Question
My child is 5 and a half years old. Lately, after school, they’ve been saying their ankle hurts, and they mentioned it at night when they were sleeping. Some people say it’s growth pains and it’s normal, and they suggest supplementing with calcium. However, I’m a bit worried, so I would like to ask the doctor if ankle pain is always growth pains?
Answer
Hello, I’m glad to help you with your question. Not all ankle pain is due to growth pains, although growth pains can indeed cause ankle pain. However, they usually occur in the middle of the night, last for a short period, and do not interfere with normal walking. I recommend taking your child to see an orthopedist at the hospital to determine if it is indeed growth pains so that targeted treatment can be administered. In the meantime, ensure your child consumes enough calcium, which can be obtained through foods rich in calcium such as milk, fish meat, shrimp shells, kelp, and bone soup.