Four year old with leg cramps

[Chicci1]

Has anyone had any experience of their child suffering leg cramps. About twice a week for the past month my four year old has screaming and writhing with a cramp at the back of her knee of her right leg. We have a GP appointment on Wednesday but was wondering whether anyone has any experience as to what this could be. It's always the right leg. I feel a bit silly bothering the GP with leg cramps but they are so painful and I'm worried there could be a sinister cause.
She has also seemed unusually tired lately but perhaps that's totally unconnected.

My son gets growing pains. His legs cramp and ache usually at night. He wakes screaming. calpol usually sorts it out. My nephew also gets growing pains. I didn't realise they were actually a thing before having my son!

My DC1 has this. Very frequently from age 3ish, less so now (7). I figured if it was anything sinister it would bother him in the daytime. It never did.

DC2 seems to be just starting with it now

Calpol/ibuprofen/a warm wheat bag seems to do the trick. (Instantly, too, which suggests there's more drama than real problems 75% of the time)

Try a banana a day - cramps are usually associated with magnesium deficiency - hence athletes eating them to replenish muscle nutrients.

Thanks - good to know others have experienced this. The one thing making me worry its not growing pains or diet related is that it's only ever in her right leg. Her left leg has never been affected. And it never happens at night - just when she's playing etc during the day.

If f she s only 4, it may not be actual cramp (as we experience cramp). It could be a number of things but a child that young generally won’t be able to explain in detail the type of pain.

For years we thought our son had growing pains in his legs and shoulders and it was diagnosed with autism aged 11 and we had him assessed by an occupational therapist at age 13, did we find out he has hypermobility. So his joints are slightly looser than normal and the pain was usually following activity.

Obviously I’m not saying your dd has that, but I’m just saying don’t feel bad about taking her to the GP.

Bananas. They help.

Dr will probably brush you off with "growing pains" we end up with ibuprofen all the time for foot cramp

My ds has this too. Same leg, only at night. Does seem to coincide with growth spurts. As PP has said, calpol and warm wheat bag seems to ease it and also make sure they are drinking plenty during day. My son eats a banana every day so I'm not sure if this helps or not. It's awful to see them in pain.

Oh yes, DS1 was diagnosed as hyper mobile - we saw the mobility clinic a few times till we were sure it wasn't particularly severe. But I remember them saying that the hyper mobility would most likely be the cause of waking with leg pain.

He used to sit in that classic W shape (like kneeling but with bum, knees and ankles all on the floor).

Could be hyper mobility, OP, but if you're concerned, see the GP.

I got cramp from time to time as a child. I still get occasional night cramps now. Jeez they hurt like hell for about 30 seconds and can still be tender 24 hours later.
I was told that sometimes it's due to being insufficiently hydrated so maybe try upping water intake for the little one.