Advice Regarding Child's Leg Pain

D., My daughter had bad leg cramps and pains when she was 4-5 because she grew too fast (the bones did) but her leg muscles did not grow as fast. I had her at U of M in the 70's they suggested a warm bath maybe 2 times a day. Then massage her legs while in the water and after with just a light baby oil, keep her legs covered as must as possible with leg warmers or leggins. She was so bad she was unable to walk for short periods of time this happened maybe 4 different times as she grew up. You may also want to give her a Baby Asprin or Tynol to help her relax at night to get the rest her little body need. Don't forget to give her something to eat to help the Asprin work better.

It sounds like growing pains to me. My kids went through that stage several times - right before a growth spurt - they also seemed to eat a lot more. To be safe it never hurts to call the doctor - but it is probably the first of many growth spurts she will endure.

My daughter had leg pains that would wake her up at night. The doctors kept telling me it was "growing pains" and to give her ibuprofen. Months later hen she was taking pain meds all day every day, I took her in for the third time and demanded an xray since she was walking funny. She had a tumor in her femur. It was removed when she was in second grade. Sometimes it's nothing, and sometimes you have to push the doctors to check into it. If pain continues, get an xray or CT scan to have it checked. Good luck!

D.
My son who is now 9 woke up about the same age and couldn't walk we took him to the ER which the docs promptly scared us with a possible diagnosis that was not good I cant remember the name of it. The tests came back normal and he was cleared to leave. I then took him the same day to a chriopractor he went for about two months every week. He is fine now. Every time his legs hurt he asks to go to the chriopractor.
First take her to a doctor it may or may not be growing pains but be safe if everything comes back from a doctor that things are OK then try a chrioprator. I am not going to tell you to give her pain killers drink water and wait because the problem they checked my son for is life threating. I don't want to scare you because it is rare but please doctors first then try other things.

Hi, I would also mean growing pains, they start about now and end in the teenage years, come every once in a while and milk or other calcium source is the cure - tlc. Good luck, my son never got them but my husband had them and my daughter gets them. She is 10 now and still gets them.

Sincerely, J. mom to Mark 16 and Vanessa 10

You should probably take her to the hospital to see a doctor.

Please see description below of what my son had when he was 5 as well. It was VERY scary....but it did go away after about six days. My son woke one morning and REFUSED to walk!! I have a great pediatrician who diagnosed it immediately. His liver count was like three times normal so that was scary too as it could have affected kidneys..but just as she predicted...a week later he was perfectly fine and all counts back to normal. HOpe this helps! Some do prescribe meds for pain.

Benign acute myositis — In benign acute myositis, a young child suddenly develops severe leg pain and cannot walk normally. These symptoms are dramatic and frightening, but they usually disappear within a few days. Benign acute myositis usually occurs in children who are recovering from the flu or some other respiratory infection caused by a virus. Doctors are not sure whether the child's muscle symptoms are caused by the virus itself or by the body's immune reaction to the virus.
Benign acute myositis — A child suddenly has trouble walking and complains of severe leg pain. This pain is often worst in the calf muscles. In most cases, the child also has a history of recent fever, runny nose, sore throat and other upper respiratory symptoms.

I'd have her looked at by a chiropractor. That would produce an xray at least to take a look. It could just be a structural problem that an adjustment could help relieve. what kind of mattress does she have? That could also be something to consider.

But definitely an xray or MRI would be a consideration. That way no one guesses and can see.

Hi D.,

All 3 of my kids have growing pains, and the thing is, they don't usually last 24 hours a day for us, but everyone is different. Tylenol and Motrin do help, so I would give her an OTC pain reliever and see how she does. Most times, the pain comes at night or late in the day. Does she have any bruises, is there a sign of an injury? If there is, I would take her to the dr., if not, try the tylenol and see what happens.

Call your doctor. They should have someone on call 24 hours a day. That doesn't sound like something to mess around with.

I will send positive thoughts your way!

Blessings,

M.

Could be growing pains. But, to be sure, I would take her in to the docs.... particularly since she isn't acting herself.

Do you think she could be having a growth spurt? Try having her drink a couple LARGE glasses of milk a day for a couple days. My mom always gave us LOTS of milk and I remember it was like an immediate remedy for growing bones pain.
Your description is very vauge...
Could be she's growing AND coming down with the flu (body aches and tiredness) Has it only been today?
Keep an eye on her and pump her full of milk and OJ... Not mixed together (eww). Lots of calcium helps the growing and the Vit C helps the illness.
If it keeps on for a few days or gets worse then def. get her to the DR.
Let her rest and keep her drinkin...

I used to get those types of pains when I was little and my mom called them growing pains. But.....you may want to get her checked out just to be sure. :)