What are growing pains?

Growing pains are a type of pain that children get, usually in their legs. They usually affect children aged 3-12 years.

We don’t really know what causes growing pains – but they’re not caused by growing! One theory is that they’re related to exercise, but this isn’t always the case. In most children with growing pains, nothing obvious brings them on.

Some children with growing pains might also get stomach pain and headaches. For these children, growing pains might be related to stress or anxiety.

Symptoms of growing pains

If your child has growing pains, they might say they have an aching or a burning sensation in both legs – in the muscles of the thighs, calves or feet. The pains can also happen in the arms or other parts of the body, although this is much less common.

Growing pains usually happen at night and can sometimes wake your child. They usually go away by morning.

Growing pains are also common in the daytime but are rarely bad enough to get in the way of daily activity.

In most children, the pain or discomfort tends to come and go. It’s hard to know when growing pains are going to happen.

A child with growing pains will usually let you massage the painful area. This can help you tell the difference between growing pains and a more serious condition. Children whose leg pains have a more serious cause usually won’t let anyone touch the painful area.

When your child should see a doctor

You should take your child to see your GP if you think there’s something more serious than growing pains going on. For example:

• The pains are very bad, are getting worse, or don’t go away.
• Your child is limping or avoids walking or playing sport.
• The painful body part is tender, feels hot or is swollen.
• The pain is in the joints or is in just one leg.
• Your child seems drowsy and unwell or has fevers or night sweats.
• Your child has sudden weight loss or a change in appetite.

Tests for growing pains

Your child won’t usually need any tests. Occasionally your GP might order an X-ray or blood test to make sure there’s no other cause for the pain, like a fracture or inflammation.

How are growing pains treated?

There’s no specific treatment for growing pains. You can tell your child that the pains aren’t serious and they’ll go away.

Massaging or placing a heat pack over the affected area might help. Muscle stretches and a warm bath before going to bed might also help. Occasionally your GP might suggest you give your child some mild pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen .

There’s no need to stop your child from doing physical activity like sports or playing outside.

Growing pains usually sort themselves out over time.

Can you prevent growing pains?

You can’t do anything to prevent growing pains.