Growing Pains

What Are Growing Pains?

Growing Pains are characterised by a persistent or intermittent throbbing or aching pain in the legs, often being felt in one's calves, the centre of the thighs, or the backside of the knee.

Who Is at Risk of Growing Pains?

Growing Pains are most commonly seen in younger children, and more commonly in males than females. Growth Pains can last until the end of puberty.

What Is the Impact of Growing Pains?

Growing Pains will impact someone experiencing them by:
  • Causing mild to moderate pain or discomfort
  • Disrupting sleep if occurring at night
  • May cause abdominal discomfort or headaches
Growing Pains more commonly occur in the late afternoon or at night.

Causes of Growing Pains Symptoms of Growing Pains

Growing Pains can often be causeless, but may occasionally be linked to:

 

  • Poor posture, specifically to do with standing or sitting posture, putting a strain on the legs, such as flat footedness
  • Muscular strain due to higher than usual physical activity
  • Emotional upset, which can sometimes be a trigger for aches and pains

 

How Are Growing Pains Diagnosed?

Growing Pains are diagnosed by the lack of other conditions, such as an injury or infection, or by identifying issues which may be causes, most common issues with posture.

How Are Growing Pains Treated?

The treatment for more persistent and regular Growing Pains often relies on the identification of an underlying issue, commonly to do with posture, which can be treated with therapy or through some form of supports such as orthotics.
 
Other methods of treating and alleviating the pain are to the use of normal pain relief methods such as:
  • Heating pads
  • Pain medication such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, Benadryl, etc)
  • Rubbing or stretching the affected area gently before the suspected onset of pain, such as in the early afternoon

Prevention of the Growing Pains

Growing Pains may occur without a specific cause, and hence it is difficult to properly prevent them.

However, in the case where there is an underlying cause, treatment of this issue will often prevent Growing Pains from occurring.

What if Growing Pains Is Untreated?

Growing Pains will most likely disappear after some time if treated or otherwise. However, if pain continues to be present for longer periods of time, it is advised to seek medical advice as there may be another underlying issue.
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