Growing Pains - Irving,TX

Rubbing them with rubbing alcohol will increase circulation and allow his legs to loosen up some. My son gets them in the middle of the night and I give him tylenol as well.

It also could be his mattress or his shoes. My son was doing this and the problem resolved when we bought a higher quality mattress and some stride-rite tennis shoes for him.

My daughter is 6 y/o and we've dealed with this for YEARS!! I've been told it's growing pains too. When she has "episodes" we give her Tylenol/Motrin about 1 hour before bedtime. We also use the Energizing Mint Bliss Lotion from Mary Kay with towels heated in the dryer. We wrap her etntire leg from hip to toes and try to secure it with string -- nothing too tight, but tight enough to keep it on. This has helped us greatly. Sometimes it works all night and sometimes it doesn't. Usually after the 1st or 2nd night, she's able to sleep all night. I hope this helps. Good Luck.

All 3 of my girls went through this. Growing pains are real. When girls would wake up with this I would give them some Tylenol and a warm bath until the Tylenol kicks in. Then your son should sleep better.

Good morning K., Grandma do I feel your pain!! My granddaughter as well has this same problem. We have taken hot baths wee hours of the morning. I give her motrin to take away the pain. Sometimes if it happens nightly I try to remember to give her the motrin before bed time. Can give tylenol but motrin last longer. Also I put a heating pad on low for her if I don't feel like doing the hot bath. My daughter wich is now 24 had the same problem as a small child. As well the doc said it was growing pains. I so wanted her to stop growing,lol!! The wee hours of screaming in pain. so strange though my 3 boys never complained of pains in there legs. It must be a girl thing. Do try some pain reliever and some heat. Oh I even used some muscle rub. Actually all I had was some baby vicks and messaged it in her leg where the pain was. Good Luck and God Bless.

D.

I don't know much about growing pains, because I didn't have them but if it is leg cramps, which it may, be take a bar of soap and hold it against the leg where it is cramping, it will calm the cramp fast! I know it sounds like and old wives tale, and it is but it works, my Mom has terrible leg cramps often and she keeps a small hotel size bar of soap under her sheet by her feet when she sleeps, and when her leg starts cramping she just reaches over and touches it with her foot and it relieves the cramp immediately! I have tried it too and it works! so you might try that, if is doesn't help your son it probably isn't leg cramps.

I do remember my dad using rubbing alcohol on me as a kid, when I had aches and pains but at 5'4" I highly doubt it was growing pains! I do remember that it felt good and it was always a special time with my dad, but I think it got to where I would do anything to have that special time with him :)

good luck!

K.,

I would find a new dr. That sounds more serious then just growing pains. Make sure he is drinking plenty of water. I know, my legs do that at night if I haven't had enough water...and I'm 27 years old.

This sounds odd to me. Although, I have heard of growing pains. He might be having leg cramps and more bananas might help. However, the quivering is odd. I would definetly watch it and if it continues maybe get it checked-out. I have a 2 1/2 year-old girl and we have not experienced this as of yet.

Please try a good children's chiropractor. I am not sure where you live but ours is in Hurst. Lifetime family wellness center. Dr billy bob is great. And its set up for kids with toys everywhere and they do the adjustments while the kiddoes play.

Good Luck

Hi K.,

My daughter has frequent leg cramps at night, too, mostly in her calves and knees. I use the bar of soap trick. The Chicago Tribune did a story on this a while back and several doctors around that area tell their patients to try it before they do anything remotely invasive.

I also use a homeopathic product called Hyland's Leg Cramps. It is a cream. My daughter really likes that. If the cramp continues, I follow with a hot water bottle. You can find this product at Central Market, Sunflower Shoppe, Whole Foods, and probably Sprouts. Walgreens carries some Hylands products, but I'm not sure if they stock this one. Here's what it looks like:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=33736&...

Over the counter pain medicine usually does little to help a leg cramp. By the time the medicine has been absorbed by the system, the cramp is usually over. Since the bar of soap is under the sheet, I rarely have to get up in the night with my daughter anymore.

Good luck!

M.

K.,

If he's slapping and pulling at his let it must be REALLY hurting. It *might* be "just growing pains", but I think I might have and orthopedic doctor look at him for peace of mind. Then, I'd probably give him a dose of advil before bedtime, increase his water intake, and get him on a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement.

As a child I ached a LOT. I was a tall lanky kid and my joints hurt all the time. My daughters were both tall and lanky too, until my oldest leveled out in Junior High (at 5'3 she's the midget of the family...LOL). We found that Gymnastics helped the cramping and joint aches. THe pediatrician suggested it because the stretching encouraged better circulation. I think they have classes as early as 2 years old. We started them when my youngest was three. I hope he feels better soon!

T.

I have heard that these pains can be helped with increased potassium, as well, so you could try feeding him more bananas and other foods high in potassium. None of my children have complained of these pains, however, I can remember feeling them when I was growing up, if that is any consolation. They were behind my knees, on the backs of my legs and quite a nuisance. My mom always just told me they were growing pains, too, and eventually I stopped having them.

K.:

I would get a second opinion. It sounds too severe for just growing pains.

Jen

potassium is great but not the only thing that helps. If you are low on Calcium you will get bad leg cramps especially if you are growing. I always get them bad when I am pregnant as well. You can increase his calcium intake via whole food such as milk and cheese or give him a childrens supplement that includes magnesium. One that has a whole food source is best. You will find this will help greatly!

K.,

Give your son more milk/dairy. If that doesn't help with his leg pains, then keep taking him to doctor after doctor after doctor, specialist after specialist after specialist until you find the answer! Don't give up. It is NOT growing pains. Something is wrong.

I've come from a long line of family males who have suffered with growing pains,to include my older brother, my son and all three nephews. What worked well in our family as well as when I was a nurse were warm / hot epsom salt baths and lotioned muscle massage just before bed.

K.,
I would take him to a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon and have them check out his hips. My sister had "growing pains" as a child and cried with them. When she was in High School, they still hurt her and she went to a chiropracter and found that she had a disease in her hips. It caused her lots of pain in the knee area but was mainly from her hips. Hip dysplasia is what she has. I don't think your grandson has it but you really need to have his hips and legs x-rayed so that you can rule out any serious issues.

Just to encourage you. My daughter,now 5,has the same complaints at night and slaps, rubs and screams too. It's in her shin. It's terribly frustrating I know becuase you feel so helpless. I usually give her Children's Tylonol (or other pain reliever) and then begin to run her shin firmly with lotion. I am going to try some of these other tricks moms have suggested...especially the alcohol and the "tingly" lotion.

I know how important your sleep is. I'm struggling with getting all I need too. My heart goes out to your K..

S.

Hi K., it doesn't sound like leg cramps to me. It could be growing pains but I would take him to a Pedi. Rheumatologist. It's not uncommon to have arthritis at an early age. Not to scare you but there are several things it could be. Even a orthopedist might be a good idea. I'm much older but my arthritis started in my feet & legs and have a few friends that their grandchildren were diagnoised at 2. It needs to be checked out and a simple blood test can tell. I will be praying for him. God bless you & your family.