Such a thing as actual, physical growing pains?

Elena - posted on 02/22/2010

i use to have them alot when i was younger...and it hurt me so bad i would cry. somtimes i couldnt walk..the one thing that helped me the most was hot baths and tyl. my son who is 4 now gets the pains in his legs too. i do the same for him, and he says that helps him.

Michelle - posted on 02/21/2010

yes I took my son to the doctor because I was worried, he told me to massage his legs,arms etc... also warm compresses not hot warm.

Sue - posted on 02/21/2010

Yes growing pains are real ... I used to suffer a great deal when I was a kid and now my DD is suffering as well. Tylenol seems to work very well and because its not all the time [maybe once every 1-2 months] I dont see a problem with the pain med. Now if it was every week I'd go to her pediatrician. To me it felt very much like a cramp.

C - posted on 02/20/2010

My kids have suffered growing pains. There was a time during elementary school that our oldest was growing an average of 4-5" each year. She also pulled her groin muscle for the first time. We were told that in addition to growing pains it's more common for fast growing or tall kids to have pulled muscles. Their muscles, literally, can't keep up with their bone growth. I've heard of potassium rich foods, same concept as cramps. Also, if you really think it's growing pains and not something else it may be worth trying tylenol for pain.

Sinead - posted on 02/20/2010

I remember suffering from growing pains myself. I think it's because bone, muscle, other tissues grow at different rates or something. I'd second the banana thing. It's really good for preventing muscle cramps so probably does ease any issues the muscles are having.

Betsy - posted on 02/19/2010

I used to suffer bad from them...try giving him banana's it helps if is muscle wise....

Kim - posted on 02/19/2010

I thought it was a joke but I've heard from some friends and family that yes, indeed, growing pains exist. My friend's 6 year old had a growth spurt a couple months ago and was complaining about his knees and shins hurting like crazy.

Sunrise - posted on 02/19/2010

I have no experience with babies but my son did this when he was about 3. It went hand and hand with a big growth spurt. His father is 5"9" and all his uncles on his fathers side are over 6 foot so I thought he'd be getting taller but he seems to have leveled out.



My brother in law is now 6'4" and my MIL swears that the summer between his freshman and sophomore year of high school all he did was lay in bed and cry. He grew 6" that summer. So I totally believe in growing pains. Hopefully your little one will get through this stage quickly.