The reason for the appearance of leg pain in children is not clear. Growing pains, which are characteristic, occur in both sides of the body (mostly in the legs), typically at night, sometimes after a strenuous day. They completely disappear in the morning, and there are no associated symptoms. These pains respond well to heat, massage, or mild pain relievers like Acetaminophen/Paracetamol/Ibuprofen.
The phenomenon may recur in the same child at different times. Therefore, the following aims to clarify which pains do not fit into the category of growing pains:
- If the pain is in a specific and constant location, does not go away in the morning, or persists after hugging/warming up/short rest, it might be due to another cause—especially if it is accompanied by localized warmth or swelling, overall health decline, loss of appetite, and if the pain is getting worse over time, or if it resulted from an injury during the day.
Remember, growing pains are a "diagnosis of exclusion"—only if we rule out all other reasonable causes can we define the pain as such.
If you are unsure about the nature of your child's pain, consult your pediatrician or pediatric orthopedist.
It's a good idea to keep a pain journal for a few days (when the pain occurred, where, how long it lasted, and what, if anything, alleviated it). This will facilitate the assessment of the condition.