Kids and Growing Pains

What Are Growing Pains?

Growing pains are not an illness, and they typically don’t require a visit to the doctor. However, they can be uncomfortable. These pains usually begin in children between the ages of 3 and 12. While doctors don’t believe that growth itself directly causes the pain, growing pains tend to disappear once a child stops growing. By the teenage years, most kids no longer experience them.

What Do Growing Pains Feel Like?

Growing pains are most commonly felt in the legs, often affecting both legs at the same time. However, some children may feel pain in one leg one day and the other leg the next. The discomfort is usually located in the front of the thighs, the calves, the shins, or behind the knees.

What Causes Growing Pains?

The exact cause of growing pains is still unclear to doctors. Some believe they may be linked to physical activities like running, climbing, or jumping during the day. If a child is more active than usual, they might experience leg aches or pains at night.

How Can I Relieve Growing Pains?

Here are some ways to ease the discomfort:

• Apply a heating pad to the sore area.
• Stretch your legs, similar to exercises done in gym class.
• Ask a parent to gently massage your legs.
• If the pain is severe, a parent can give you over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

When Should I See a Doctor?

If you experience a fever, limping, pain during the day, or notice redness or swelling in your leg, it’s important to see a doctor. Most children with growing pains feel fine during the day, so the discomfort shouldn’t interfere with normal activities like running or playing. If you do have leg pain during the day, let a parent know.

Final Thoughts

Not all children experience growing pains, but if you do, remember that they are temporary. Before you know it, you’ll outgrow them and move on without any discomfort!