Does your child complain of having achy legs? Are they often kept up at night by the same kind of restless throbbing pain? Have you tried to soothe your child’s pain but are unsure whether or not you need to see a doctor or give them medicine?

If this sounds familiar then your child may have growing pains. We have all heard of growing pains but what are they? When should you, as a parent, become concerned and how can you help your child?

What are growing pains?

Growing pains affect up to 40% of children at some point in their childhood. They usually start in early childhood around ages 3-5years and then reoccur later in childhood at around ages 8 -12 years old. There is no evidence that bone growth is the cause of growing pains, so it is common for these pains to occur with or without a period of growth. It is considered that these pains are most likely related to activity. Children are often playing and exercising in ways that put a high demand on their bodies. This can cause discomfort and aches later in the day or even the following day.

Growing pains are crampy, dull, muscle pains that effect children’s legs predominantly in the late afternoon and evenings. The severity of these pains is variable but can sometimes be so severe they disrupt your child’s sleep.The pains are focused in the muscle not the joint and most children will report of pain in their thighs, calves and behind their knees. Growing pains do not cause any redness or swelling of the joints, this could be a sign of something more serious, so do go see your doctor if the pain focuses in the joints and they appear red, hot or swollen.

When should you seek medical advice?

Your GP, Paediatrician or children’s physio can help diagnose and treat growing pains. There are some signs and symptoms to look out for that may mean the pain your child is experiencing is something more serious. Look out for the following:

• Fever
• Pain post injury
• Long lasting, constant pain
• Pain first thing in the morning
• Redness, heat, swelling at a joint
• Limp
• Rash
• Poor appetite
• Unexplainable weakness and tiredness

The above list are not signs relating to growing pains so it is important to be aware and see your health professional if required.

Even though growing pains are not serious they can still have a big impact on your child and the pain experienced can be very upsetting. Sometimes because the pain has gone by the morning, people can assume that the pain is not real. This is not the case and its important you offer support and reassurance to your child when they are in pain, and help them learn to cope with pain in a healthy non life limiting way.

How can you help?

The pain experienced with growing pains is a dull, crampy muscle ache. This kind of pain responds well, to touch. Massage the area, teach your child some easy stretches they can do to relieve the crampy sensations. Use heat* to reduce pain and muscle tightness. a warm bath, heat pads and hot water bottles are a nice way to provide relief. Avoid using medications as these are often ineffective with muscle pain and can have harmful side effects for your child. Use pain coping strategies like relaxation tapes and guided visualisation, especially at night if it is stopping your child falling off to sleep.

*Always use due care and caution when using heated products with your child.

If you have any concerns about your child’s pains or want some advice on how to massage and stretch to relieve pain