Health Headlines: How to treat growing pains in children

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) - Growing pains are a common complaint during childhood. But there’s a lot of mystery surrounding this condition. Here’s what we know about growing pains and how to help the hurt.

One sure thing about kids is they grow, and sometimes very quickly!

For about half of all children, growing years bring discomfort. Growing pains usually affect kids between ages three and 12. They occur in a child’s thighs, calves, shins, or behind the knees. Some kids also have pain in their arms. These aches usually happen in the late afternoon or during the night.

Roque Correa says, “I think between the ages of maybe eight and 12. It was pain on my legs, mainly on my legs…especially down my knees.”

Growth hormone is emitted when kids sleep, which is one theory that could explain the timing of the symptoms. While the cause of growing pains is unknown, some research has suggested overuse of limbs or poor posture may be related. And sometimes other pain syndromes accompany growing pains. A new study found 76 percent of kids who experienced growing pains also had headaches five years later compared to 22 percent of those who didn’t have growing pains.

Treatment typically includes giving kids over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen, gentle massage and stretching. Applying heat to the area can also help ease the hurt. If the pain is persistent and severe, you should let your child’s doctor know. Helping kids with growing pains find relief.

Though they’re called “growing” pains, experts say symptoms are usually not worse during growth spurts, and the pain is not confined to growth areas of bones. Some believe the discomfort may just be due to all the running, jumping, and climbing that active kids do on a daily basis.

Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.