what causes growing pains

Growing pains, after all, are the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain in children, with up to 37 percent of children impacted. Dr. Florence Nwofor answered. These pains usually make your child’s legs hurt. What causes growing pains? But they can hurt. Doctors don't believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains stop when kids stop growing. This overuse can come from normal childhood activity, such as … Some kids have a lot of pain, others do not. Make a donation. Growing pains aren't a disease. It is often mistakenly thought that the pain is caused by the growth of bones. Not all children have growing pains. Maybe you have flat feet or knock knees. what causes growing pains? Despite their name, there is no evidence that they are related to growth spurts. Orthopedic injuries and growing pains. Call your child's doctor or nurse if leg pain occurs with the following symptoms. But below are some of the common triggers believed to cause growing pains: Intense physical activity such as running, swimming, climbing or jumping during the day could tire the muscles and cause pain later in … Aspirin use in children has been linked to a life-threatening disease called Reye's syndrome. These are contributing factors of growing pains. Growing pains are extremely common, but physicians still don’t know what causes them. Overuse from activities such as running, climbing and jumping can be hard on a child's musculoskeletal system. American Family Physician, July 15, 2006, vol 74: pp 294-300. In general, growing pains are felt in both legs, especially in the front of the thighs, back of legs (calves), or behind the knees. Growing pains are musculoskeletal pains that affect some children. Causes of Growing Pains Despite the name "growing pains," there is no firm evidence that growing pains are linked to growth spurts. 2010;156:838. The most common cause of the pain is likely muscle fatigue. Doctors can usually diagnose growing pains without having to order any tests. Growing Pains are real, but no one seems to know why exactly kids get them. Running, climbing or jumping during the day might increase the risk of leg pain at night. They're slightly more common in girls than in boys. Growing pains involve your child’s musculoskeletal system, meaning his or her muscles and bones. It causes bone pain in the legs that feel like the growing pains you experienced during childhood. What causes growing pains? But there's no evidence that a child's growth is painful.Growing pains don't usually happen where growth is occurring or during times of rapid growth. Indian Pediatrics. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Growing pains don't usually happen where growth is occurring or during times of rapid growth. Growing pains can start as early as the toddler years, or they can start later in childhood. What Are Growing Pains? All rights reserved. Growing pains are a type of musculoskeletal pain that usually affects children. The most likely cause of growing pains is muscle pain caused by overuse during the day. The pains can be hereditary and have no clear cause. You probably won't have to go to the doctor for them. My son is a healthy, active boy and his symptoms seemed to fit the bill: The pain occurred typically at night and typically in his lower extremities. The exact cause of the growing pain is unknown. It is possible the pains are due to the effect of lots of activity on muscles and bones. Severe enough to interfere with your child's normal activities, Accompanied by other signs or symptoms, such as swelling, redness, tenderness, fever, limping, rash, loss of appetite, weakness or fatigue. But muscle pain at night from overuse during the day is thought to be the most likely cause of growing pains. Usually they happen when kids are between the ages of 3 and 5 or 8 and 12. Some children have growing pains on and off for many years, but usually they go by mid-adolescence. But muscle pain at night from overuse during the day is thought to be the most likely cause of growing pains. Doctors don't know why children have growing pains. That theory has been disproven, but doctors don’t know what does cause them. Lehman TJA. It's been suggested that growing pains may be linked to restless legs syndrome. Excess accumulation of metabolic wastes in the body contributes to fatigue-related growth pain. What Causes Them? Accessed Aug. 3, 2016. Growing pains may be fairly common, but the truth is that no one is quite sure why they occur. The pain usually occurs in the late afternoon or evenings. Doctors don't believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains stop when kids stop growing. Long, S.S., editor, Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 3rd edition, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2008. It's inefficient for individual employees and the organization as a whole to be living from day to day, never knowing what to expect. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Most kids outgrow growing pains within a few years. Palo Alto Medical Foundation web site: "Growing Pains.". Instead, growing pains may simply be muscle aches due to intense childhood activities that can wear your child's muscles out. It is important to rule out any other possible causes of the pain before making the diagnosis of growing pains. Journal of Pediatrics. Pain that is only in one leg may be a sign of a more serious condition. When the affected bones are palpated, they are most sensitive to the touch at the middle of the bone rather than at the growing region or at the joints. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. You can make your child more comfortable by putting a warm heating pad on the sore muscles and massaging them. Yet bones grow slowly, even during growth spurts, and this slow growth does not cause pain. Growing pains are often described as an ache or throb in the legs — often in the front of the thighs, the calves or behind the knees. Ask about the appropriate dose for your child. Vaccine updates, safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter, New Year Special -  40% off – Mayo Clinic Diet Online. Doctors don't know why children have growing pains. Some children with these pains have a low pain threshold and may also have headaches and abdominal pain. Growing pains usually occur in both legs, in the calves, front of thighs, and behind the knees. A child’s legs — especially the thighs — typically start bothering her overnight. Usually they happen when kids are between the ages of 3 and 5 or 8 and 12. What Are Growing Pains? We do not know the cause of growing pains, but there are several theories. Growing pains may be linked to a lowered pain threshold or, in some cases, to psychological issues. Blood work and X-rays are usually not needed in this case. According to the NHS, growing pains are not actually caused by growing. People commonly assume that growing pains are caused by bones stretching, but even during a growth spurt bones grow really slowly, too slowly to cause pain. Although growing pains often strike in late afternoon or early evening before bed, pain can sometimes wake a sleeping child. Growing pains are not the same as a growth spurt. There’s a common misconception that there’s nothing that can be done when growing pains develop and that they’re a natural part of ageing in kids, but this isn’t the case at all. This is why it is important to see the doctor if you think your child has growing pains or any limb pain. Treatment of growing pains depends on how much pain your child has. Growing pains aren't a disease. The leg pains may hurt so much that they may wake your child from sleep. The pains can persist for a couple of weeks before disappearing altogether. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Developmental Delays in Children Ages 3-5, Placing a warm cloth or heating pad on the sore leg. The cause of growing pains is unknown. One study found that children with these pains have less bone strength than the normal population. Growing pains are different for everyone. Experiences of Others "Growing pains" in adults can be unsettling. You probably won't have to go to the doctor for them. It's been suggested that growing pains may be linked to restless legs syndrome. It's also important to remember that growing pains affect muscles, not joints. Bone growth isn’t actually painful. At this time, no one knows what causes growing pains. Call your health care provider if this happens. Usually both legs hurt. Specializes in Pediatrics. You probably won't have to go to the doctor for them. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Sometimes they happen more often if: Maybe you are really tired because you've been doing lots of sport or running. This content does not have an English version. Are achy legs keeping your child awake at night? Growing pains. The pain doesn't occur every day. The prevailing theory is that the muscle cramps/spasms known as growing pains are actually linked to intense levels of activity common to childhood and subsequent over-use of the muscles, leaving them prone to cramping. Studies suggest that children who have growing pains may be more sensitive to pain. Kliegman, R.M., Behrman, R.E., Jenson, H.B., Stanton, B.F., editors, Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th edition, Saunders Elsevier, 2010. in the muscles, not the joints. What Are Growing Pains? Growing pains often strike in the late afternoon or early evening and disappear by morning. Kliegman RM, et al. The cause of growing pains is unclear. They aren't symptoms of growing pains, but your doctor will need to examine your child and run tests: And of course, call your doctor if you have any other concerns. In: Berkowitz's Pediatrics: A Primary Care Approach. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Many children with these pains are very flexible (hypermobile) with flat feet. A doctor can usually diagnose growing pains by examining your child and asking questions about their medical history and symptoms. No-one knows what causes growing pains, as nothing can be found wrong with the legs when someone is seen by a doctor. RELATED: Charting Your Baby's Growth Spurts During Their First Year. Growing pains are painful and restricting medical conditions that affect children most often between the ages of 8 and 16 years. These activities include running, jumping, and climbing. The pains are common in … With growing pains, the pains involve the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones). Growing pains seem to be more common after a kid has a particularly full day of sports. 1 doctor answer. Consult your child's doctor if you're concerned about your child's leg pain or the pain is: The cause of growing pains is unknown. They're also more common in children with flexible joints (double jointed). Growing pains disappear in the morning. After growing pains start, a child may have them off and on for 1 or 2 years. They tend to strike again in kids aged 8-12. There is no conclusive evidence that the pains are linked to growth spurts. Doctors don't believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains stop when kids stop growing. This causes growth pain due to “musculoskeletal fatigue”. You probably won't have to go to the doctor for them. Growing pains aren't a disease. But they can hurt. Be careful not to burn the. Sometimes leg pain may be caused by underlying conditions that can be treated. Bone growth hasn't been proved to cause pain. The intensity of the pain varies from child to child, and most kids don't have the pains every day. The pain or discomfort caused by what is known as growing pains may cause sleepless nights for children and worry for parents. The good news is this type of cancer is easily treated with radiation and chemo and the prognosis is good as long as the cancer is confined to the bone. Not all types of leg pain in children are growing pains. The pain is usually: an aching or throbbing in both legs. What causes growing pains? Learn what we do know here on SciShow Quick Question! There’s also little evidence to link “growing” pains with actual growth spurts. This content does not have an Arabic version. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Growing pains aren't a disease. Doctors don't believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains stop when kids stop growing. Uziel Y, et al. Despite the name "growing pains," there is no firm evidence that growing pains are linked to growth spurts. 2014;51:379. Sometimes the pain awakens a child in the middle of the night. They usually do not interfere with the child's ability to play sports or be active. Sever’s disease is a common heel injury in adolescents. But they can hurt. They are common in children between 3 and 12 years old and are typically not serious. 20th ed. Sometimes the pain can be so severe that it causes a middle-of-the-night wake up. All rights reserved. A few theories have been suggested as potential causes, though. Maybe you keep sitting in an uncomfortable way. Types. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. But there's no evidence that a child's growth is painful. Accessed Aug. 3, 2016. Growing pains don’t occur during periods of more rapid growth and … They do not seem to be caused by growing, so 'growing pains' is not an accurate term. Berkowitz CD. After growing pains start, a child may have them off and on for 1 or 2 years. There's no specific treatment for growing pains. Despite the name, growth does not cause growing pains. in the evening or night-time (and goes away by morning) Growing pains are more common in active children and can come on after playing a lot of sports. While their name suggests the pain is caused by growing, the cause of growing pains isn’t yet clear. While the cause of … Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. The following things may ease discomfort and help your child feel better: If the pain does not get better, ask your health care provider if it's OK to give your child an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Growing pains can start as early as the toddler years, or they can start later in childhood. Growing pains are cramping, achy muscle pains that some preschoolers and preteens feel in both legs. These aches are probably not related to growth. This pain often occurs in the front of the thighs, the calves or behind the knees. When staff repeatedly is spending time dealing with short-term crises, it often is caused by a lack of long-range planning or the absence of a strategic plan. Despite the name, no firm evidence exists that the growth of bones causes pain. Growing pains usually start in early childhood, around age 3 or 4. They may be experienced for months or even years. Growing pains may sound like an old wives’ tale. It comes and goes. But it may cause your child to wake up in the middle of the night. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Five-year outcome of children with "growing pains": Correlations with pain threshold. Psychological factor: Psychosomatic pains occur in the stomach, accompanied by anxiety induced headaches in few children. And they do not cause limping or fever. What Are The Causes? © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. Sometimes teens have growing pains. What causes growing pains? Growing pains usually cause an aching or throbbing feeling in the legs. If your child has growing pains, the doctor will not see anything abnormal during the physical exam. What Are Growing Pains? Various theories about the cause have been tested in studies, but none has been proven. Growing pains are common in preschool and school-age children. But they can hurt. Some children may also experience abdominal pain or headaches during episodes of growing pains. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. They may have growing pains. If your child seems perfectly fine in the morning, don't be quick to think they were faking. Most kids do not have pain every day. Musculoskeletal pain syndromes. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Children who have growing pains are also more likely to have headaches and abdominal pain. When deciding whether to call the doctor, it's important to remember that growing pains are almost always felt in both legs. Usually they happen when kids are between the ages of 3 and 5 or 8 and 12. © 1998-2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Growing pains can come and go. 5th ed. Although these pains are called growing pains, there's no evidence that growth hurts. Growing pains tend to affect both legs and occur at night, and may even wake a child from sleep. Overuse from activities such as running, climbing and jumping can be hard on a child's musculoskeletal system. Three of the most common disorders to cause growing pains in puppies and young dogs include: Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy What causes growing pains. What causes growing pains? In some cases, though, your doctor may order blood tests or X-rays to help rule out other problems that may be causing your child's signs and symptoms. Mohanta MP. Never give aspirin to a child. Cause is unknown: A common musculoskeletal complaint in pediatrics , usually occurs at night in a child with normal examination and no symptom during the day. The pain is usually felt in the late afternoon and evening, right before dinner time, and at bedtime. What are the causes of growing pains? Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2014. Junnila, J.L. Sometimes teens have growing pains. People used to believe that growing pains flared up when a child’s bones grew at a faster rate than his tendons. Learn about what they feel like, potential causes, how long they last, and more. Not all children have growing pains. Growing pains: Practitioners' dilemma. Growing pains are more common in active children. Usually they happen when kids are between the ages of 3 and 5 or 8 and 12.

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