Majick has been getting terrible growing pains in his legs. It is completely understandable as he is shooting up like a rocket, he is in Size 5 (american) shoes and will be taller than me in another year or two. I'm 5foot 2 and a bit so i am no giant but he is tall in his age group and always has been.
Any way.... any tips on how to help my wee man. I am trying to teach him that pain is part of life and you have to put up with a certain amount of it... but I wondered if anyone who has experience in this might be able to offer some advice.
Warm Fuzzies
lisa

Hi Lisa

Aaron suffered the same thing when he was about 12-13 and I got a calcium plus mix from the Health food shop that helped him immensely. No doubt 10 years later they will have improved on that but its worth while. Its to do with the muscles not keeping up with the bone growth that causes the pain especially after exercise. Aaron was a keen cross country and track runner. We found that a hot water bottle on his legs helped at night to keep them warm also.

Helen B.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2009 02:08AM by Helen Bell.

Definately get a good multi vitamin my son at 11 was 6ft and size 12 shoes at 14 6ft 4 but didn't grow anymore upwards after that but had hollow legs!

I've heard of growing pains in the legs before but has anyone heard of growing pains in the arms? My 10 yr-old has been complaining of sore arms for a couple of days now and there doesn't seem to be any particular reason. I told him that it was probably growing pains but I'm not sure as I had never heard of growing pain in the arms.

Greetings
Have you had him checked out by a Dr that it is in fact growing pains. My reason for asking this is my friends 14yr son complained of pain in his legs and they just assumed it was growing pains. Months went passed and it got no better, in fact worsened and a trip to the Dr turned out he had arthritis. Since then he went thro a really bad patch for a year but now seems to be better.
Just a thought.
Noeleen

Growing does not hurt and "growing pains" is a misnomer. Something else is usually causing the pain. You need to look at his exercise, his diet (I would be considering caffeine for a start), his posture, his stress levels, and any other changes in his normal routine. As Noeleen says, many not-so-serious and serious problems can be dismissed and missed due to this incorrect belief.

I had growing pains as a child and now have rheumatoid arthritis Someone did a poll on a rheumatoid arthritis board as to how many had growing pains as a child - large numbers did have growing pains. A lot also had tonsillitis but dont know whether there is a connection there to the growing pains.
I would keep a close eye on the arthritis connection 'just in case'.
Would also give magnesium and as there is a connection with gluten and RA , I would at least decrease the amount of gluten in the diet.
Hopefully it is something minor but RA is a hideous disease so being proactive would be a good idea as I see it.

I took my then about 5 year old son to the Drs with aching legs.He sent him onto hospital where we saw a specialist who said 'There is no such thing as growing pains....................................... but that's what it is' So make of that what you will.Anyway he did grow tall and very strong and the pains were left behind.He now just suffers from aching wrists in the cold weather as he broke them four times!Right one 3 times and left one once.On one occasion he has casts on both wrists,poor boy.

I had the same troub le with my younger son when he was about 7 or 8, a lot of the time brought on by exercise (cross-country running, etc).

My Dr said, as in Toots' case,officially there are no such things as growing pains, - but he felt there were. He recommended rest, warmth, and if necessary some paracetamol.

He also said to be aware of the possibility of an arthritic connection, as I am a long time arthritic, and there is quite a history of it in the family.

Steve seemed to "grow out" of it as he got older, but even now (he is in his mid-30's) the Drs are still watching him closely.

Margaret

I took him to the doctor about 1 and a half 2 years ago and was told emphatically it was growing pains and there was nothing that could be done.

I found out yesterday that his teacher is becoming more and more concerned about him. Majick has always been very active and healthy and sporty but according to his teacher, is not participating in games in his break times now the way he has in the past. Also she metioned to my mother inlaw that he was in agony at the end of the cross country. And mentioned he seems lathargic and tired.

J1, majick has no caffeine in his diet. They do not drink fizzy drinks on any day accept Saturdays. He drinks lemonade occassionally on Saturdays but not coke. There diet is good. Grandma is concious of veges in the diet and being a mum of 6 and a grandma to too many to count she has had a huge amount of experience in her 77 years. The only night I cook for the kids is a saturday.

My FEAR after reading all your comments is because I have fibromyalgia. It has been with me since I can remember but wasn't diagnosed until I was about 34 years old. I suffer from really bad headaches Muscle pain etc etc etc...and have done since childhood. If it is Fibro he may have too learn to live with chronic pain, until someone, somewhere finds us something that will help.... Quite a depressing thought for me as its the last thing I would wish on anyone, even a worst enemy, neverlone my wee man....

I guess I need to take him to the doctors again... but last time I took him I felt really embarrassed as the doctor was adamant it was NORMAL growing pains and mentioned how fast majick is growing. I remember mum taking me to the doctor and how much i hated it... as they did not know what it was...

Thanks everyone
Hugs and warm fuzzies
Lisa





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2009 05:00AM by Lisa Templeton.

Are you able to take him for a second opinion? Hope you get some answers.

Here's a comprehensive overview which might help you in deciding what to do next:

Part I
[www.aafp.org]

Part II
[www.aafp.org]