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Growing Pains

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Bones really do grow at night, and those midnight aches strike up to 40% of kids

If this describes a situation you are familiar with, chances are your child is experiencing growing pains, a normal occurrence in 25-40 percent of children, something that can be soothed by massage, hugs and a little ibuprofen. Though no one really understands growing pains, they're very real. A recent study of confirms what parents have long suspected: Bones really do grow at night.

Ninety percent of bone growth in the University of Wisconsin study of sheep happened while they rested. "When the animals were sleeping or lying down, they were growing rapidly. When they were standing, they'd stop growing," says child orthopedic surgeon Ken Noonan, who conducted the study with Norman Wilsman.

Growing pains in children occur in the lower extremities-around knees and ankles, especially-but not in the arms and upper body, which leads researchers to believe that compression in cartilage around weight-bearing bones may halt bone growth. At night, when children are off their feet, the growth can resume.

"This might be the cause of growing pains," Noonan says. "Kids who are really active during the day, jumping around like monkeys, may have more compression."

This doesn't come as news to parents like Lisa Brinkley, whose daughter, Nicole, would wake in agonizing pain during her 12th year. The pain usually began in evening, a time when Nicole likes to read, play on the computer or watch television. She'd complain of general aches and later that night, she'd wake up crying hard, in severe pain.

Brinkley began asking Nicole what had happened during the day, and inevitably she'd had gym class or another intense physical activity. "In the beginning I'd say 'sweetie, you're just probably sore from soccer or kickball,"' Brinkley says. "But it was way too over the top. There's a difference between sore and excruciating pain."

Brinkley took Nicole to the doctor, who ruled out Lyme disease and advised her to give Nicole Motrin or a similar pain reliever to ease the aches.

Researchers are unsure why some children but not others experience growing pains. Deeper sleepers may not wake up, and children with higher tolerance of pain may snooze through aches. Pains may not be so severe on days without lots of physical activity. Though there's disagreement about what ages are hardest hit, 3-5 and 8-12 are what pediatrician Barb Homeier, who works with KidsHealth.org, sees most.

Growing pains are episodic-there may be one or two nights of pain, or a couple months. Pains usually begin in late afternoon or evening, and are most often localized at or below knee level.

If there are deviations from typical symptoms, it's time to see a doctor. There are other conditions with similar pains - sports injuries, Lyme disease, juvenile arthritis, rheumatic disease and fibromyalgia among them. One of the prime indicators that it's growing pains is whether you child wants to be touched. With growing pains, children usually feel better if they're massaged, held and cuddled, while with other medical conditions, kids may dislike being handled because touch and movement can increase pain.

Pain that lasts through the day, progressively getting worse, that's not relieved by massage or pain relievers-all are signs something more might be going on and it's time to see a physician. Head to the doctor if your child is run down, losing weight, displaying uncharacteristic behavior or if there's swelling, fever, easy bruising, redness, a rash or limp along with the pains.

Growing pains concentrate in muscles, rather than joints. Most children report aches in the front of their thighs, in the calves, near ankles or behind the knees.

Though there's no cure for growing pains - and no way to tell when they'll strike, or how severely - they can be treated with ibuprofen or acetaminophen (avoid aspirin in children under 12 due to its association with Reye syndrome, which is rare but fatal). Pain also can be relieved by massaging the achy area, stretching gently and by applying heating pads. And don't forget the cuddles.

"Cuddling is only one way of comforting and reassuring your child when they're uncomfortable," Homeier says. "It is one of those tried-and-true methods of comforting that parents all over the world use with their children."

Lori Hall Steele is a freelance writer who lives in northern Michigan.

EASE THEIR PAIN

Growing pains can be comforted by:

CALL THE DOCTOR?Something else might be happening-and you should call your pediatrician-if your child experiences:

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