$Unique_ID{PAR00086}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Growing Pains}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Growing Pains resting sleeping leg legs foot feet Pain underdeveloped
muscles muscle joints joint thigh thighs calf calves awaken awakened sleep
Massage Massaging aspirin acetaminophen shoes osteoid osteoma}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Growing Pains


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOM
     - Pain in the legs or feet that occurs only while the child is resting or
       sleeping

     HOME CARE
     - Massage or apply heat to painful muscles.
     - Give aspirin or acetaminophen for pain.
     - Having the child wear sturdier shoes may reduce the frequency or
       severity of the pains.
     - Growing pains can be quite severe.  It is important to reassure and
       comfort the child.

     PRECAUTION
     - If your child complains of frequent pain that occurs at night in the
       same part of the body, take the child to a doctor.


     The concept of "growing pains" is half truth and half myth.  Growing
children do have normal pains, particularly in their legs and feet.  These
pains, however, are caused, not by growing, but by excessive use of young
muscles and joints that are not yet completely developed.  Young children are
extremely active, and this extra activity places stress on their
still-developing muscles and joints.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Growing pains generally occur in different parts of the thighs, calves,
and feet.  The pains can be severe enough to awaken a child from sleep.
     A key symptom of growing pains is that they occur only when the child is
at rest, usually at night or during naps.  They never occur when the child is
active.  This fact distinguishes growing pains from pains caused by diseases
or abnormalities, which are typically worse when the child is active.  Growing
pains do not interfere with or interrupt a child's daily play or routine, and
are never accompanied by fever or other symptoms of general illness.

HOME CARE

     Apply heat to painful muscles.  Massaging the muscles also helps.  Giving
the child aspirin or acetaminophen may relieve pain.  Having the child wear
sturdier shoes may reduce the frequency and severity of growing pains.  Since
the pain can be quite severe, sympathy and understanding are important in
comforting the child.

PRECAUTION

  -  One rare bone disease, osteoid osteoma, causes severe bone pain that
     occurs almost exclusively at nighttime.  If your child complains of
     frequent pain in the same spot at night, the cause must be checked by
     your doctor.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Your doctor will perform a careful examination to rule out other
diseases.  X-ray studies may be necessary on more than one occasion to check
for osteoid osteoma.

RELATED TOPICS:  Arthritis; Fractures; Sprains and dislocations