What is growth pain? Pains that occur in children between the ages of 3 and 12, usually manifested as pain or ache in the legs in the evening or at night, can actually be a sign that they are growing.
Experts said that parents often consult a doctor for fear of an important disease underlying these pains in their children, and that they are curious about growth pains.
What are the symptoms of growth pain?
- Growth pains are felt in a deep, uncomfortable style, mostly in the form of cramps at night. Legs, calves, the front of the leg are the areas where pain is felt the most. It’s mostly seen on both legs. They are rarely seen on the hips, waist and upper sides.
- Growth pains begin in the afternoon, mostly continuing all night. Sometimes it bothers the child enough to wake him from his sleep. By morning, the pain is gone. Children can continue their normal activities throughout the day without complaining of pain.
- Some children may also feel headaches and abdominal pain during the period of growth pain.
- These patients do not have limping, deformities in the joints, loss of physical activity and signs of infection.
- Pain increases when intense physical activity is carried out, reduced by massage and relaxation.
- If there is a different picture other than these findings, for example, if your child has one leg affected and is feeling limp, it should be investigated if there is another underlying cause.
How is growth pain diagnosed?
It does not need any tests to detect growth pains. It can be easily detected with questions such as the frequency and time of pain. However, in some cases, some laboratory and X-ray tests may be requested to examine for any other underlying diseases.
What should be done in the treatment of growth pain?
- Growth pains do not affect the development of the child.
- Pain can be reduced by putting a hot water bag or massaging the aching area.
- Supportive shoe soles, muscle lift exercises can make them feel less pain.
- Hot shower allows the pain to multiply. Because hot water activates lactic acid in the body, which disturbs the muscles. Therefore, children should be bathed during daylight hours, especially in order not to exacerbate the pain that occurs at night.
- In addition, care should be taken to ensure that there is enough calcium, magnesium and vitamin D in the diet of children.
When should the child suffering from growth pain be taken to the doctor?
Growth pains do not affect children’s activities during the day. Children must be shown to a physician if:
- If the pain still persists in the morning
- If it’s severe enough to keep your child from their day-to-day activities
- If the pain is always on the same point
- If it does not pass despite the massage,
- If there are symptoms such as tenderness, fever, redness, disruption in the pain joints
- If there are complaints of lack of appetite, weakness, weight loss, fatigue
If there are these complaints, the underlying causes (such as trauma, joint inflammation, vitamin D deficiency, infection, leukemia) should be investigated.