When Are Growing Pains Something More Serious?
Children will often feel random pains from time to time, usually in their legs and maybe in their arms. They happen in the child’s muscles, and many times parents will tell their children not to worry because they are just growing pains. Though some parents genuinely believe that growing pains is a throwaway comment to stop the child worrying or complaining–it does actually exist.
What are growing pains?
They are pains in the child’s muscles that are normally experienced around areas where a child builds muscle quickly. This sometimes happens in the arms and shoulders, but most often happens in the child’s legs. They occur in children from three to five year olds, and again in eight to twelve year olds.
Should I have my child checked out by a podiatrist?
There is no need to worry about the many pains and aches your child gets, it is part of growing up, but as a parent, you should be conscientious about what is and isn’t harmless aching or pain.
Broken bones, Sprains, Strains and Bone Cancer
There are other reasons why your child may be complaining that his or her shoulders, back, legs or arms ache or feel pain. An Era Health doctor can quickly recognize a broken bone through the fact that gentle massage makes the pain feel worse and not better.
Sprains and strains will often cause your child to move differently and complain about the pain in a more aggressive or longer-lasting manner. You may need to get your child checked if growing pains become a regular issue because bone cancer in children can be mistaken for growing pains.
Recognizing growing pains
The biggest clue is that they are usually over within a matter of hours, if not minutes, but you should watch your child to be sure he or she has not begun acting differently. They may walk differently without complaining about pain in the future, or his or her joints may feel and look out of place or swollen. A child having growing pains should feel a pain in his or her muscles and not joints.
When should I call book an appointment with an Era Health podiatrist?
If your child demonstrates weakness or tiredness through his or her growing pains, then book an appointment with a doctor right away. If there is pain that appears associated with an injury, then you may need to see the doctor.
Seek immediate advice if weakness or tiredness follows any of the other symptoms named here. Seek immediate medical advice if your child shows a fever, rash or loss of appetite.
If your child limps, or feels long-lasting pain, or swelling and redness, or pain in the morning, or pain in a joint, then you need to book your child in to see an Era Health doctor. Most importantly of all, you should look for behavior that you consider unusual for your child, as it may be an indication that the growing pains are an offshoot symptom of something else.
