Growing pains are the pains occurring in childhood, especially leg pain in children, hip pain in children or pain in the arms that is not due to other diseases. They often occur in batches and last for several weeks three to four times a year. Characteristically, the pain usually occurs during the night and disappears during the day.
Causes
The growth pain occurs particularly in children during the growth spurts at the age of about four to 16 years. Little is yet known about the actual causes and physicians are putting forward various theories about how this process occurs. Under the influence of growth hormones, which are mainly produced in the evening and at night, the growth of bones and soft tissue is stimulated.
In this way, the children grow by about 0.2 millimeters in a nocturnal thrust. One possible reason for the pain, according to doctors, is the different, rapid growth of bones and soft tissues. While gaps are left free for growth between larger joints such as the shoulder, hip and knee joints, and the same growth joints are found in the large tubular bones, the immature muscles and tendons are already firmly attached to the bones. This is exactly where doctors suspect the problem. If the bones do not grow at the same time as the soft tissues, tension can occur, which may cause pain.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is often made as a diagnosis of exclusion. The growth pains do not show up in X-rays, MRI or laboratory values. There are also no typical signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling and fever. If a child claims to have constant pain in the evening or at night, parents should take this seriously and consult a doctor if it is severe. It is important to rule out other diseases of the skeletal system such as bone inflammation, rheumatism or even bone cancer.
Symptoms
The children often complain of pain and pulling in the legs, feet and possibly also temporarily in the arms. The pain usually occurs only in the evening or in the middle of the night and prevents the children from sleeping. They are restless, cannot fall asleep, cry or wake up in the night.
The pain can wander and also change sides. In the morning, the pain is no longer noticeable and the children are not restricted in their everyday life. During the day there are no discomfort when moving around.
