1. When Johnny Cries
Sometimes children wake up in the middle of the night crying and complaining about throbbing leg pain. If your child has been particularly active and they are in a growing phase of development, perhaps the pains can be attributed to growing pains and do not require any major concern. Most children with growing pains complain of tenderness in their thighs and knees. You will see a slight redness in the area and it will be sore to the touch.
2. Wait it Out
The major growing stages in children occur from the ages of three and five and then again when you can really see the changes in your kids from ages eight to twelve. Most children will experience growing pains sporadically and usually at the end of the day or first thing in the morning. This phenomenon is evident in about 40 to 50 percent of healthy, flourishing children. You'll notice the pain decreases when you go shopping for new shoes and clothes and have to buy bigger sizes.
3. When It's Serious
Growing pains are thought to occur in the muscles and will respond to touch. If your child reacts negatively when you or the doctor manipulate the affected area, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. Growing pains is not a medical diagnosis and is the tag given to a condition with no other explanations. Doing blood work and taking x-rays can relieve your anxiety if you think your child may be experiencing something besides growing pains.
4. Soothing Relief
Kids going through growth spurts should not be criticized or scolded for crying about pain one day and running around perfectly fine the next. Instead, be understanding and trust that your child is not faking an injury. A simple massage in the area affected with the unexplained pain can soothe the uncomfortable strain. Soak your child's leg in warm water or let her take a warm bath when she complains. Heating pads and stretching have also been known to provide relief.
5. Let it Grow
There really is no prevention for growing pains. You don't want to stifle your kids during these developmental years and keep them from rigorous activity that sometimes precipitates the nighttime aches and pains. Sometimes the only cure for growing pains is to literally grow out of them. Adults may revisit some of those earlier throbbing evenings after engaging in a new sport or beginning anew exercise routine. As always, this pain too shall pass.
