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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Growing pains in teenage son

12 replies

3sonsmum · 22/09/2010 20:53

Hi,

Can anyone give me some advice please?

DS2 (aged 14) has been having pains in his legs and feet for weeks now. We thought they might be growing pains, but now I'm not so sure. They are definitely worse at night but are also bad during the day. Painkillers don't seem to be working anymore and he hasn't slept through the night for ages. Does anyone know how long do growing pains last?

He is hypermobile and very thin. He used to eat like a horse but now just picks at his food and has stomach ache alot, so he is getting thinner.

I have taken him to the doctor who has run blood tests but cannot find anything. I'm so worried about him and he is getting really depressed as he is chronically sleep-deprived and cannot join in normal activities that involve any walking. I'm pretty sleep deprived too!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated please!

OP posts:

seenitallbefore · 22/09/2010 21:58

ask your GP for a referral to your local rheumatology clinic. It is good that his blood tests are clear (ask if GP has checked his inflammatory markers ie ESR/CRP/rh factor just to be sure) But its is not OK that his pains are stopping his normal activities and also a wee bit worrying that he is losing weight. Prob is just his age but I would push for a referral just in case.

Original poster

3sonsmum · 22/09/2010 22:26

Thanks.

I'm going to try for a referral tomorrow, but last time I spoke to our GP, she wasn't sure who to refer him to, i.e either a paediatrician or an orthopoedic consultant - she didn't mention a rheumatologist.

Do you know if growing pains can last this long or do they usually clear up after a few nights?

OP posts:

cory · 22/09/2010 22:51

Hypermobility is known to cause pains in legs and knees: my dd (13) intermittently uses a wheelchair for this reason and ds (10) is sometimes unable to attend school because of bad back and hip pains. Dd has had pains on and off since she was 6, ds since he was 8.

But the weight loss is a bit worrying. I'd ask for referral to paediatrician first, and if they can't find anything to rheumatologist.

Original poster

3sonsmum · 22/09/2010 23:09

What do you give them for the pain and to help them sleep?

OP posts:

musicmadness · 23/09/2010 00:36

Definitely go to your GP. I had/have something very similar in my shoulders/lower back, and the only thing that helps was/is codeine which is obviously prescription only. That is caused by problems in my joints/ligaments fairly similar to hypermobility. Push for them to help you though, I was fobbed off with "you will grow out of it" until I was 16 and basically refused to leave the doctors office until I had a referral (was 13 when the pains first started). I tend to find the more you make a nuisance of yourself the faster you get helped.

seenitallbefore · 23/09/2010 08:15

The other thought may be that his pains are leading to his low mood and also loss of appetite and thus weight loss. Sounds like there is a lot going on for your son and he must be feeling miserable. Poor boy. Def need to move on with further opinion re joint pains. Let us know how you get on.

cory · 23/09/2010 08:22

You can try hot baths. But I would get a doctor's referral.

LinenBasket · 23/09/2010 08:26

my ds was getting pains in his hips thighs for around a year. During that time he grew from 5'6" to 6', and now the pains have gone, so I can only put it down to growing pains for him.

Would advise that you still get him checked again.

LinenBasket · 23/09/2010 08:26

that was from age 13 to 14 (above post)

Original poster

3sonsmum · 23/09/2010 14:17

Hurray - have got an appointment for Oct. 4th!
Linenbasket - how did you manage the night-time for a year? It scares me to think we may have many more months of this; especially as he is very bright - it's affecting his schoolwork as he's so tired.

The pain seems to be in his tendons and muscles around the joints. A physio explained to me that when they are growing fast, the bones grow faster than the tendons or muscles and the growing points are on the ends of the bones where the t & m are attached. This has the effect of ripping the t & m off the ends ! OUCH!

We've tried hot baths, hot water bottles, cold water bottles (as his feet were hot where the pain was), paracetomol, ibuprofen, co-codamol, rub-in gels, soft music, massage, seen a physio - everything!!!!! Sometimes nothing works. Actually the only that has helped is acupuncture directly into the knotted muscles and the effect wears off after a day or so.

I guess I want to be a good mum and make his pain go away, but I feel so helpless. He looks at me and asks "when will it stop?" and I can't answer - it's horrible.

P.S. cory - your poor kids! How did you keep their spirits up?

OP posts:

LinenBasket · 24/09/2010 12:09

sorry 3sons I only just noticed this.

He would have alot of warm baths and I used to take him swimming 3 times a week which may or may not have helped.

Also gave him paracetamol when it was really bad and he couldnt sleep.

homemade · 01/10/2010 20:48

Hi
I've been going through something similar since July with 13 year old ds. Had a referral to orthopaedics who basically said it might last a couple of years but get on with life. I suspect though that ds is using it along with thorough selfish streak to avoid any or all physical activity he doesn't want. Yet pain is obviously not a pleasant thing to have.
Unsure how to deal with it.

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