Growing pains can be an uncomfortable burden for prepubertal children. In this article we explain where they come from and how you can recognize them in your child.
Feel loudly between the ages of three and four WebMD early childhood growing pains. Most of all, however, children complain about this directly before or during puberty between eight and twelve years. Growing pains are mostly considered by the pre-teens pulling, stinging or burning described and can occur in the following places:
- in both legs
- in the shins, front thighs and the back of the knees
- in the head
- in the belly
- as a sting in the chest
In addition, there are other points that, according to the Professional Association of Pediatricians e.V. (BVKJ) should pay attention if you suspect growing pains in your child:
- The pain usually starts in the late afternoon, in the evening or makes your child wake up at night. So it always occurs at rest.
- In the morning the pain is like “blown away”.
- Usually both legs hurt at the same time.
- The pain is irregular and wanders.
- It can last for minutes or even an hour.
The important thing is that you don’t think your child is faking this pain just because it went away in the morning.
Growing pains: the causes
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The BVKJ suspects that growing pains may be due to the fact that the soft tissues of the children grow more slowly than their bones. The association suspects that the one that emerged during a growth spurt Tension of the periosteum Can cause pain or that fatigue young bones as they grow. According to the HKK health insurance this is due to the growth hormones released during the night, which are throttled again in the morning. There could also be a psychological reason: Children could learn to deal with conflicts (with parents, friends or teachers) through pain.
According to WebMD, growing pains, despite their name, are not necessarily related to growth spurts. Most likely, the pain is due to your children’s increased activity. Check to see if your child is suffering from such pain, especially after a particularly active day. During the exercise itself – for example when Do sports – your child should show no complaints.
If the pain persists, it is important, according to the BVKJ, to first rule out that your child will suffer from the following diseases:
- rheumatism
- Infections
- Broken bones
- Bone tumors
- Fibromyalgia
According to WebMD, various studies suggest that children who suffer from so-called growing pains generally have a higher sensation of pain. Also a headache and stomach pain occur more often with them.
Especially in the period shortly before and during puberty, the hormonal balance in children changes dramatically. Such a change can especially in girls chest pain cause what they often perceive as “heartache”. This so-called mastalgia can, according to the Johns Hopkins University associated with the release of the female hormones progesterone and estrogen. How exactly the hormones affect the breast has not yet been proven.
Although in most cases it is not a matter of heart problems, you should of course always have such symptoms checked by a doctor. A visit to the gynecologist can also be instructive.
How to treat growing pains in children
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The British National Health Service recommends treating growing pains externally in the following ways:
- Massage the affected muscles (for example calves or thighs) gently
- stretch the muscles gently
- warm the areas with a cherry stone pillow or a hot water bottle (like you do Make the cherry stone pillow yourself you can find out in our guide)
- Give your child a warm bath before going to bed
- pay attention to the correct footwear for the children.
In some cases, too Magnesium deficiency behind supposed growth pains. Especially if your child is particularly active, the muscles need more magnesium. Especially nocturnal calf cramps may be due to this. However, you should discuss with your pediatrician whether and how much magnesium supplements your child needs. We recommend healthy foods that are particularly rich in magnesium in our overview: Magnesium in foods: Magnesium foods you should know
Important: refrain from self-treatment with pain relievers. Always discuss your child’s symptoms with a pediatrician before giving your child medication.
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