Podiatry: Growing pains in children

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Growing pains in children.

Growing pains are an interesting if puzzling topic. Some doctors believe they exist, some doctors believe they exist in the mind of the patient, and some doctors are happy to subject the patient to all kinds of tests so that a label can be put on a series of symptoms.

For the parents of a child with symptoms it is difficult to know what to do for the best. On the one hand, we don't want to make an unnecessary fuss, or turn a normal child into a patient. On the other hand, it is important that if there is an undiagnosed medical condition present, it is recognized so that appropriate treatment can be instigated.

What are growing pains?

The normal symptoms, which are pains in the legs, but not normally in the joints, occur in young children (three to five years old, although they can present in children of up to nine years of age). It has been estimated that they can affect up to 15% of children. They can also present in adolescents.

What else could those pains be?

Any of a series of systemic conditions, which need specialist medical attention.

My child has pains in both legs. How can I tell if these are growing pains, or a medical condition which needs attention.

It is largely agreed by those medical disciplines who treat children (Paediatrics, Rheumatology and Orthopaedics) that growing pains present a particular set of symptoms which are different from true medical conditions.

If your child has:

• Pain in both legs simultaneously.
• Pain only after activity, or at the end of the day.
• No swelling, and no joint pain.
• Pain which, after several months, may interfere with normal activity.

These are likely to be growing pains, and can be helped with foot orthoses.

A Podiatrist will also carry out an examination, and if there is any doubt in diagnosis, refer on to the appropriate medical specialty for tests.

If you have a child with leg pain, and want further information please go to my website at www.ortho-pedclinic.com and submit an enquiry form. Obviously, no one can diagnose without seeing the patient, but I am happy to advise, based on information given about symptoms.

David Holland BSc(Hons), MSc(Dunelm), MChS