Growing Pains? - Avondale, AZ

My guess too is growing pains. And yes, my son has had (and is having at 7yo now) growing pains. I dont know what to do about it, it is frustrating. It does come and go.

My daughter used to get these all the time except they were mostly in her legs. If the pain is isolated to just her feet, I think you may want to visit a podiatrist. Personally, I have had similar pains in my feet that were severe and ongoing for months consistently and found it was a result of little to no arch in my feet. Once I obtained some orthodic inserts for my shoes, the problem was resolved within days. It also could just be growing pains though. My daughter still has some from time to time but they are usually months apart and only last a day or two. So my guess is there's probably something more going on here. Check with your pediatrician and see if maybe they could recommend a good podiatrist.

I grew up with intense growing pains and at one point had x-rays and other tests. They stayed with me through college, though not as intense. Now, my oldest has them intensely, my middle seems so far spared and my youngest is 2 and has had them, too. I recognize them since I had them. They writhe around and can't stay still and are just really suffering. Rubbing/massaging helps, keeping the legs warm also helps. We get out heating pads to help. The best thing to do is the hardest: get them back to sleep. Even as a child I understand that was the only thing that would "cure" it.

They tend to get them after very active days, esp activity in the cold. I have no scientific proof for this, just over 30 years of experience and observation! Good luck.

My oldest is 6 and she's had growing pains too... shins, ankles and feet. What I do is to give children's Motrin, rub some Tiger Balm on the area and give her some chocolate milk to drink. The milk is purely psychological... I have told her that her bones are trying to grow fast and anything that grows needs food... and milk is food for bones... it helps to calm her down if there is a lot of pain. It also gives the Tiger Balm more time to warm up.

My 3 YO has only had growing pains once so far, and my 1 YO hasn't acted like he has had it yet.

I remember having growing pains when I was young, but my mother at the time knew nothing about growing pains so she never acknowledged the pain... always just told me to go to bed. Once I found out what it was, I swore I would never do the same thing to my children. My mother now knows what growing pains are and doesn't dismiss the pains in my children... in fact, since she's grandma, the pain "seems" to go away faster when grandma is visiting and rubs the Tiger Balm on my 6 YO!

Please get your child checked for possible "juvenile rheumatoid arthritis" as soon as you can. It sounds like a possibility and she may be suffering more that she is able to let you know. God Bless and Good LUck

I grew up with what was called growing pains. I was later told there is no such things. But I had pains in my thighs all the time. It could be growing and the stretching and playing, but you might want to get them checked out to be sure. Does your child have flat feet? Maybe there is something going on with her arches. I'd take her in to the peditrician.

Take care,
K.

My 4 year old and my brother's 4 year old wake up often saying their legs hurt. We just rub their legs, comforts them and they usually go back to sleep. My brother's son was so bad they took him to the doctor but they just came to the conclusion it was "growing pains". It seems to happen in spurts not all the time.
I'd keep doing what you're doing but I'd eliminate the Tyleonl. Just rub her feet, prop them up, comfort her, etc.
Not sure if this helped but just wanted you to know, we've been there.
Best of luck.

My son's started at 2 years old (mostly his shins). It was so sad to see him in pain at night. His Pediatrician at that time did not believe in growing pains, so we had all kinds of tests done including x-rays. They found nothing (which made me confident that he was having growing pains). He is six now and always gets them when he is about to grow out of all the clothes I just bought him. :)

His currnet pediatrician does think that they are growing pains and says that as long as the pain is in his bones, then he should be ok. He told me to ALWAYS bring him in if the pain shifts to any joints because that could be a sign of a problem. He suggested children's motrin because it's a better anti-inflamatory than tylenol.

Sometimes I will sit and rub his legs until he falls back to sleep. This often works without having to give him the medication. Good Luck!

My daughter is three and has experienced something similar and so did my nephew when he was four. I think it's very normal. I think you're doing great with her but I'd reconsider tylenol in favor of a warm bath. There are some very negative side effects associated with the use of Tylenol.

It'll soon pass! :)

M.

I have a 3-1/2 year old boy who has problems with his feet. They sometimes hurt him. However, his feet turn inward and has flat feet. He has a podiatrist that he goes to. I know your daughter doesn't have that problem but if it is only in the feet, see a podiatrist that specializes in children. The one I have has three young children and is very patient. I wish you good luck.

My doctor says that pains such as those are most likely just caused from all the activity involved with that age group. If you think about it, they hardly ever sit still, no wonder they ache at night.
All 3 of my boys went through similiar stages, but it would come and go. They seem to have "outgrown" it now.
I'd definitely seek some help nutrionally or otherwise if it is too severe and goes on too long. I know it can be so painful.
I wish the best and hope your daughter feels better soon!

One of my little boys did that too. I don't know what caused it, so I'm not any help in that department... But we did the same things you're doing (minus the bunny!) and he seems to have outgrown it.