Severe Leg Cramps

Does he take a vitamin supplement with potassium? That may help! I have had a similar situation and found that potassium was the key to eliminating night-time, charlie-horse type leg cramps.

There have been several studies of children with leg pain. I suffered from the leg crampes when I was growing up and remember how awful it was. Having enough calcium in my diet really helped a lot. I also had the following information that you might find helpful.

Below is an excerpt from a British study.

Foot and postural abnormalities
Problems are most noticeable when walking or standing.

- The most common abnormality noted is flat feet: this is technically due to "excessive subtalar joint pronation". This means that the foot rolls inwards causing flattening of the plantar arch.
- Less common is the opposite problem, "cavoid syndrome" where the foot shows a high arch with a tendency to roll outward.
- Another common feature is "ankle joint equinas". This means that the child is unable to draw the foot towards the leg as much as is required for normal walking and it's thought that this causes a tightness of the calf muscles. The hamstrings have also found to be tight in some patients.

These abnormalities mean that the children's legs have to work harder and in a different way to compensate and this may explain the sensation of pain in many children.

Treatment
Treatment consists of the prescription of an insole to fit inside the shoe. This is designed to improve shock absorption and normalise the position of the foot during walking. Muscle stretching exercises are also recommended for children with tight calves and/or hamstrings.

All of the children that have been treated have shown an improvement in their symptoms, such as reduced pain, better exercise tolerance, and a decrease in the number of episodes of nocturnal leg pain. However few children have been completely 'cured'.

And from one of my family health care references:

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MUSCLE CRAMPS OR MUSCLE STRAINS

Treatment For Muscle Cramps:

Muscle cramps in the feet or calf muscles occur in a third of children.

During attacks, stretch the painful muscle by pulling the foot and toes upward as far as they will go to break the spasm.

Stretch the muscle in the direction opposite to how it is being pulled by the cramp or spasm.

Massage the painful muscle with an ice pack for 20 minutes.

If these are heat cramps (occurring during exercise on a hot day), give lots of water to drink in addition to stretching the muscle and an ice pack.

Future attacks may be prevented by daily stretching exercises of the heel cords (stand with the knees straight and stretch the ankles by leaning forward against a wall). Also give the feet more room to move at night by placing a pillow under the covers at the foot of the bed.

N.:

ADHD meds do not cause leg cramps, fyi. Is it possible that the leg cramps are psycho-somatic? Meaning, he really thinks he is having pain however, there is no pain? Is there something that he is uncomfortalbe about at night? Just a thought. If the pain is real, massage, warm baths, tlc should help.

A.

Try giving him extra zinc. A deficiancy in this vitamin has been linked to leg cramps especially at night.

Hi N.,

I would recommend maybe looking at the side effects of the medications he is taking. I would also make sure he is well hydrated... drinking plenty of fluid (water) a day... especially in this heat. I would also maybe have his levels of potassium checked...
I hope it is just growing pains!
Good Luck