Growing Pains? or something else?

[Mawma]

Hi all, not been on here for a while. Has anyone expierenced their child having growing pains? My dd is nearly 5 and for over the last 4-5months she has expierenced pain in her legs, now i'm a bit more concerend as i feel its gone on a bit long. Usually dd misses about 4 days a month from nursery, she wakes up in the morning and cannot stand up for a good few minutes and then eventually hobbles and within an hour she is fine and can walk normal. The pain is at the back of her legs and she points to the joint and says"my bones are sore again"

However last week she complained the front of her shin and the top of her thigh was sore, then on fri she missed nursery as she was so sleepy and slept most of the day waking up to say the front of her feet were sore, when i looked there was a rash of tiny pin pricks slightly purple/pink.

This morning again she couldn't stand up and i had to carry her downstairs she is saying its the back of her legs and pointing to the joint. I have spoken to my gp this morning who assures me its growing pains or a viral infection, I just don't know much about growing pains as i thought they mostly happened during the night and woke them up, dd never wakes during the night but is always in pain in the morning, if anyone can enlighten me i would be grateful.

Not sure GP diagnosed DS with growing pains around 6 months ago but sat night he started limping and saying his knee hurt.

Took him to A&E and they admitted him and did blood tests x-rays to rule out several other conditions.

All results are okay and they diagnosed as irritable hip they said hip pain is often deffered(sp) down the legs as knee or calf pain.

Hi Mawma, I'm a paeds physio and sorry to hear your dd is having problems. Doesn't really fit the pattern of growing pains - these are typically in the night and children are usually absolutely fine the next day. The fact that she takes an hour to get going some mornings is definately not typical of growing pains. Could be viral realted joint pains,also could be inflammatory so I would strongly advise you to ask your gp for a referral to a paediatrician to get the correct assessment and diagnosis - stress to your GP the morning symptoms, missing nursery etc and don't be fobbed off if still says it is 'growing pains' - as from what you say I don't think they are. Good luck

thankyou pushki, that what i needed to hear, i didn't think the sypmtoms fitted with growing pains either so thanks for the advice, i will make an appointment now with another gp tommorow different from the one i spoke to this morning as there are several gp's at the surgery.

pushki they are sending dd for blood tests next week, looking for viral, aneamia and arthritic conditions that would show up in blood tests. they have given us the magic numbing cream home for both arms, should be fun

Hope the blood tests go ok - the magic cream usually helps! Sounds like the gp is looking into the right things and obviously hope its nothing too serious. There are quite a lot of viral illnesses giving achey joints - I've had stiff painful joints for the last few weeks after the 'slapped cheek' virus! My ds has had it (11y.o) and I didn't realize older children or adults got it! Hope your dd feels better soon