Leg Pains in 4 yo boy

[arivecchi]

DS1 is 4. He has complained about leg pains since he turned 3. I figured they were growing pains as they normally happen at night.

In the last month or so, they have become more frequent (say a couple of times a week) and he now complains about them during the day as well. He also asked that I tell his pre-k teacher that his legs hurt when he crosses them during circle time.

The pains go away with tylenol or rubs after 10-15 minutes.

I called his ped yesterday because of the increased frequency and he asked me to call him back if I notice other symptoms in addition to the leg pains. He also asked that I call back if they keep increasing in frequency.

Has anyone gone through this?

[Nu_mama]

Yes. My DS will be 4 in July and he has complained of "hurting legs" over pretty much the last year. Mostly at night, sometimes he will complain of it during the daytime and we do basic tylenol or rubbing legs to help. I will say that I am pretty convinced it is growing pains, he has gone from a 2T-3T last summer to needing a 5T for the last few months in terms of length. Hope your little one feels better!

[Indianamom2]

I vote for growing pains as well. DD complains about this off and on.

The only other thing that I can think of is the possibility of some sort of mineral/vitamin deficiency that might cause joint pain.

[s7714]

My older DD has gone through several phases of leg growing pains. IIRC pretty much all of K she complained. My younger DD has only complained once or twice.

[Cuckoomamma]

My dd who is 6 only gets leg pains when she's eaten something that she is allergic/sensitive to. This has happened since she was an infant. FWIW, I had ankle pains when I was in the 4-6 year range that would wake me at night. They'd go away with aspirin or ben gay. I found out that I was allergic to lots of foods about 6 years ago. Over the years I had lots of symptoms that would change that I see mirrored in my girls when they eat something they shouldn't.

May mean nothing in your case, but I'm certain my ped as a child never imagined it was food allergies. He always told my parents that they were growing pains.

[kbud]

You said they bother him at night. It could be restless leg syndrome. My dd (3) was diagnosed with it this year after a sleep study. She was always scratching at her legs to the point of them bleeding. We saw a pediatric sleep specialist. She was up about 5 times a night. They told me in kids it's usually due to low iron stores. We checked her levels and she was low. After 5 months of iron supplements her stores are finally up and she is no longer restless at night and waking as much.

My brother-in-law has restless leg as an adult. He complained a lot as a child of hurting legs. They called it growing pains but he says now he's certain it was restless leg.

If it's not disrupting his sleep though it's probably not restless legs.

[bubbaray]

I vote growing pains. My dr suggested Tylenol or Advil and good, supportive shoes for DD#1. DD#2 didn't get them. ETA: I had them horribly as a child.

[BeachBum]

My ped suggested that often what we think of as "growing pains" are really signs of not drinking enough water. At our house I've certainly found this to be true.

[rlu]

Wow, this is a really informative thread. DS is complaining about his legs almost every day. We just figured he was growing as he is really putting away the groceries right now. However he is also often dehydrated and DH and his sister suffer restless leg syndrome so two other possible culprits to chase down. Thanks.

[elektra]

DD complained about leg pains about a year ago too and I wrote it up to growing pains. Interesting about the dehydration thing.
Let us know what the ped says.

[m448]

I give them calcium magnesium liquid at night for growing pains and i take it myself for RLS.

[geochick]

My 4yo gets these all the time too, but especially at night. We've found that ibuprofen works best for muscle and bone pain, and it usually takes just one tablet to get them under control.

[ashleybama24]

I know you had posted that one of your kids was being a picky eater recently. Does he eat many bananas? I have suddenly noticed pain in my legs at night and increasing my potassium intake (bananas, dried apricots, tomato juice etc) along with a warm bath really helps.

I would also say that he is probably going through a growth spurt as well.

[arivecchi]

He LOVES bananas. However, he does not drink much water. Maybe we need to up his water intake.

[DrSally]

DS has gotten them since 2-ish yo. Almost always at night. I think it is more likely to happen when he's been very active that day (it did for me when I was a kid). Doctor said it was just "growing pains". I've heard a glass of milk before bed is supposed to help (maybe the calcium). DS doesn't drink milk, so I try to get cheese and/or a calcium supplement in him. He complains about "the pains" also sometimes after doing a lot of walking around a store. He also has flat feet, so I'm wondering if that has something to do with it and if I should check into orthodic insoles. If he's really complaining, I do a warm bath/rubbing/and/or motrin.

[wimama]

Leg pain is often dismissed in young children as growing pains. While some of these pains could occur during a period of fast growth or dehydration, these pains are often the result of muscles strain/tendonitis.

Good supportive shoes and orthotics can be a big help. Young children experiencing pain or muscle stain often complain of being tired when walking. My DS feet are quite pronated ("flat footed") and he was complaining of being tired on longer walks and he had occasional foot pains. We got him orthotics and now he has had no further complaints.

[s7714]

Good supportive shoes and orthotics can be a big help. Young children experiencing pain or muscle stain often complain of being tired when walking. My DS feet are quite pronated ("flat footed") and he was complaining of being tired on longer walks and he had occasional foot pains. We got him orthotics and now he has had no further complaints.

Likewise, my DDs both have high arches, and complain of their feet and legs hurting when walking very much if their shoes aren't supportive in that aspect.

[Corie]

Yes!!

My daughter has ALWAYS complained of leg pain! She wakes up
at night because she said the pain is really bad. She also complains
of it during the day.

It's tapered off a lot now that she is 9 years old but when she was
younger it was horrible.

[DrSally]

Leg pain is often dismissed in young children as growing pains. While some of these pains could occur during a period of fast growth or dehydration, these pains are often the result of muscles strain/tendonitis.

Good supportive shoes and orthotics can be a big help. Young children experiencing pain or muscle stain often complain of being tired when walking. My DS feet are quite pronated ("flat footed") and he was complaining of being tired on longer walks and he had occasional foot pains. We got him orthotics and now he has had no further complaints.

Can you say more about how you got your orthodics? I was worried about it just being "dismissed" too, but got the same answer after asking multiple times (growing pains). I even took him to an ortho for the flat feet. The ortho said not to worry and that we could do something (with inserts) if it really bothered him. I'm wondering if that would help him. He looked at DS's shoes (always buy SR, b/c of his wide feet) and he said they were fine.

So, I'm just wondering, do orthodics need to be fitted or where do I go to get some. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try them and see if it helps.

[wimama]

Can you say more about how you got your orthodics? I was worried about it just being "dismissed" too, but got the same answer after asking multiple times (growing pains). I even took him to an ortho for the flat feet. The ortho said not to worry and that we could do something (with inserts) if it really bothered him. I'm wondering if that would help him. He looked at DS's shoes (always buy SR, b/c of his wide feet) and he said they were fine.

So, I'm just wondering, do orthodics need to be fitted or where do I go to get some. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try them and see if it helps.

I am a podiatrist. I prescribed and ordered them for my DS.:wink2: Today we let our DS wear sandals outside running around with his friends all day outside and he is complaining his feet hurt at bedtime. We usually buy athletic shoes with a more rigid heel counter on the back of the shoe to help control the pronation in his feet. The rigid heel counter combined with his orthotics helps control the motion of his feet well and it helps with his complaints of foot and leg discomfort. Some people can go their whole life without pain from their flat feet. But, if there is pain I would recommend orthotics.

[DrSally]

I am a podiatrist. I prescribed and ordered them for my DS.:wink2: Today we let our DS wear sandals outside running around with his friends all day outside and he is complaining his feet hurt at bedtime. We usually buy athletic shoes with a more rigid heel counter on the back of the shoe to help control the pronation in his feet. The rigid heel counter combined with his orthotics helps control the motion of his feet well and it helps with his complaints of foot and leg discomfort. Some people can go their whole life without pain from their flat feet. But, if there is pain I would recommend orthotics.

Thanks. So, should I go back to the ortho and tell him that he's having pain (I'd say 1-2 times a week), and he would be the one to write the script? Does insurance generally cover it?