Is leg pain in children normal?
10% of healthy children have harmless leg pains that come and go. These are often called growing pains (although they have nothing to do with growth). Growing pains usually occur in the calf or thigh muscles. They usually occur on both sides, not one side.
When kids say their legs hurt?
Growing pains are cramping, achy muscle pains that some preschoolers and preteens feel in both legs. The pain usually occurs in the late afternoon or evenings. But it may cause your child to wake up in the middle of the night. Growing pains usually start in early childhood, around age 3 or 4.
Can growing pains happen in one leg?
Growing Pains. Growing pains usually occur in the calf or thigh muscles. They usually occur on both sides, not one side. They occur late in the day.
Can growing pains make a child cry?
“Classic ‘growing pains’ occur in small children,” says Dr. Onel, who describes a typical scenario: “A child goes to bed and wakes up an hour or so later crying because of pain in their legs. They may ask to have the area rubbed to make it feel better; eventually the child goes back to sleep.
What would cause a child’s legs to hurt?
Growing pains are a common cause of leg pain in children. These pains are muscle aches that can occur in the thighs, behind the knees, or the calves. Other possible causes of leg pain that may be more serious can include juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), lupus, Lyme disease, and leukemia.
Why does my 5 year old leg hurt?
How often should a child get growing pains?
The duration of the pain is usually between 10 and 30 minutes, although it might range from minutes to hours. The degree of pain can be mild or very severe. Growing pains are intermittent, with pain-free intervals from days to months. In some children the pain can occur daily.
How to tell if your child has leg pain?
Growing Pain (Leg Pain) in Kids: Causes, Signs & Remedies 1 Causes of Leg Pain in a Child. Children are most active during their pre-teen ages,… 2 Child Growing Pain Signs and Symptoms. Growing pain normally doesn’t hit both limbs. 3 Diagnosis of Childhood Growing Pain. A diagnosis of growing pain is easily done by doctors…
Why does my child’s leg hurt at night?
Leg pain in children is also frequently described as “growing pains.” Although there is no scientific proof that the growth of bones causes pain, it is well known that children sometimes experience leg pain, often at night, for no obvious reason.
What causes leg pain on one side in children?
The board certified pediatrician on duty had no difficulty diagnosing the boy’s leg pain with the not-common, but not terribly unheard of disorder: Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease – LCPD or “perthes’ disease” for short.
When to go to the ER for leg pain in children?
Leg pain in children may be associated with an injury or a serious infection. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms such as paralysis, loss of sensation, absent pulses in the feet, the inability to move the knee joint, uncontrolled or heavy bleeding, high fever (greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit), or uncontrollable pain.
When to worry about your child’s leg pain?
Sometimes the pain awakens a child in the middle of the night. Consult your child’s doctor if you’re concerned about your child’s leg pain or the pain is: Accompanied by other signs or symptoms, such as swelling, redness, tenderness, fever, limping, rash, loss of appetite, weakness or fatigue The cause of growing pains is unknown.
When do you have Growing Pains do your legs hurt?
Growing pains usually cause an aching or throbbing feeling in the legs. This pain often occurs in the front of the thighs, the calves or behind the knees. Usually both legs hurt. Some children may also experience abdominal pain or headaches during episodes of growing pains. The pain doesn’t occur every day.
When do growing pains occur in a child?
Some children may also experience abdominal pain or headaches during episodes of growing pains. The pain doesn’t occur every day. It comes and goes. Growing pains often strike in the late afternoon or early evening and disappear by morning. Sometimes the pain awakens a child in the middle of the night.
Why does my child have so many aches and pains?
The aches and pains can also simply be from all the running, jumping, and playing during the day. If your family has a history of restless leg syndrome, your child might have that instead. There are other possible causes, too. It could be a psychological issue or even a lack of vitamin D in their diet.