growing pains

[zara 4]

Is there really such a thing as growing pains,my 14 year old son has been complaining of painful knees for a while now we thought it was a pulled muscle that he'd done during P.E at first but they are really painful so much so that he can't walk far without holding back the tears.We took him to the doctor last week who said it was 'growing pains' and gave him some nurofen that is only for kids up to 12,he's been taking it but the pain is no better and today we had tears when he got home,Is it a useless doctor or will these "growing pains" go away?My daughter never had these pains so is it just boys?Has anyone elses kids been diagnosed with this?

[andy-hughes]

Yes, growing pains do exist.

Teenagers do experience growth spurts, they can sometimes gro as much as a milimetre in a night - which is why they can be clumsy and fall over their feet, the brain has not yet adjusted to the change in the centre of gravity, small, but significant.

Boys at this age can experience pains as muscles and joints lengthen, but these spurts don;t happen to every teenager, and they are more common with boys than girls because they grow taller, faster.

Some sympathy and Solpodene will sort your son out.

[zara 4]

Cheers andy-hughes.

[kaz20]

I can remember when I was about 13/14 having such painful legs that I couldn't think of anything worse! I think it was just growing pains - they came and went for a few weeks - but then it stopped. Hopefully it will get better

[PhilLew]

I suffer from Osteo-Arthritis and my 15 year old son is convinced he has it too because his grownig pains are so strong and in the same places.

Luck for him, and your son, they will grow out of it.

Keep taking the tablets!

[lady_p_gold]

Sounds like it could be Osgood Schlatters disease (sounds worse than it is !!!)

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=145&topcategory=Knee

[zara 4]

Thanx everyone,i now looked on the link and the pressure below the knee is exactly the same so dont know what to think.

[Eels]

Go back to the doctor - Osgood-Schlatter is very painful and would be best looked into by a specialist. Your doctor can always refer you if necessary.

[zara 4]

The pain will come and go but mostly always there and on the link it says that it is painful when pressure is applied,that is spot on and yesterday he was crying with the pain so maybe i should take him back!

[gessoo]

Definitely sounds like Osgood Sclatters. Was told by specialist (my son has it) that it actually happens in 10% of boys. Girls do suffer from it as well.

[raysparx]

I think lady p has got it right, does he do a lot of Football etc? my son developed this at the same age it occurs i think when the muscles are developing faster than ligaments etc, , the only cure is to take it easy for a while.

[zara 4]

Ok,thanx everyone i will go back to doctor and suggest they look again,and get it strapped up tomorrow,