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Original poster

night time pain in legs of 4yr old

23 replies

bighug · 25/04/2005 21:27

My 4yr old woke up last night inconsolable, generally thrashing around, bending and unbending his legs, tensing them, rubbing them and crying and crying with pain, saying that they "really really hurt". It seemed to be focussed on the knee area. This has happened maybe twice before in the last 3 months (in the night) and he occasionally complains in the day that his knee hurts (usually when he has been doing lots of jumping). Is this just "growing pains" or could it be someone much more serious - just keeping thinking of Daniel Hebden-Lloyd in the Archers who had juvenile arthritis but then tell myself I am overreacting. Anyone had a similar experiences? Thank you so much. My DH is away and I felt quite panicky last night when it happened. I mentioned it to my DS today but he was quite dismissive of the night-time incident, although he clearly did remember it.

OP posts:

BellaLasagne · 25/04/2005 21:31

It sounds like it might be worth a trip to your GP, or at least a call to NHS direct.

Was he actually awake (daft question)? It's just that both of my children have really dramatic dreams and often sleep-walk and remember nothing of it the next morning.

My ds had growing pains at night but I don't remember them being quite as aggressive as you describe.

Good luck.

KBear · 25/04/2005 21:33

YES! My DD gets this - she is six. I remember getting it myself as child and of course it was put down to growing pains then and not really investigated! I haven't mentioned it to the doc as she never complains during the day and she can run further than Forrest Gump.

Twiglett · 25/04/2005 21:33

I just did a search and found this whilst its an ad for a product it seems to describe what you are describing as growing pains

might be worth getting him checked out anyway if he has daytime pain too although am almost certain it is nothing

Original poster

bighug · 25/04/2005 21:39

Yes BellaLasagna he was awake because we talked to each other (not sleeptalking, he had his eyes open!) and I ended up giving him calpol. But I completely understand why you ask.
Twiglet, that ad is uncanny, it describes exactly what DS was like, and it's very reassuring to know that these pains seem to be quite common - thank you KBear for your reassurances too. I think I will leave it for a while and see if it becomes more frequent, or the daytime pain worse.

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sansouci · 25/04/2005 21:42

I've posted about this too. My dd is almost 5 & has exactly the same problem. She's had it since she started walking. We tried everything & finally had a specialist look her over. X-rays, blood test, etc. All was fine, but the doc did say that if it didn't stop, the next step is an MRI. The "attacks" are gradually decreasing, however, although she had one on Saturday night (after having been on a bouncy castle for hours in the afternoon!). We give her paracetamol, rub her knees & cuddle her until she falls asleep again.

Aimsmum · 25/04/2005 21:43

Message withdrawn

Original poster

bighug · 25/04/2005 21:45

sansouci, how often were your DD's attacks. Presumably fairly frequent?

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helsy · 25/04/2005 21:54

Bighug, this sounds familiar: my dd2, who is 5, gets severe pains in her legs at night. Last week, she screamed the place down in the middle of the night - inconsolable, seemed in agony for what seemed like ages, then had forgotten all about it the next day. Like others mentioned on here, she races round all day without a murmur but she probably complains of pains in her legs at night at least once every couple of weeks. Because she's otherwise well and there's nothing in the day really we haven't been to the Dr. I thought it might have been cramps but last week there was no hardness in her legs at all.
Don't know if that helps other than to say it's not uncommon.

Original poster

bighug · 25/04/2005 21:55

thanks helsy, it does help just knowing he's not the only one. feel loads better.

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sansouci · 25/04/2005 21:56

Yes, bighug, attacks were very frequent... several times a week. It was seriously worrying us.

sansouci · 25/04/2005 21:57

Why not get it checked out anyway, for your own peace of mind?

knockin · 25/04/2005 22:02

I had pains in my legs at night when I was a child. The doctor told my mum it was due to poor circulation. Funnily enough, I've now got a couple of varicose veins, so he may have been right! Fatigue used to bring it on.

Distel · 25/04/2005 22:12

My ds gets this, when he was about 4 it was very regular but now he is getting on for 6 it is much less frequent. He used to come and get in our bed and cry untill the calpol had worked and then he fell back to sleep. Doctors put it down to growing pains and it was mostly in his knees as well. Hope this has reassured you a little but if you are in any doubt, go to your G.p.

Gwenick · 25/04/2005 22:25

DS1 (4.5yrs) has been getting this occasionaly for the last couple of months. Doesn't happen 'too' often but we wakes up and 'groans' (very annoyingly and wakes his brother LOL), complains his knee (ocassionaly leg) hurts, we give him calpol and he goes back to sleep. Always absolutely fine in the morning, and runs, jumps, and all the rest of it no problems!

Gwenick · 25/04/2005 22:33

Just read this quite interesting

and this

KBear · 27/04/2005 13:00

Happened to DD again last night (first time in ages). I just rubbed her legs quite hard to get the circulation going (my theory!) and she went back to sleep after about ten minutes of thrashing around!

nutcracker · 27/04/2005 13:03

My dd2(5), has this sometimes too. Infact is was mostly when she was 3 and 4, and it was her arms and legs.

She also used to scream and cry but we were told it was growing pains and she would grow out of it.

Now at 5 it doesn't hapen anywhere near as often.

PsychoFlame · 27/04/2005 13:11

I suffered terribly as a child, and still do occasionally now...

For me it was normally if the temperature dropped quickly (so spring evenings are bad), or if it was cold and damp.

Paracetamol and warmth were about the only things that helped (a hot bath whilst the painkillers kick in is great), and then thick socks etc after the bath.

My mum always just said "growing pains", but as far as I know my legs are their full size now

As I got older I could feel the dull ache starting, and said earlier so I got pain relief before it kicked in properly. I also found concentrating really hard on not moving them took my mind off the pain. I actually did the same thing when I was in labour!!!

Wallace · 27/04/2005 20:02

This happens to my dd too (4 in june) I posted about it a while ago, and was reassurred by all the replies

tigi · 27/04/2005 20:58

i suffered too, and still do at times! I now take anadin, but used to try allsorts - putting them in the air, elastic bandages, cycling in the air to get the blood pumping! I have no idea why i get them, but so far none of my children get them - eldest is 10.

nutcracker · 27/04/2005 21:03

LOL just having read psychoflames reply, i've just realised that I too had this alot but it didn't start until i was about 8.

I used to wrap my leg/s in my dressing gown and stick my leg down the isde of the mattress to get it too stop. My mom used to look at me like i was mad but it really did hurt.

It iwas the temp dropping that used to start mine off and still can now.

As a teenager i used to take pain killers for it, but i do remember one night both legs were hurting and i had period pain too. I eneded up falling asleep sitting up, on my legs, propped up by all my pillows.

Can't believe i forgot that. I used to call it cramp, but i know it isn't cramp.

charleepeters · 27/04/2005 21:11

Hi bighug heres a bit of advice that may help, your ds seems to have bad crap i have suffered badly all my life and believe me it does hurt i used to wake at least 4-5 times a week with agonising pain screaming for my mum as its really bad, my g.p said theres not alot you can do for it when there young, but cramp excersises can help but take a little while you do this by pointing your toes down as far as they can go then up again i found it difficult as a child because by the time you wake up your in so much pain its difficult to concerntrate. anyway heat helps so maybe a hot water bottle or a massage may help, but i have found out that quinine is the bast cure its found in tonic water but ask your g.p before giving ot to ds as i dont know if its allowd in children. i feel for your ds as i know what hes going through. but i used to scare my mum at first as i literaly screamed rather than cries, but the best thing i found is being calmed down and my mum taught me to breath thorugh the pain but this may be harder in such a young age. good luck hope i helped if you want to know any thing else about bad night cramps please asked as i have experienced it alto so can sypmathise and hopefully help you. x

Original poster

bighug · 27/04/2005 22:34

Thanks everyone and charliepeters for advice. The warmth sounds like a good tip, will have a hot water bottle on standby if it happens again. Interesting about the temperature dropping - his room is actually the coldest bedroom in the house. Spring nights often don't have much cloud cover do they, so therefore cold especially as contrast to the day.

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