2 year old complaining of leg pain at night

[bumpbear]

My two year old (28 months) has recently been waking in the night complaining of leg pains. I can see nothing evidently wrong as there is no sign of injury and she walks fine on it. She also plays happily all day without complaint.

Is she too young for growing pains? Does anyone else have experience of this?

 

[seoj]

Is she close to 3yrs? I believe it's more typical between 3-5 and again from 8-12 (depending). And usually does happen later at night/sleep time and gone by morning.

I would say if it doesn't "clear" up in the next few days- can't hurt to have her looked at just in case. But it seems similar to what I would say is growing pains.

Maybe others have better insight?

 

[hattiehippo]

My son complains of leg pains at night whenever he is having a growth spurt. We usually give him some calpol and he's ok then.

DH remembers having awful leg growing pains from quite young so is very sympathetic to him.

 

[beetroot]

Yes, my ds still has them on and off. He's 9yo now. We took him to dr who said it was growing pains. My son usually complains of pain in one leg.

 

[MumMumMum]

My three year old complains her feet hurt but only at bedtime. How can you tell if it is genuine or a delaying tactic? She doesn't complain at all during the day.

 

[KittyVentura]

It's likely growing pains, but if it persists or he starts to limp or try not to walk properly I would get him seen.

Without causing panic, because seriously most kids have growing pains at some point and your child is the right age for them to start... And that is likely what it would be. A Mama on a FB group I am in has her son complain of pains in his legs with no injury, he then had a limp etc and eventually stopped walking on it and they went to A&E... He has leukaemia. Now I for one would never have linked unexplainable aches and pains with anything severe, at all. So I doubt many others would. So now I do feel compelled to say to get it checked if he does start with a limp etc as growing pains shouldn't affect limp use so just keep an eye xxx

 

[bumpbear]

Thanks ladies,

I think I will give it a few days and then go get her checked. She did have unexplained fever last week for a whole seven days, but that has gone away on its own as the doctor said it would (apparently she had seen a few patients with similar symptoms last week).

The first night she complained about it, she seemed genuinely in pain as she was up to 2-4am trying really hard to go back to sleep, but every time she drifted off she'd abruptly wake up with more pain. She finally settled when I gave her some meds.

The second night, she was awake at around 3am complaining on and off for an hour and I was able to massage her back to sleep. But that night, I couldn't figure out if it was genuine pain or just a little discomfort or nothing at all!.

Last night she woke in the middle of the night and complained about leg pain, but was able to go back off to sleep quite quickly without needing any medicine or massage. I'm not entirely sure if she was just saying it for effect last night as she does like to re-enact past experiences at the moment!

The leukemia thing sounds awful - the things worst nightmares are made of. So sorry for your friend. I will definitely take her in to get her checked if she carries on complaining about it much longer.

 

[kosh]

yes my son has them too. he's 2 1/2 and has has them on and off for a few months. sometimes he wakes up screaming and rubbing/stretching his legs we give him calpol and he goes back to sleep ok. but what we found seems to prevent them is rubbing vics on his knees!

 

[sevenofnine]

Maybe a charlie horse? Try some electrolytes before bed?