Hi Moms,
My son seems to have a cold but has complained two times today pain in his knees. He was sick for a week back in September and also complained about his knees. We had him tested for Lyme disease at that point, which came back negatve. Can having a cold cause joint pain? He has a fever for 2 days but that ended and now he just has a little cough and runny nose.
My son is 4.
Yes, a "cold" can cause joint pain and aches.
There are SO many different "cold" viruses. They are not all the same.
My son once had back to back colds.
And he had the aches too.
But it was not a relapse of his same cold... it was another cold virus.
Per the Doc.
I have had that.
My kids have had that.
Yep.
The 'aches' following immunizations and during illnesses are actually caused by our immune system.
White Blood Cells (of all their different types) are made in one of 2 main areas. Our bones (b-cells), and thymus (t-cells). Antibodies are distributed via our lymph system (lymph nodes, and the space between cells and a big ole tract through our chest). Lymph nodes swell when we're sick, particularly at our throat and groin as they're churning and flushing our lymphatic system.
Between our bones aching from manufacturing b-cells, and our lymphatic system running at max capacity... Our bodies can really HURT when we're sick (and the sicker we are, the harder our system is working, the more things hurt as a general rule, our immune system doesn't give a rip about pain when it's manufacturing armies in the hundreds of millions).
Certain infections are known to cause certain very specific immune responses (Mumps, Lyme. Rheumatoid, Etc.), but the aches are pretty normal for even the common cold, and many people feel them more in one area than another. I feel it in my knees and hips, my son in his arms, my mum in her hips and back.
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A little known trick outside of medical land is McDonalds. Antibodies and WBCs are made almost entirely out of fat with just a little protein thrown in for structure. The same things that made fast food bad for us when we're healthy make it GOOD for us when we're sick: high fat content, broken down/processed so much as to already be mostly digested. Chicken soup for the same reason (fats and broken down). But fast food has more fat in it. Anyhow, a high fat diet when you're sick supports your immune system and lessens a lot of the effects you feel (like bone and joint pain). Ditto, simple sugars for your brain and nervous system.
Woohoo Riley!!! You just gave me a perfect excuse to call hubby and have him bring me home a cheeseburger. I have been fighting this darn cold for over a week now, and trying to eat healthier to get better faster... To answer the question posted, I know I for sure have been feeling a lot of joint pain, especially in my knees and shoulders with this cold...
:)
My friend's son had the same thing in his hips following a cold. When tests for various things came back negative, they concluded that the virus had settled in his joints. Since you've had him tested for Lyme, it sounds like he is being followed by a doctor. If the doctor has concluded it's related to his cold, I have heard of that before.
Fever usually causes achiness. It may be that he is describing it as being in his knees.
How old is your son. Tho some think not, I believe that children have growing pains.
Does he only get the pains when he has a cold?
He's at the right age for growing pains.
My son grew 4" when he was 4 and he had the pains something awful for awhile.
My husband has been sick since Wednesday and he had the aches and pains. He had cold symptoms and was diagnosed with a respiratory infection.
don't laugh-put castor oil on his knees and cover with a loose bandage or a sock that has been cut. Give Tylenol for the inflammation-only for his age and weight-no more-have him tested for strep.
My son had the same thing at age 3! MIL told me that it was normal when having a bug/flu, so maybe the same for a cold. She also told me to "have him point to his knees. If he really points to his hips then there could an infection and he needs to see a dr. If he really points to his knees then I wouldn't worry (and she's a worry wart!)"
I can't remember for certain what kind of infection it was, but apparently her daughter was almost paralyzed when pain in her hips got untreated. Apparently it was an infection and once daughter got the meds she was fine.
