Growing Pains

[Rose in BC]

Anyone have any experience with their children suffering from growing pains? My 11 yr dd seems to be experiencing this right now to the point where she's moaning, almost crying.

We went through this a couple of years ago with her but it seems to be happening again.

Any advice, other than taking tylenol? I'm assuming these are growing pains. It's mostly her lower limbs that are affected.

(I wish my ds 10 would experience some growing pains -- well not the pains, just the growing! lol!)

[Karen sn]

You have a mineral deficiency on your hands.
Go to a REAL healthfood store (not Walmart, not GNC, not Walgreens) and get that kid some calcium and magnesium.
Enzymatic Therapy makes a good blend - very absorbable - called Kreb Cycle Chelates. Take 2 a day. These are good because they contain trace minerals that make the calcium work better.

[Rose in BC]

You have a mineral deficiency on your hands.
Go to a REAL healthfood store (not Walmart, not GNC, not Walgreens) and get that kid some calcium and magnesium.
Enzymatic Therapy makes a good blend - very absorbable - called Kreb Cycle Chelates. Take 2 a day. These are good because they contain trace minerals that make the calcium work better.

When I did take her a couple years back, the answer was "growing pains", take tylenol. I'm going to investigate the mineral deficiency which I think might make sense.

Thanks,

Rose

[LG Gone Wild]

It wasn't until dh and I had children that I had even heard of such a thing. It wouldn't be a bad idea to supplement. I guess we are just a gruff bunch because we just tell him to quit whining and go back to bed.:tongue_smilie:

Yeah, it is usually the knee, lower leg or a wrist.

[Calming Tea]

when I was a kid and I had them SO BAD I would be in full tears, and I was a TOUGH kid...I often endured pain without even so much as a grumble!

My growing pains were so bad I felt like my knees and legs were aching, a horrible, deep strong ache.

My mom tried bananas and extra milk, but I am excited to hear about mineral deficiency because both of my kids have had growing pains, too.

Also there is something called Aschgunstlaten, I don't know how it's spelled, where the tendons grow more slowly than the bones. This is much more rare and usually in adolescence, from what I understand.

[Rose in BC]

It wasn't until dh and I had children that I had even heard of such a thing. It wouldn't be a bad idea to supplement. I guess we are just a gruff bunch because we just tell him to quit whining and go back to bed.:tongue_smilie:

Yeah, it is usually the knee, lower leg or a wrist.

Usually when I do this (and I do do that) my kid ends up with some strange disease and I end up feeling like a bad mom.

Anyway, I've been ignoring her for awhile now but today she was really whimpering so I showed some compassion.

Rose

[Gretchen in NJ]

I had growing pains as a child. Both my dds suffered from them as well. Come to think of it, we haven't had any growing pains (I mean my children of course. I'm fully grown.:)) since we started drinking raw milk two years ago.

Gretchen

[ereks mom]

Also there is something called Aschgunstlaten, I don't know how it's spelled, where the tendons grow more slowly than the bones. This is much more rare and usually in adolescence, from what I understand.

It's really not a "disease" as much as a "syndrome" -- and fortunately one that they grow out of. My nephew had it, and so did ER, when he was growing FAST, about age 12.

Here is a Wikipedia link for you that will explain it a LOT better than I can: Osgood-Schlatter disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood-Schlatter_disease)

Also see this site: http://www.mcnicholaskneeclinic.co.uk/pdfs/osgoodschlatters.pdf

[PrairieAir]

I never had growing pains as a kid. Maybe that's why I'm still so short;) Dh says he had awful growing pains and several of my kids have had bad growing pains as well. Right now 11yodd is having trouble with them. She's grown anywhere from 4 to 6 inches in the last year judging from the length of the pants I bought her this fall. We have been giving her a good multivitamin and calcium, magnesium, and zinc. She is very faithful to take her vitamins. It does help some, but she still has days with a good bit of pain. We've asked her doctor about it, and he agrees that it is just growing pains and that some kids experience them worse than others.

[Whisperlily]

It's really not a "disease" as much as a "syndrome" -- and fortunately one that they grow out of.

Sorry, this just made me laugh...:smilielol5: Of course they'll grow out of "growing pains" *giggle*

On the serious side, thank you for the links and information. One of my sons suffers from growing pains as well, and I appreciate you taking the time to answer...

[Perry]

I had terrible growing pains as a child, and one of my dd's has them. Calcium/magnesium was not helpful here at all. Ibuprofen typically works much better than Tylenol.

[Rose in BC]

While I tend to be matter of fact with pains and illnesses it was sad to see her whimper today.

Thanks for all the comments.

[Tracey in TX]

DS (11) also has growing pains. My others don't--even DD who is younger, but taller. We give him extra protein and have him take hot baths w/ jets. It relieves some of the pain. My heart breaks b/c he just whimpers :(

[RebeccaC]

It's really not a "disease" as much as a "syndrome" -- and fortunately one that they grow out of. My nephew had it, and so did ER, when he was growing FAST, about age 12.

Here is a Wikipedia link for you that will explain it a LOT better than I can: Osgood-Schlatter disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood-Schlatter_disease)

Also see this site: http://www.mcnicholaskneeclinic.co.uk/pdfs/osgoodschlatters.pdf

:iagree: This is what our doc said about it when we asked him Osgood-Schlatter_disease. What he had us do was give Ibuprofen and either a warm bath or a hot water bottle. When my boys (who are around 6 feet tall now) get a leg ache at night they take care of it themselves. When I was a kid my mom used Ben-gay or a heating pad and the little orange children's aspirin.

[Canada_Mom]

We've had a lot of success with adding a high quality liquid calcium/magnesium supplement to dd's diet. It's not an instant fix like ibuprofen is but certainly it does make the pain go away. If we stay with the supplements the pain doesn't come back, but she will complain of leg pain if we take her off the calcium for a longer period of time.

We see a naturpath regularly. According to him, growing pains are not a normal part of growing up and should not be present if the child has good stores of calcium and magnesium. Again, this is NOT my opinion, just what I have been told. I take this with a grain of salt because I don't think our naturpath has the answer to *everything* He is very knowledgeable however and I do trust his opinion.

[Jean in Newcastle]

:iagree: I agree with the calcium. At least try it. My dc both had problems. When I put them on calcium (or cal-mag : the two minerals work together) it really helped them. BTW, it takes awhile for the calcium to "kick in" esp. if there is a deficiency going on because the levels have to build up in the body. When I forgot a few months ago to give my dc calcium, they started to have pains again so there is a definite correlation for my kids.

When they were having the pains, one thing that really helped them were epsom salt baths.

[cricket1178]

I had growing pains when I was a child and my dd has experienced them as well. I've really never known "why" we had them. This article explained it well. I usually just give her ibuprofen. Thanks for the link.

Here is a Wikipedia link for you that will explain it a LOT better than I can: Osgood-Schlatter disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood-Schlatter_disease)

Also see this site: http://www.mcnicholaskneeclinic.co.uk/pdfs/osgoodschlatters.pdf

[A.J. at J.A.]

Thank you for the link to the article. DH had that problem growing up and 9yo DS is having random complaints lately that sound like growing pains. (Shoulder, knee, ankle, leg pains). I will have him do the stretching from the Osgood-Schlatters pdf and have DH look into the Cal-Mag supplement.

In the meantime-we'll continue to treat it with ibuprofen.

Angela

[Mrs Mungo]

The supplements are a great suggestion. My middle daughter complains about growing pains in her feet. Definitely looking into the supplement thing.

[Oak Knoll Mom]

When I would have growing pains, my mom would tie a sock around the spot that hurt. Yep, thats right, a sock. I'm guessing the slight pressure acted like a mini-massage or something.:D

[GailV]

I had terrible growing pains when I was young. I was still having them, although milder, when I was in my 30s. I finally figured out that I was reacting to certain foods -- when I cut out most corn, including corn syrup, the pains stopped.

I think the reaction to corn wasn't the only thing causing the pain when I was young, but I suspect it exacerbated it. For the record, I also reacted to milk (it made me itchy), so I was probably low in minerals like calcium.

[Canada_Mom]

When I would have growing pains, my mom would tie a sock around the spot that hurt. Yep, thats right, a sock. I'm guessing the slight pressure acted like a mini-massage or something.:D

Totally off topic, but this reminds me of a friend of mine whose mom used to tie sliced potatoes to the bottom of her feet with socks whenever she had a fever... she swears it helps bring down the fever every time... :confused:

[Mrs. H.]

Dh had terrible growing pains as a child. His mother would run him a hot bath with Epsom salts, then massage his legs while he ate bananas and drank milk.

So far, none of ours have had growing pains. (I wish there was a fingers crossed smiley)

[Rose in BC]

The supplements are a great suggestion. My middle daughter complains about growing pains in her feet. Definitely looking into the supplement thing.

Her feet are another source of constant pain. I never thought growing pains could affect feet.

Lots to think about.

Rose

[Rose in BC]

I generally do not run to the doctor for every little thing. Does this warrant a trip just to make sure there's nothing I might be missing?

Rose

[Mom2legomaniacs]

I had Osgoods as a child. I was in middle school and experienced a big growth spurt. I have the bone sticking out thing on my knees as a result of that. At the time, I remember going to the doctor and his telling me to back off from a lot of physical activity for 6 weeks? I got to go to the library instead of doing PE at school, which was great. (hated PE at school) And I took a rest from the tumbling aspects of the gymnastics team and focused more on upper body and bars work for a while.

I never drank milk as a kid and at the time I don't recall extra supplements. But we ate a lot of veggies from our garden and well rounded meals with fruits as well. I don't know much more than that.

But my son is complaining of "growing pains" here and there. I will have to remember to try some supplements with him since we don't drink milk.