Child waking in night screaming with Knee pain??

[HayleyD84]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has had this and looking for any advice really.

My son is 4 and half and two nights ago he started waking in the night screaming in pain, like he was in so much pain he could hardly breath saying his knee was hurting? In just one knee.

I've read loads and most say growing pains, but allot say it should be in both knees. Then of course the dreaded google search of other symptoms come up with words to terrify you like "Cancer"

He seems ok in the day and doesn't complain it hurts during the day?

Has anyone experienced this? Thank you.

I would definitely get it checked out. It could be growing pains- my family is quite tall and we all had horrid growing pains (and I often had them in only one knee). With that said, I would make an appointment. My brother had Osteosarcoma, and if it is something malignant you want to deal with it right away. It is unlikely that it is something like Osteosarcoma as, in my knowledge, it typically occurs in teenagers, but it wouldn't be unheard of and it's worth investigating.

He is probably ok, particularly because it feels fine during the day, but just call the doctor. Keep me updated- I'll be thinking of you two!

It is probably growing pains but get it checked out with GP for reassurance. If it's growing pains have a heated wheat bag handy and make sure he's drinking a big glass of milk before bed.

I'd give him a small dose of Calpol and put him back in bed. He may well just be waking up then wanting your attention.

Ouch. Is it knee pain and not cramp? Is he sporty? A relative had osgood schlatters but she was older. Definitely worth a GP conversation. Hope he’s better soon.

My little boy had exactly the same. Our GP did a telephone assessment and confirmed it was just growing pains. Definitely get it checked out but the Google worst case scenarios are very unlikely

Oh poor little thing. Almost certainly not anything sinister but definitely get him to a GP. Telephone appointment no good, they need to see him.

I get knee pains in bed and I'm (probably) not growing anymore in my 30's! I have hypermobility in my ligaments, they stretch too much. I can end up in an odd position and when I finally move it is insanely painful, but passed within 10mins to a dull ache. I sometimes sleep with a pillow between my knees that stops it twisting. It's worse when I'm in a really deep sleep and don't move. If I'm fidgiting you don't get the pain. I hope my experience helps.

My DS (5 1/2) has had this for a couple of years. About once a month he wakes up screaming in pain. We took him to the GP about a year ago who gave us a rundown on what would be the associated red flags and said he wasn't concerned at all. When it happens we just get Calpol into DS as fast as possible.

Obviously there will be rare cases where it could be a sign of something more sinister, so you might want to get it checked out, but assuming your GP's not concerned this will hopefully reassure you that it's horrible but happens to other children too!

get it checked out.
pain without reason (accident or over exercise), especially one sided should always be investigated.

is the knee swollen or warm compared to the other?

Growing pains for sure.
Re-assure him before going to bed that it`s because he is becoming a grown up and not to be bothered by them.
Worked for mine.
Good luck.

we saw a specialist for dc achy leg (after being fobbed off by gp with growing pains)
she said gps like the term and use it for 'go away hysterical mother' kind of way.

Defo take to GP, but it probably is growing pains. DS1 always gets them in one leg at a time, but both legs over time if that makes sense.

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all of your responses.

last night I gave him a warm bath and rubbed his knee in the bath and then gave him calpol before bed and seemed to do the trick
he was still stirring but didn't wake up at all.

I'll do that for a few nights see if it helps him x

Somebody I know suffered from knee and leg pains for years as a child. No doctor had any answer for it for years. But years down the line they found out her knees weren’t aligned proably (not sure on the correct terminology sorry) causing the extreme leg pain. She had physio for it and I assume it got better. Not saying it is that but it’s a possibility.

Get it checked otu and absolutely insist that they test for leukemia. I dont; want to scaremonger but that is exactly how a friend's child's symptoms began: agoising knee pain at night and she was fobbed off for ages with 'It's growing pains', 'It's juvenile arthritis', while her child was getting iller. Be vigilant for other symptoms too. I hope it is just growing pains or he's twisted it, but please find out.