Why does growing pains hurt

Growing pains aren't a disease. You probably won't have to go to the doctor for them. But they can hurt. Usually they start when kids are between the ages of 3 and Doctors don't believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains do stop when kids stop growing. By the teen years, most kids don't get growing pains anymore. Kids get growing pains in their legs. Most of the time they hurt in the front of the thighs the upper part of your legs , in the calves the back part of your legs below your knees , or shins the front part of your legs below your knees , or behind the knees.

Usually, both legs hurt. For some children, there is more pain after they have been doing a lot of running and playing, but not all children have this pattern of play then pain. The pain may be due to: Muscular tiredness — more physical activity than usual can be linked to more aching muscles for some children, although all children have some days when they do a lot more things than other days and most do not get pain.

Poor posture — standing, sitting or walking awkwardly puts greater than usual strain on the supporting muscles of the body. Sometimes, children whose feet roll in with very flat feet may have more trouble with pains than other children.

Emotional upset — stress or unhappiness may trigger aches and pains, but this is not often the case for many children who have pain. Growing pains do not affect how a child walks and runs and they do not make a child unwell. If your child is limping, is complaining of pain during the day, is unwell or if the leg is sore to touch, you need to get your child checked by a doctor.

They may have an infection or an injury. Diagnosis of growing pains Growing pains are diagnosed by ruling out all other causes of leg pain. Other health problems that can cause pain in the legs include: arthritis — which damages joints infections such as osteomyelitis and some virus infections such as Ross River virus problems that affect how the muscles work together — such as knock knees and very flat feet.

Always see your doctor if your child: has severe pain or pain that only affects one leg or arm , or if the pain is still there during the day is unwell or has a fever, loss of appetite or rashes has swelling, reddening or tenderness of the leg or arm is limping. Treatment for growing pains Always see your doctor to make sure that there is no other cause of pain. Things that may help your child manage the pain include: plenty of cuddles and reassurance that the pain will go away and that their legs will feel normal by morning massaging the painful area using special massage oils this is not necessary to easing the pain, but may help your child feel special heat treatment, such as warm baths and heat packs medicines that reduce pain, such as paracetamol check the bottle to make sure that you give the right dose if your child has feet that roll in or if they trip a lot, ask a podiatrist to check their legs and posture don't tell the child that the pain is associated with playing or growing, or else the child may feel afraid of both.

Where to get help Your doctor Pharmacist Maternal and child health nurse Paediatrician Things to remember Many children have pains in their legs without any obvious cause and these are often called growing pains. Most children who do lots of exercise don't get pain, and many children with pain have not been doing more exercise than usual. Always see your doctor to make sure that there is no other cause of pain. Give feedback about this page.

Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all children Related information. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs when a joint begins to break down and change the underlying bone.

Older people are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. There are many conditions that may feel like growing pains, but they generally come with other symptoms. Some conditions that may cause symptoms similar to growing pains include:. Restless legs syndrome gives you an uncontrollable urge to move your legs because of uncomfortable sensations in them.

Moving your legs will temporarily relieve your symptoms. If you think you might have restless legs syndrome, talk to a doctor. This syndrome can interfere with sleep , which can negatively affect your quality of life. Joint hypermobility occurs when you have an unusually large range of movement in your joints. You might know it as being double-jointed.

However, some people may experience:. Having these symptoms in addition to joint hypermobility is called joint hypermobility syndrome. If you have these symptoms, see a doctor. You may have issues with your connective tissue. Lyme disease is an illness caused by tick-borne bacteria. Symptoms of Lyme disease include:. Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics. However, if left untreated, it can spread to your joints, heart, and nervous system.

Cramps are involuntary muscle contractions. They may make your muscles feel tight or knotted. Leg cramps often occur in the calves and at night. They come on suddenly and are most common in middle-aged or older adults. Occasional leg cramps are common and usually harmless. However, if your cramps are frequent and severe, see a doctor. Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in the major veins of your body, most commonly in the legs.

In some cases, you might not have any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may include:.