calcium, magnesium, phospurus etc and vit D do you think?

kids with dairy intolerances can have these symptoms as well if the cal. mag etc part of dairy is not replaced adequately by something else.

Would not say that she is hypermobile - although she always loved to walk everywhere, but i would say no more so than other toddlers always wantig to be out of the buggy!! She eats well and a variety of foods so would say her vitamin/mineral intake is sufficient. Thanks for the info from you all, will deffinately be expecting the dr to thoroughly examine her!!