Leg Pains in Kids: Just growing pains?

[gypsydoodlebug]

DD is 31/2. Tonight she's complaining of her right shin hurting "inside. In the bone."

I'm trying not to panic, but I don't see any trauma or bruising (she's in preschool, so she's always coming home looking like she got beat up on the playground). I put a warm pack on it and googled leg pain in kids, which brought up everything from growing pains to leukemia. Any words of advice?

 

[clarabelle]

I had them as a kid. I remember that "inside my leg" feeling.
I got them for a long time. I would get it checked out if it keeps up for a long time.
I would bet it is nothing to worry about

 

[kbkids]

Yup, my DD had them from about that age until she was almost 5. She would wake up at least 3 times a week crying about her legs hurting. DS (now 5) started at about age 4. He hasn't had as many episodes as she did, but pediatrian says they are very real.

 

[EthansMom]

DS5 was having leg pains pretty often so I finally took him to the ped to have it checked out. She had some blood tests run and Xrays done, just in case, but said it could be "growing pains" or a lack of Calcium. Since my kids drink soy milk, they may not get enough Calcium, so I started giving DS one Tums every day. He hasn't complained of leg pain more than once or twice since then.

 

[ZanneMarie]

My son had this type of pains starting at about that age and lasting off and on for several years. I did ask the Dr and he confirmed what I was guessing-that it was growing pains. He would wake up at night just crying--I would give him some tylenol and just massage and rub his legs until it kicked in. It did seem to go in spurts and occasionally he would complain of the pains if he had had an extremly physically active day. I would guess your DD is also experiencing growing pains...of course a call into the doctor or a chat about it at the next appointment can always calm the fears that it might be something awful--I had them too!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Make sure she is getting enough Potassium - a banana a day will help alot!

Put her in a warm bath and give her some ibuprofen. If they are still hurting then maybe put a heating pad on low on her legs when she lays down in the bed tonite.

Hugs. Hope she feels better soon!

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

The reason I'm concerned is because DH's childhood friend died of leukemia, which started with leg pains that were misdiagnosed as "growing pains."

FWIW, DD is really milking it with the heating pack.

 

[meeskamouska]

If it continues I would say see the DR. If she has no other symptoms it is probably nothing major. My DD, also 3.5, has a rare fever disorder, that causes her to get leg pains as a precurser to her fever episodes. Her pain is followed by many other bizzare symptoms though....trust your instinct, if you think she needs to be checked out then do it!!!

 

[Tinkbellfan]

My DD6 has also suffered from these pains. I concur with the previous posters. Both the Ped and Natural Path. Dr. have said to give her calcium and potassium. I get a liquid calcium that is flavored from my health food store and make sure she gets a banana a few times a week. It seems to help alot. Hope it helps!

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

My DD6 has also suffered from these pains. I concur with the previous posters. Both the Ped and Natural Path. Dr. have said to give her calcium and potassium. I get a liquid calcium that is flavored from my health food store and make sure she gets a banana a few times a week. It seems to help alot. Hope it helps!

OK, so what about milk? DD drinks quite a bit (a couple of glasses a day, I think, plus cheese). Do you think that's enough? I definitely think I could up the bananas -- they're just about her favorite food.

OTOH, she isn't feeling very well tonight, and when DH put her to bed, she said her other leg and foot were hurting, too. She has a cold, so might it be those ugly chills that we get with a fever? We gave her some Motrin and called my folks... might not be any turkey for us tomorrow...

 

[DisneyBlonde]

DS's pediatrician had me give him Benedryl to help him sleep. But, as you said, you need to rule out anything more serious first.

 

[LMCT88]

My son went through "Growing Pains", he would actually at times wake up and be screaming so loud, you thought he was being beaten. We had him checked his doctor said that it is most likely growing pains, and he actually feels the bone growing (or as the doctor said stretching), he was really thin as well. This happened for a few years on and off and got better with time, gave him tylenol and would use heat on his legs, he now stands almost 6 feet tall. We are not sure where he got the height from because his dad and I aren't that tall. Hope all works out well for you. Funny thing with my son is he still to this day has a fear of swallowing pills (he is almost 17 I recently had to find liquid tylenol for adults and was surprised they made it). Again hope all goes well and if your still worried I would ask if they can run tests it doesn't hurt to ask. Take Care.

 

[Brianne]

If she's not feeling well, it could be connected to that. If it's simply growing pains, she shouldn't feel any pain by morning. If she's still feeling pain tomorrow morning, I'd consider giving your doctor a call.

 

[isyne4u]

My son had leg pains like that and the doc said that he needed shoes with better arches (I had been buying the Walmart sneakers) and so i went out and found a good pair of Stride Rite sneakers with high arches and he hasn't complained once about his legs in two years. Before that it was a daily complaint and a night time thing too.

HOpe she feels better!!!

tara

 

[golfgal]

I had growing pains as a kid and boy DO THEY HURT!!!!!

With your added information, I hope she isn't getting influenza!

 

[aprilgail2]

The reason I'm concerned is because DH's childhood friend died of leukemia, which started with leg pains that were misdiagnosed as "growing pains."

FWIW, DD is really milking it with the heating pack.

My nephews also was misdiagnosed as growing pains and summer virus...finally once the nosebleeds and bruising started they figured out what it was.
I would keep an eye on your daughter, it could be something as simple as dehydration or Potasium but I would keep an eye on it!

 

[LuvOrlando]

I wonder if your child plays a lot of sports?

I just brought DS to a foot surgeon to check on his flat feet because his soccer coach had pointed out that he runs oddly even though he is fast. I didn't know that flat feet were muscular until that meeting, this is some other stuff I've learned. Apparently growth spurts in the bones can surpass the muscles ability to catch up. In his case the achilles tendon is now too short ( DS grew 3 inches since Feb) so it pulls & his walk & run are ruined. DH is taking him to learn appropriate exercises next week. According to DS's surgeon, after 1 month of exercises we need to bring DS back to him to see if the exercises worked. If so we can then get DS the foot supports. According to the Dr the foot supports will be too painful for DS to stand unless he streatches out the muscles first. I can't say whether or not this will work but we are hopeful.

I just thought I would mention our experience in case the inserts hurt.

 

[mom2rb]

I had growing pains from 7-16 years old. I had 1-2 a week. When my son started getting them I asked his doctor. He took a blood sample. What he told me was that 99.9% of the time they are just growing pains. .01% of the time they are a sign of something serious. He said he tests every child with leg pains because he dosen't want to miss that one child.

 

[azgal81]

I had those growing up as well and they were horrible. If you are really worried that it might be something more like lekumia then I would take her to the doctor right away. It's better to check then to worry yourself over it! Then if she does have lekumia you can start getting it treated!

 

[Sherri]

The reason I'm concerned is because DH's childhood friend died of leukemia, which started with leg pains that were misdiagnosed as "growing pains."

FWIW, DD is really milking it with the heating pack.

I totally, totally understand your worry. I panic also when my kids have an unexplained injury or pain.
It sounds like they typical symptoms of growing pains.
To put your mind at ease, I would go to the Doctor on Monday.