Help from mums of teenage boys!

[Lizzy Lemon]

My 14 year old is yet again complaining of aches and pains. Its the third time this year and he's gone to school this morning complaining of his stomach and legs aching. Think the stomach ache maybe from gulping his breakfast/lack of hand hygiene (no matter how many times I nag!) and I'm wondering if the leg pains are growing pains. My main concern is the three times this has happened has always been a Thursday and Friday. So, conclusion is it something at school, can't get to the bottom of that one he hates school every day! Have any of you experienced teenage growing pains?

 

[arieliwish]

Hi,

Has he done any sport/physical activity in the days before?? even sit ups or running. i know my DD 12 sometimes aches after certain PE lessons, but she has experienced aching legs over the last couple of years (girls grow before boys, and she has very long legs!) and our GP said they were growing pains.

Hope you get to the bottom of it, if you're worried take him to your doc for a check up.

Lynn

 

[wilma-bride]

I think it could be growing pains. I know there are particular ages where boys suffer with them. My 4 year old wakes up screaming some nights because his legs are hurting so badly.

 

[Netty]

my dd complains constantly that her legs ache or hurt, i just put it down to grownig pains i think they last for years she's 16.
if your still concerned take him to the docs to get checked out.

 

[scottishsue]

My son (17) sometimes gets crampy pains in his legs but they are due to all the exercise he does. (Gym 4 times a week, and golf 4 times a week too).

I'd get it checked out.

 

[jns]

You are not alone
my DS 16 has a different pain somewhere every week
it is his wrist at the moment
last week his tummy and his head before that
I think it is growning pains plus trying to be a man one day and been a small boy the next ,
I sent my Ds to the Doctor himself and he got the all clear
Its just a part of growing up
but keep an eye out about the school My Ds has given it up hated it too but I'm secertly hoping that he will get bored at home and working part time that he will go back it sept
good luck

 

[Tinker74]

I used to get awful pains in my legs and arms. I remember one night having to run a hot bath at midnight to ease the aches.
The strange thing is they started when I was about 17 and I got them periodically till I was about 22.
Not sure what they were but Iam 32 now and haven't ever had the same pain again for 10 yrs.

 

[cstokell]

I am sure that your DS is just suffering from growing, however, have you noticed any of the following whilst he has been growing up

1)Joints easily dislocate or seem weak (i.e. ankles give way for no reason).
2) Bruises/Scars easily.
3) Joints are very loose or can be bent in unusuals ways.

The reason I ask is that my DD suffers from a condition called Hypermobilty Syndrome and this can result in very bad "growing pains" particularly at night. My DD has been troubled with pains in her knees, ankles and wrists since she has been about 18 months. (She is now 6 and she still gets the pains). The health visitor told me that it was just growing pains, Jo-Ann then dislocated her elbow three times, her wrist once and got "whiplash" when playing with her cousin. I then decided that this need to be checked out. We also found out that when she started school that she could not sit with her legs crossed as this cause her hip joint to "pop out" and she started to get pains in her fingers once she started to write. It is worse when the weather is cold.

Hypermobility Syndrome is basically a condition that effects the collagen that supports the joint nad is found in skin. In people the have HS their colagen is over stretchy and provides no protection for the joints so the muscles have work harder to try to stop the joint from being overstretched. This the leads the muscular/cramping pains in an around the joints. Their skin scars more easily and does not heal as quick. It can also lead to problems with the bowels resulting in constipation.

In most cases no treament is needed just a little more care when taking exercise and staying away from any activty that you know make sit worse. Also lots of Paracetemol and Ibuprofen when the pain is really bad.

It may sound terrible but my DD is quite proud of the fact that she can lick her own elbow, even though it is supposed to be impossible.

As I said at the beginning it is most probably just growing pains, epesically if you have not had the problem whilst he was younger, but I think that people need to be aware that it is not always growing pains.

If anyone wants to know more please follow this link to the HMSA website.

http://www.hypermobility.org/whatishms.php

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Thanks for all the replies. He rang me from school to pick him up yesterday lunchtime. I brought him home came him a couple of paracetamol, made him lie on the sofa and relax. He was fine last night and back to school today. I think I was over reacting as he'd scared me the night before complaining about an ache in his chest (he'd had a heart op at birth and anything in his chest sends me into a state!) he'd been out playing with friends and had probably over exerted himself. I suppose it will happen again sometime but I always thought growing pains were a figment of my MIL's imagination.

 

[foxylady]

My nephew used to get really bad leg pains, which was put down to growing.

My DS also gets a lower back ache occasionally, which usually means he is about to grow again. Luckily he hasn't has one for a while, but this could be famous last words!!!

I would monitor it and if you are really concerned get him booked in at the GP's for a check up.