Growing pains may be fairly common, but the truth is that no one is quite sure why they occur. Running, climbing or jumping during the day might increase the risk of leg pain at night. Accessed Aug. 3, 2016. Growing pains aren't a disease. Long, S.S., editor, Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 3rd edition, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2008. What causes growing pains? The pains can persist for a couple of weeks before disappearing altogether. Three of the most common disorders to cause growing pains in puppies and young dogs include: Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy A child’s legs — especially the thighs — typically start bothering her overnight. These pains usually make your child’s legs hurt. Growing pains are musculoskeletal pains that affect some children. That theory has been disproven, but doctors don’t know what does cause them. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. In general, growing pains are felt in both legs, especially in the front of the thighs, back of legs (calves), or behind the knees. What Are Growing Pains? Journal of Pediatrics. But they can hurt. in the muscles, not the joints. Sometimes teens have growing pains. Indian Pediatrics. Growing pains may sound like an old wives’ tale. You probably won't have to go to the doctor for them. Excess accumulation of metabolic wastes in the body contributes to fatigue-related growth pain. It comes and goes. RELATED: Charting Your Baby's Growth Spurts During Their First Year. All rights reserved. Growing pains aren't a disease. The pain usually occurs in the late afternoon or evenings. Despite their name, there is no evidence that they are related to growth spurts. In: Berkowitz's Pediatrics: A Primary Care Approach. There is no conclusive evidence that the pains are linked to growth spurts. Blood work and X-rays are usually not needed in this case. 2014;51:379. Doctors don't believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains stop when kids stop growing. Causes of Growing Pains Despite the name "growing pains," there is no firm evidence that growing pains are linked to growth spurts. Ask about the appropriate dose for your child. Most kids outgrow growing pains within a few years. Maybe you keep sitting in an uncomfortable way. The prevailing theory is that the muscle cramps/spasms known as growing pains are actually linked to intense levels of activity common to childhood and subsequent over-use of the muscles, leaving them prone to cramping. The cause of growing pains is unclear. What Are Growing Pains? Growing pains are cramping, achy muscle pains that some preschoolers and preteens feel in both legs. 20th ed. There’s also little evidence to link “growing” pains with actual growth spurts. What Are The Causes? Treatment of growing pains depends on how much pain your child has. What causes growing pains. They may have growing pains. Studies suggest that children who have growing pains may be more sensitive to pain. There's no specific treatment for growing pains. Never give aspirin to a child. With growing pains, the pains involve the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones). Doctors don't know why children have growing pains. This content does not have an English version. Sometimes they happen more often if: Maybe you are really tired because you've been doing lots of sport or running. Doctors don't believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains stop when kids stop growing. The pain or discomfort caused by what is known as growing pains may cause sleepless nights for children and worry for parents. After growing pains start, a child may have them off and on for 1 or 2 years. What are the causes of growing pains? This causes growth pain due to “musculoskeletal fatigue”. Types. Severe enough to interfere with your child's normal activities, Accompanied by other signs or symptoms, such as swelling, redness, tenderness, fever, limping, rash, loss of appetite, weakness or fatigue. These activities include running, jumping, and climbing. The pains can be hereditary and have no clear cause. These aches are probably not related to growth. A few theories have been suggested as potential causes, though. Growing pains disappear in the morning. Cause is unknown: A common musculoskeletal complaint in pediatrics , usually occurs at night in a child with normal examination and no symptom during the day. You probably won't have to go to the doctor for them. Growing pains are different for everyone. People used to believe that growing pains flared up when a child’s bones grew at a faster rate than his tendons. What Are Growing Pains? All rights reserved. Growing pains. Sometimes the pain awakens a child in the middle of the night. They're slightly more common in girls than in boys. Sever’s disease is a common heel injury in adolescents. Orthopedic injuries and growing pains. What Causes Them? Yet bones grow slowly, even during growth spurts, and this slow growth does not cause pain. Palo Alto Medical Foundation web site: "Growing Pains.". It is often mistakenly thought that the pain is caused by the growth of bones. But below are some of the common triggers believed to cause growing pains: Intense physical activity such as running, swimming, climbing or jumping during the day could tire the muscles and cause pain later in … Growing pains, after all, are the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain in children, with up to 37 percent of children impacted. No-one knows what causes growing pains, as nothing can be found wrong with the legs when someone is seen by a doctor. They usually do not interfere with the child's ability to play sports or be active. Some children with these pains have a low pain threshold and may also have headaches and abdominal pain. Growing pains aren't a disease. One study found that children with these pains have less bone strength than the normal population. But muscle pain at night from overuse during the day is thought to be the most likely cause of growing pains. Vaccine updates, safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter, New Year Special -  40% off – Mayo Clinic Diet Online. what causes growing pains? Make a donation. This pain often occurs in the front of the thighs, the calves or behind the knees. Growing pains aren't a disease. Doctors don't believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains stop when kids stop growing. Growing Pains are real, but no one seems to know why exactly kids get them. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Experiences of Others "Growing pains" in adults can be unsettling. © 1998-2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). It's been suggested that growing pains may be linked to restless legs syndrome. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Developmental Delays in Children Ages 3-5, Placing a warm cloth or heating pad on the sore leg. But there's no evidence that a child's growth is painful. Maybe you have flat feet or knock knees. It's been suggested that growing pains may be linked to restless legs syndrome. Growing pains don't usually happen where growth is occurring or during times of rapid growth. Despite the name, no firm evidence exists that the growth of bones causes pain. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. But they can hurt. But it may cause your child to wake up in the middle of the night. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Doctors can usually diagnose growing pains without having to order any tests. Growing pains are more common in active children. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. If your child seems perfectly fine in the morning, don't be quick to think they were faking. According to the NHS, growing pains are not actually caused by growing. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Sometimes the pain can be so severe that it causes a middle-of-the-night wake up. Aspirin use in children has been linked to a life-threatening disease called Reye's syndrome. The cause of growing pains is unknown. And they do not cause limping or fever. They tend to strike again in kids aged 8-12. Sometimes leg pain may be caused by underlying conditions that can be treated. They're also more common in children with flexible joints (double jointed). You probably won't have to go to the doctor for them. It's inefficient for individual employees and the organization as a whole to be living from day to day, never knowing what to expect. It's also important to remember that growing pains affect muscles, not joints. Dr. Florence Nwofor answered. Growing pains usually occur in both legs, in the calves, front of thighs, and behind the knees. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. The most common cause of the pain is likely muscle fatigue. We do not know the cause of growing pains, but there are several theories. The following things may ease discomfort and help your child feel better: If the pain does not get better, ask your health care provider if it's OK to give your child an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You can make your child more comfortable by putting a warm heating pad on the sore muscles and massaging them. Lehman TJA. There’s a common misconception that there’s nothing that can be done when growing pains develop and that they’re a natural part of ageing in kids, but this isn’t the case at all. The pains are common in … 5th ed. Berkowitz CD. What causes growing pains? Growing pains tend to affect both legs and occur at night, and may even wake a child from sleep. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Accessed Aug. 3, 2016. Growing pains are a type of musculoskeletal pain that usually affects children. The pain is usually felt in the late afternoon and evening, right before dinner time, and at bedtime. Growing pains don’t occur during periods of more rapid growth and … Bone growth hasn't been proved to cause pain. If your child has growing pains, the doctor will not see anything abnormal during the physical exam. The good news is this type of cancer is easily treated with radiation and chemo and the prognosis is good as long as the cancer is confined to the bone. Growing pains can start as early as the toddler years, or they can start later in childhood. Junnila, J.L. When staff repeatedly is spending time dealing with short-term crises, it often is caused by a lack of long-range planning or the absence of a strategic plan. Kliegman, R.M., Behrman, R.E., Jenson, H.B., Stanton, B.F., editors, Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th edition, Saunders Elsevier, 2010. What causes growing pains? "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Despite the name, growth does not cause growing pains. Some children have growing pains on and off for many years, but usually they go by mid-adolescence. Although growing pains often strike in late afternoon or early evening before bed, pain can sometimes wake a sleeping child. Despite the name "growing pains," there is no firm evidence that growing pains are linked to growth spurts. in the evening or night-time (and goes away by morning) Growing pains are more common in active children and can come on after playing a lot of sports. Pains depends on how much pain your child 's doctor or nurse if leg pain may be to... Musculoskeletal pains that affect children most often between the ages of 3 and or. Is no conclusive evidence that growth hurts this pain often occurs in the late or! 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