Question
Two months ago, after a fever, I was given an injection and took medication, which led to nighttime limb pain. Since then, I have visited the hospital multiple times and have not been able to find the exact cause. Some doctors believe it is growing pains, while others think it is neuralgia. After taking some medication, the condition has not improved. My limbs often “crackle” during the day, and I frequently wake up in pain at night.
Answer
Growing pains in children are a type of non-articular pain that refers to intermittent lower limb pain during periods of growth. They generally occur in the muscles and surrounding soft tissues of the lower legs, with pain that is not migratory; they often occur at night or during rest periods, are brief and not continuous, and the affected area does not become red or swollen; there are no other symptoms or signs in the body during an attack, and everything returns to normal after the pain subsides. Clinically, various tests such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, antistreptolysin O, and X-rays are all within normal ranges.
Why do growing pains occur? Experts believe it is closely related to a child’s growth and development. The continuous increase in height depends on the development of bones, especially in the limbs. The ends of long bones in the limbs are called epiphyses in medical terms. The posterior part of the epiphyses contains soft tissue and a rich vascular network that supplies nutrients such as proteins, calcium, and phosphorus necessary for bone growth through this vascular network. This allows the soft tissue to continuously grow and mature while also “ossifying” into actual bone. Since children are in a stage of rapid bone growth, the epiphyses at the lower limbs become congested and swollen with increased tension, stimulating surrounding peripheral nerves and causing pain. After daytime activities, blood circulation is enhanced, reducing or eliminating the congestion and swelling at the epiphyses, which is why there is no pain during the day but pain at night.
Growing pains are a temporary physiological phenomenon that generally do not require treatment. During an attack, regional massage or heat therapy can be applied, or you can guide your child to play with toys or engage in games to distract their attention and alleviate the pain. For frequent attacks and severe pain, oral salicylate analgesics can be taken; if there is still pain after taking medication