Is limping normal with Growing Pains...

[Smee]

DS(4) has been slightly limping since lunch time, and it's increased to him screeching in pain by bedtime and me having to carry him. He's tall for his age and ridiculously active, so I'm thinking it's more than likely growing pains. I've just done a quick trawl on threads about them(there are loads!), but can't seem to find out if limping is normal. Does anyone know?

I am 28 and my growing pains have never stopped!
They are the absolute bane of my life and are INCREDIBLY painful. It often brigs me to tears, real crying because it hurts SO much.
I am not saying this to upset you, it's just important that you know how much pain he could be in so that you take it absolutely seriously (his could well be to a lesser degree than mine)
Please please do everything you can, demand to see specialists, get second opinions.
I have had a lot of tests in my life and they are still undiagnosed, but with new medical advances all the time it's worth pursevering(spell??)
To answer your original question I pretty much always limp when I get it. Sometimes I have to get dh to go get me the painkillers because it is too painful to walk.
FYI, since I was a wee girl, I have always found pretty intense rubbing/massaging to the area has helped to ease it, but it doesnt really go without real pain relief. Also, my Mum tried loads of creams but they always intensified the pain........

Poor you - that sounds like agony. Don't worry though, I know he's not faking it - he does try it on from time to time, but you can't fake pain like that, so I absolutely am taking it seriously. He's asleep, so I'm hoping it'll go as he rests.

It sounds like he's hurt himself. They can be rubbish at identifying it.

DD (4) had a fall while at nursery but they said it was fine, just a tumble. She came home and bit the baby - most unlike her. Then she got more and more grumpy through the afternoon and said her arm hurt a bit.

Took her to hospital and she had broken it. The nurse said they can't usually work out what hurts or explain themselves very well. I've taken DS with an eardrum on the verge of bursting and he has told the GP his knee hurts!

I would take him to the GP tomorrow.

omg changer! broken arm poor baby x

changer, I do so know what you mean about their powers of description. Mine couldn't even point to where it hurt. But there's no swelling, or bruising and he can walk on it, so if he has hurt it, I think it'll be a sprain not a break. If he's as bad tomorrow though, I'll definitely zip him up to the doctor. He was with me all day though, and I didn't see him even trip, let alone take a tumble.
Reason I hit on growing pains is it runs in the family, and also because he's daftly tall for his age and seems to be going through yet another growth spurt. I was thinking it might be connected.

interesting tat he couldnt pinpoint the pain....I rarely can.... it's kinda like trying to pinpoint the pain when you have a headache iyswim.
I would guess that if it was muscular it would be easy to point 'it hurts there' right?
Be warned, docs are usually pretty blase about g.pains, I think that they grossly under estimate the volume of pain that is involved, or may think that the child is over reacting.

I've heard that too, but we have a great GP and even if I take him and he's dismissive (though I don't think he would be), I believe DS and that's what's important to him. Poor kid, I hate to see him in such pain. At least he's asleep. Long may it last.. Thanks though. Most helpful.

bless him I hope he's ok, and that I may have been of some help to him.

BTW, as a final thing before I go, they rarely last long, no more than an hour at the most (if untreated) so if his pain is constant its unlikey to be that.

Defo go for the massage/rubbing the whole area. I'm not sure if it's just a distraction until the pain subsides but it really helps. And stock up on Nurofen! best of luck

Growing pains can be part of being hypermobile - www.hypermobility.org - and some hypermobile people are tall. Could tell you more if you wish. Do you think he could be double jointed/very flexible? Are people in your family like this?

Thanks Crackopen. I will rub, though am hoping in the morning that I won't have to..
ACL, interesting thought - I'm hypermobile according to the acupuncturist I used for a bad back and the osteopath too. Maybe he is then. Kind of makes sense really