Question
My son is 12 years old and will be finishing elementary school soon. However, lately, he has been complaining of leg pain at night. I checked his legs and there were no signs of bumps or injuries. The doctor said it’s growth pain. How long does growth pain usually last?
Answer
Growth pain refers to the pain around a child’s knees or the front side of the lower legs, with no history of trauma to these areas and normal activity levels. The region shows no redness, swelling, or tenderness. After examining the child and ruling out other diseases, growth pain can be diagnosed. Growth pain is mostly due to the relatively high level of activity in children, the rapid growth of long bones, and the mismatched growth and development of regional muscles and tendons, leading to physiological pain. Clinical manifestations are often muscle pain in the lower limbs and occur more frequently at night. The duration of growth pain varies from individual to individual; generally, growth pain resolves spontaneously within a few months to two years, but some children may experience it for a longer period. If the pain is severe and affects daily activities or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly to rule out other potential issues.