My son, who turned 5 in Sept., has been complaining off and on for about a year about pains in his legs. I have always assumed that it was growing pains as I experienced them myself growing up as well. When I remember them, I was much older! He seems to complain about it in both legs, but he seems to remember them only being in one leg (his right). He had an episode Monday before Christmas and I am pretty sure it was both legs. Then he had an episode the night before last. I sat down with him this time and asked him questions about the pain (after giving him tylonol). At first he said it was all over, then he narrowed it down to just above the knee/lower thigh.
I have now started tracking this to see if there is a pattern. I know that it occurs at all times of day (morning, afternoon, and night) so it isn't just a night ploy to stay up. It seems to come on all of a sudden and pretty much buckles him up with pain until the meds kick in.
Has anyone ever dealt with this before? Is this growing pains? Should I take him to the doctor for an MRI or something? I am really starting to get concerned because my husband's, cousin's daughter had pains in her legs and it turned out to be a rare form of cancer - she was only 7!!! Usually I am the first to take my kids to the Dr! My Drs. know that I would rather pay them to tell me they are okay then pay them to tell me they are sick - most of the time I am right and they are sick.
Any advise or past experience with this would be greatly appreciated!!!
Happy New Year!
S.
So many of you just confirmed what I already knew I needed to do. I did take him to the doctor last night and she was a little concerned that the timing of the pain was not consistantly at night. Growing pains typically (according to the Dr.) occur at night and can wake children up in the middle of the night. It is also typically in the knee area. With my son, they are lower thigh/knee, but they are at all times of the day. She asked me to keep a journal of when the pain occurs, where it is, and in which leg. She said to do this for about 4-6 weeks and come back so she can take a look. She is planning on doing a CBC and some other tests that can be done in the office when we come back with the journal as well. I will keep you posted on our results!
For those of you that wrote in that you are dealing with the same things, it doesn't sound like there is much concern if your children are having them around the same time (at night) and it is strictly the knee area. Again, buckling pain should not be associated with growing pains, but the Dr. did tell me that children, just like adults, have different pain tollerances.
Thanks again for everything and I will keep you all posted!
Definately take him in. I too remember having growing pains in my legs, but it was always at night and it was just slightly "uncomfortable". I don't think growing pains make you buckle from them until Tylenol kicks in, they aren't really true "pain", at least that is my experience/understanding. Better safe than sorry.
hey there,
I would take him to the doctor. Follow your mommy insticts. I have a 6 year old and he too has growing pains off and on, but my youngest is almost two and he had a small fracture that was extremely hard to find. Your doctor should be able to do a simple blood test to rule out any cancer if you are worried about it. The blood test was the firt thing my doctor did even before the x-rays. You just never know and you don't want him to just get used to the pain.
Both of my boys experienced growing pains in their legs around the age of 5/6, mostly at night (because there's nothing else to distract them from the pain, which is probably pretty mild throughout the day). I also remember experiencing it as a child. The Tylenol should be all he needs to help, though the doubling over in pain seems a bit much (is he a dramatic child?). I think it's very unusual that the one child had cancer in her legs & unlikely for your son, but mom knows best so if you feel better having it checked out, don't feel like a hypochondriac about it. Good luck -
I would definitely talk to his pediatrician to see. I was concerned when my 4-year old son began having similar problems in his legs. His father and my brother both had Osgood Schlatters disease as kids, which is found mostly in boys, so we have quite a family history. It turned out to be 'growing pains' that were best treated with some Motrin. He is 6 now and still has occasional pains like this, usually when he's in a growth spurt. But his pediatrician is now aware of his family history, so he's always looking for changes when he goes in for physicals.
Of course there a million things it could be, so I definitely think taking him to the doctor is the best start. If nothing else, as in my son's case, it will be documented so the doctor will remember in the future if problems continue.
Good luck!
Please please take him to have it checked further.I am not an alarmist but my now 17 year old nephew complained about the same area for over a year thinking it's growing pains his mom let it go.
He is now after 2 years recovering from bone cancer,it was very serious right behind his knee,the bone was removed and a rod put in.It was and still is very serious for him,it has spread to his lungs and he jsut had an operation opening his chest.
Jsut take him..
I'm so sorry your precious boy has been going through so much pain. Our family has a history of major growing pains but we never had them so bad that we needed medication to get through it. It sounds like something more serious.
My younger brother did have "bakers cysts" on the back of his knees when he was young. They were small at first but grew to grapefruit size by 10. They put him on calcium supplements and bi-annual hormone shots until he was 11. They did hurt him really bad. They looked like the back of his knees were swollen but they were in fact cysts. soft fluid filled cysts.
Our family send you love and encouragement, and you will be in our prayers!!!
Liz
S.,
I understand your concern completely. And I think I have a good idea of the kind of cancer you are talking about. I have had the same concerns myself with my 2 daughters (5 and 7), however, most of the pains came at night and the pains did not cause them to buckle up in pain. Without a doubt, I would take him to the doctor's and do not, I repeat, do not just take the doctor's word that it is growing pains. Please, order blood work, etc. Have an MRI taken if possible. Tell the doctor your concerns and insist they follow this up with tests. The buckling under is extreme. Please let us know how this works out!
I think seeing a Dr. would be the best idea.
Could they perhaps be leg cramps? I understand eating bananas are good for that because of the potassium. I tend to first try the more natural remedies rather than pump a bunch of pills into them, as Dr.'s are apt to perscribe. But I'm no DR., it could be something more, so I'd have it checked out.Good luck.
Most of my neices life the doctors all told her mother the pain in her legs were growing pains and she would out grow them. When she was little she wanted to be carried a lot because they hurt so bad. She didn't do a lot of things because she would get pains in her legs. At 18 years of age she joined the army. She started having pains in her legs and then back. She got an honorable discharge and was diagnosed with arthritis. She has been treated for it and finally found a doctor in WI that gave her the right medication to help. They had told her she could never have children. She now has two healthy children. I would say take him to a specialist right away. See every doctor you can until you find out what the pain is from. If her Mom had persisted in finding what was wrong she could have a better childhood..........Another case: My youngest daughter kept having pains in her legs and they told me it was growing pains. We later figured out without a doctors help that it was the allergy meds that they had her on causing the leg pains. Switched meds and the pain was gone.
My advice to you is to get to a REAL old fashioned honest to goodness shoe store. I used to co-manage a 3rd generation, family owned (not my family) shoe store in Naples. Kids who came in complaining about that, typically were wearing cheap shoes, or no shoes, or the wrong shoes. Cheap shoes don't offer the correct support, and when the feet are rolling in or our (pronating or supinating) the legs are misaligned, and then they hurt after a day of being a kid - running, playing etc... When we measured, and properly fit a child in a better shoe, and some times glued in a little extra arch support, moms would report back that within DAYS the complaints and leg pains were OVER. Track style and running shoes, are elevated in the back, and lower in the front, thus --if the foot rolls over one way or the other, it enables the foot to roll further! Court style tennis shoes have a more stable level bottom, and firmer "counters" in the back to help support the foot and hold it up straight. Amazingly enough, the pediatricians in Naples rarely recognized this - at the time, there was only one that really acknowledged the issue, the others all said "he / she will grow out of it...". I live in Central Fl now, have a 4 year old of my own, and have not found a great place that offers that same kind of service here. I have actually taken my daughter back to the same people - who incidentally sold the Naples store, but can still be found in Ft.Myers if you are so inclined. - Check our Snyderman's Shoes, Ft. Myers FL, you can't go wrong! Good luck, and let me know what you find out!
I'm about to be late to pick up my daughter from school, but I wanted to make sure and respond before the day took over and I forgot. But I also wanted to quickly add, that cheap shoes don't have firm counters in the back, and don't be fooled because you stick your finger in and feel a little bump "arch" inside. There is alot more to support in a shoe than that bump. Back in the day, when I was in the shoe business, "jellies" were the major culprit, I suspect now - flip flops and "crocks" are the major culprit. These shoes are great for wearing to the beach or pool, or occasionally, but not for hard playing running jumping daily activity of a child's life. Those little muscles weren't meant to be stretched out of alighnment and then used and abused all day! Good luck! Keep me posted. Deb
wow, now im concerned now too....
My son is five and he wakes up in the night with really bad growing pains, usually around the knee area...and sometimes before bed he will get them....He usually com-plians, whines, cries.....until i give him tylenol or let him sleep on the couch....
I had very bad growing pains when i was younger, however i too remeber them as me being older than five, but as kids we tend to block out painful things from our younger years...it doesnt fase us, once the pain is over its over....
I think maybe keeping an eye on it, or just getting a call into a nurse would be ok....but if it worries you take him in to have it looked at.....
GL, C.
