Growing Pains: Are They Real?

Have you ever been awakened in the middle of the night by your child who is crying and complaining his leg is hurting, only to have him act completely normal in the morning with no pain? Is the child faking this pain or is it something to ask the doctor about? Sometimes difficult to determine, this discomfort your child is experiencing may be associated with growing pains.            

There is no single test to diagnose growing pains. Rather, the diagnosis process is more one of exclusion. Growing pains usually affect children during the toddler years, as well as kids going into adolescence (8-12 years of age). While these aches are regularly referred to as growing pains, there is no evidence they are actually caused by growth spurts (WebMD.com), so it is unclear whether these aches and discomfort are caused by bone growth or from the normal activity kids do during the day, like jumping, running and climbing (KidsHealth.org). 

This pain is often described as an ache or throb in the legs, usually in the front of the thigh, the calves or behind the knee. It can affect either one or both legs and most often occurs in the evening or during the night (MayoClinic.org). This pain may occur every night or every once in a while. Growing pain is not pain in the joints and does not occur in the morning. A doctor is able to distinguish between normal growth pain and something that is potentially more dangerous and may order blood tests or x-rays to rule out other problems or may diagnose from the child’s symptoms alone (MayoClinic.org).

As parents, we can’t take away our child’s pain, but when symptoms occur we can do some things to help. Rest breaks during sports and playtime, as well as a greater variety of activities, can help kids avoid straining the same muscles day after day. A warm bath before bedtime or a light massage may help soothe muscles and aches. A dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen also may be helpful. Growing pains are manageable at home, but if the pain becomes severe, a fever develops, reddening or swelling over the muscle is visible or a persistent lump in a muscle is present, call a doctor (HealthyChildren.org). The silver lining is that these pains will resolve over time and are not associated with serious illness.                    

Jessica Heine is a labor and delivery nurse. She lives in Olathe with her family.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.