Are Growing Pains Normal?
The short answer to this question is, no. Your child grows all over so why are they not experiencing pain in their arms? Researchers have found that there is no supporting evidence to suggest that growing pains hurt and other options should be investigated prior to waiting for the pain to resolve. One of the reasons your child could be suffering from growing pains could have to do with poor mechanics, aka flat feet.
Most of the time pain is localized in the feet, calves, heels, behind the knees, and the patella and hurts mostly at night while trying to go to sleep or after long activities.
Some easy home remedies to ease the pain before visiting your doctors is:
Massage
Apply a mild heating pad to the sore muscles
Give a dose of acetaminophen
Encourage light stretching
Always consider the frequency and severity of your child’s symptoms when explaining your child’s discomfort to a specialist. Keep in mind that it may not be the foot that is actually in pain but is the main cause for discomfort.
Foot orthotics help keep the foot in alignment so that your child can participate in normal activities without aggravating their legs further.
If you notice your child’s ankle and foot rolling in like these two kids in the picture below, consider talking to your doctor about foot orthotics.
When in doubt, it’s always best to speak with your physician to ensure that your child is growing properly.
