Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: pains + worry + growing  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/7/2008)

Russian diners say "Nyet" to Soviet service Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - "Because the domestic economy is growing like crazy, incomes are still going up like crazy." By the end of this year, Le Pain Quotidien aims for eight ... Aaron Rodgers Will Have a Similar Year to Favre SportingNews.com - There will be growing pains for Rodgers. I haven't a clue how Tampa Bay will do. They do play in a weak division, and have a great defense. ... From beauty to drug wreck Independent Online, South Africa - Charlene told her not to worry. The couple had been partying the night before and were tired. Charlene was badly hurt. She had to fight the pain in her leg ... Lost in a system where your doctors don't want to listen South Bend Tribune, IN - 48 minutes ago Pain, fatigue, dizziness and trouble sleeping are among the most common symptoms, and doctors have problems with these because they don't point to any ... BBC News Credit crunch: Around the world BBC News, UK - International investment agencies and magazines have been quick to notice that Brazil has largely escaped the pain of the credit crunch, and have been ... Growing pains at UW Tacoma TheNewsTribune.com, WA - Aug 3, 2008 Chancellor Spakes says acquiring land within the university?s 46-acre footprint gives her enough to worry about, without getting too excited at this point ... Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator has grown stronger in his role Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Stewart had understandable growing pains as a first-time coordinator, but he also had to overcome a staff that didn?t buy into his leadership and wanted his ... New York Marijuana Bill Could Relieve Suffering PR CannaZine (press release), UK - Aug 6, 2008 ?When I was working, marijuana helped me work and deal with the pain,? Williams said. ?If I could afford it, and I didn?t have to worry about being busted, ... MLive.com More West Michigan dentists feeling the pain of weak economy MLive.com, MI - Aug 3, 2008 One big worry in a tough economy is patients foregoing routine checkups. "People are really concerned about losing jobs and benefits," said Tom Kochheiser, ... New York Times Growing Pains Come and Go in Bed-Stuy New York Times, United States - Jul 26, 2008 But they still worry about rising rents and have become weary of living and working next to buildings that are new, sleek and, in their eyes, ugly. ...

Should I worry about my son's growing pains?

Some kinds of limb pains in children must always be taken seriously :
· If they make your child limp or stop using an arm
· If they involve your child's joints, perhaps causing some of the joints to swell up, look red or hurt when you feel them or try to move them
· If your child has a fever or is unwell in himself
· If they prevent your child from doing his normal activities

Other kinds of limb pains do not mean serious underlying disease; among these are the so-called 'growing pains' which I suspect your son has. These pains really do exist but the cause is quite unknown and may have nothing to do with 'growing' although they only occur in growing children and always stop before maturity (ie adulthood). They are common throughout childhood, affecting at least 15 per cent of children and are slightly commoner in girls particularly when they occur in teenagers.

Younger children like your son may find it hard to know how to describe their pains - they may call them cramps or itching or may just wake restlessly in the night. The pains usually occur in the legs, especially the fronts of the thighs and calves. They are deep and always well away from joints (if your son points only to his joints these may not be growing pains - see above).

The pains typically start late in the day, or may begin in the middle of the night making him restless and waking him from his sleep, but have completely gone by the morning. They may be worse after a day of more physical activity than usual but are not the kind of pains just due to fatigue after exercise which pass after lying down or resting for a short while.

Unfortunately as we do not know what causes these pains there is no logical treatment. You can try wrapping a warm towel or cot blanket around your son's arms and legs or massaging them with oils or lotions. Giving a warm drink of milk and telling your son this will help them go away sometimes eases the pains, perhaps by helping him to relax. A warm bath helps in much the same way but is not always practical if it is in the middle of the night. If your son cannot settle it is fine to give him a standard dose of infant paracetamol which will ease his pain.

Growing pains are not 'psychological' and do not affect your son's general activity or well being. Do not restrict his physical activity. If anything encourage regular exercise as this will help his muscles to grow and develop as well as to relax at the end of the day and will improve his general health and fitness.