Can growing taller really hurt? We’ve all heard of growing pains, and they’re a real thing, according to Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Derek Kelly, MD. We asked him to answer some common questions about growing pains.
What are growing pains, and are they really a real condition?
There is no lab test or imaging study to diagnose growing pains. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning the diagnosis is only made once other causes of pain have been ruled out. Therefore, it is important for families to consult with their pediatrician if the symptoms seem excessive or if they are localized to a particular joint or location. Growing pains should not be associated with any masses or swelling. There should be no fever or chills. Growing pains are typically recurrent, intermittent, vague, diffuse lower extremity pain that most often occurs around the joints and is usually worse in the evening or overnight.
What causes them?
The exact cause is still unclear. It is likely related to differential rates of growth between different tissue types. For example, the bones might grow at a slightly faster rate than the muscles or ligaments resulting in a stretch on these tissues that is perceived as pain. There is some basis for this theory as growth hormone levels are elevated at night, and growing pain symptoms are often worse at night.
At what age do they start?
Growing pains can start at any age, but tend to occur mostly frequently in children ages 3 to 6 years. They can last until age 11 or 12 in some children, but typically do not continue into adolescence.
Are there any good remedies parents can use?
Massaging the sore legs can help a great deal. Warm soaks or heating pads can also be helpful. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen are also used, but medications should only be given if cleared by the child’s pediatrician.
Growing pains often become the most disruptive to the family when the symptoms affect the sleeping habits of other family members. Therefore, bed sharing and room sharing with parents or other siblings will often magnify the problem, as members of the family are losing sleep due the growing pains.
When do they grow out of them?
Most children with growing pains have complete resolution of their symptoms by age 8 or 9, but occasionally the pain will persist until 11 or 12 years old.
