Around 2 out of every 5 children experience growing pains. At the time when growth spurts, the legs start aching, especially the calves, thighs, or the back of the knees. Usually, the children complain of such pains during bedtime or after waking up from a short sleep of an hour or two. There is still not enough evidence regarding the reason behind such pains, however, a child’s growth rate is too slow to be painful, as per the studies.
The Possible Underlying Causes
Bone growth is never painful and moreover, it isn’t just the bones which are growing in children. Because of the rapid speed of growth, the tendons, ligaments, and muscles are also growing. The pace of all these body parts might not be equal, thus, this results in a little bit of protesting from them in the form of pain.
The constant running and jumping may also be the reason behind such pains. Children who have a family history of restless leg syndrome are also more prone to growing pains and the deficiency of Vitamin D is another common reason. In certain children, growing pains are because of psychological issues, so there’s no specific cause which has been associated with them.
What to Do?
The extent of the pains is a huge determinant of the treatment which will be used to eradicate them. The child may feel comfortable:
- Giving a gentle massage to the legs. Unlike adults, who might use the best massagers to ease their back pain, the legs of children should be massaged with soft hands.
- Use a warm cloth or a heating pad to be placed on the sore leg while being careful that it is not too hot for the child. Never use it while he’s asleep and be cautious of not to burn the skin.
- Stretching the muscles of the kids is another useful way but not suitable for very young children.
- Giving a warm bath before bedtime as it helps in relieving the body stress and giving a sound sleep.
When to Call the Doctor?
If the pain has been there for quite a while and the child feels it during the day as well, there is a need to see a doctor soon enough. Symptoms like fever and pain in joints are also not related to growing pains, so it is better to seek proper medical advice in such circumstances.
You know your child better than everyone else so be sure to pay heed to his concerns and find useful ways to help him get rid of the pain.
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