Growing Pains

Yes, with our daughter when she was in 2nd grade. She acheived relief with motrin.

On the other hand, our neighbor's daughter, same age, would actually cry in her sleep and her mom used menthol (green?) rubbing alcohol and swore by it. Her daughter's pain was so intense that she took her to the Dr and insisted on xrays because she was convinced something was broken.

Both our daughters went through it for a couple of months and then suddenly the pain disappeared on its own.

I am a big fan of Epson salts.

Good luck!

Mouse_tales is a discussion leader in the East Valley for arizonamoms.com. She is a business owner, community volunteer, and aspiring runner (whew!), who most enjoys her roles as wife & mom. Her children range in age from 4 to 13.

No, they're real and they hurt. I remember having them as a kid. My mom had to use a heating pad on my shins. I cried and moved the heating pad from one leg to the next, when the pain got too bad.

My son had them too and of course I asked the doctor about them. He confirmed that's what his pain was.

I recall from anatomy class that bones actually grow in response to muscle, not the other way around. So, a really active kid, with stretching and growing muscles, will have bones that need to catch up!

Give him some motrin and some sympathy...and a heating pad! They generally occur in spurts of days to a few weeks then stop for awhile. My son had 3 or 4 bouts with them, right around the same age.

"Only a life lived for others, is the life worthwhile" - Albert Einstein

I make a homemade heating pad by getting a hand towel wet. I put it in the microwave and heat it and then put it in a ziplock bag. It can get really hot so be careful. If it is really hot, don't place it directly on them, but over blankets or a dry towel. My girls love it and sometimes ask for it when their tummies feel icky.

KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.

How interesting to read all these replies. I never had them (to the best of my memory!), so I've always assumed it is just a saying, but totally not real.

I guess I should be tuned in to the possibility of a real issue that may occur with my kids! :)

Thanks for bringing up the topic!

Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 6 yr. old daughter and a 4 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.

I've heard of growing pains and have read that a lot of times they happen at night so children will often times mention the pain then. I've not heard of growing pains actually hurting to the touch though. I usually tend to air on the side of caution and am a worry wart when it comes to physical ailments my daughter complains about when it's an on-going complaint so I might bring him in to be checked just to make sure. Give it a little while though and see if he stops mentioning it, if not get it checked out.

Growing pains is when the bones grow faster than the muscles, and the muscles are stretched for a time, and they hurt. And since kids do most of their growing at night, that's when it hurts the most. That's also why legs seem to hurt the most - the do the most growing (as a proportion) from toddlerhood to young adulthood.

My sister had them, and my son gets them when he's going through a growth spurt. I rub his legs and give him tylenol.

I had growing pains, and I also had leg cramps. Make sure they take vitamins, and advil if needed for pain. Also stretching the muscles helps too.

Lisa - Mom to her spunky little Scarlette

I just asked my dr. about this becuase my sons' shins hurt fairly often. He confirmed that they are real, despite a study a few decades ago that said they were a myth--a new study confirme they actually do exist.
We've done Motrin, but it usually goes away. The Dr. said that is likely the problem especailly if the pain switches sides and if you child is very active.
Good Luck! I like the heating pad idea.

Brooke Romney is an unbalanced mom of three young boys who constantly has too much to do, and too little time. She writes the Mom Beat column for The Gilbert Republic.

Thanks all - I really appreciate all the feed back. My son had pain again last night so I'll try Motrin or Tylenol and a heating pad.

Susie is a discussion leader in the east valley for arizonamoms.com. She has two sons, ages 6 and 2.

My kids have experienced them at various times. I remember the growing pains when I was a kid. They are real. If he really complains, I would try ibprofin.

soccermom