How Serious are Growing Pains and What you Can Do About Them

Toddlers often start complaining about pains in their legs and knees. Their calf muscles often feel knotted up. This kind of leg pain in children is part of what is called, ‘Growing Pains.’ These pains are part of growing up and occur mostly due to the strenuous activity during daytime.

Other than the above, here are a few more indicators to help you identify growing pains:

• Pain in muscles not joints.


• Pain in both legs, in front of the thigh, calf muscles, back of knee.


• Possible spasm in muscles.


• Pains waking the child up from sleep.


• Pains appearing at the end of the day.


• Lack of fever and other symptoms of sickness.
  

In all other cases, as in the following, it is advisable to call in your doctor:

• Swollen joints; inability to swiftly move limbs.


• Warmth and redness in joints.


• Pains persisting for more than 24 hours.


• Sever limb pain causing the child to limp.
  

Here are some suggestions to ease your toddlers’ pains:

• Stretch their feet following any complaint of pain.


• Gently massage their calf muscles.


• If possible, apply heat to the affected area.


• Give them Acetaminophen and/or Tylenol.

Disclaimer: The above information is commonsense reflection drawn from general experience. If you are looking for expert medical advice, please consult your doctor.