Your Child's Hospital Journey

Growing Pains

Growing pains are common in Children. The cause in unknown but not deemed to be caused by growth, they can run in families.

Growing pains can come and go over months, even years.

The pain is usually:

• An aching or throbbing, cramp like pain in both legs.
• In the muscles, not the joints.
• In the evening or night-time (and goes away by morning).

Growing pains are more common in active children and can come on after playing a lot of sports.

They're also more common in children with flexible joints (double jointed). The typical age range is 3 to 12 years.

Things you can do to ease Growing pains.

• Gently massage your child's legs.
• Put a covered hot water bottle (or heat pack) on the painful area.
• Give children's ibuprofen or paracetamol to ease the pain.
• Encourage them to wear supportive shoes, such as trainers, during the day.
• Give them a warm bath before bedtime.

See you GP if :

• The pain is only in 1 leg.
• The pain carries on the next morning.
• The pain is bad enough to stop your child walking or makes them limp.
• The pain is in a joint, such as their knees or ankles.
• There's a rash, swelling or unusual bruising on the legs.
• Your child has a high temperature.
• Your child does not want to eat or is losing weight.