Growing Pains – Are They Real?

26 Sep 2016 Brian Nielsen, Doctors , ,

When it’s nice outside, kids like to run, jump, ride bikes – the normal, every day summer activities. Many also play sports such as soccer, baseball, and football.  So when your child says their legs hurt it may not be a surprise, but as parents, when should we become concerned?  Is it just “growing pains”?

Well, guess what? Growing pains is actually a real condition. Growing pains are achy, throbbing muscles in the legs that affect some 25-40% of children between the ages of 3 to 5 and 8 to 12, but researchers do not know exactly what causes growing pains.

Your child might be experiencing growing pains if muscles in their thighs, calves, or behind the knee hurt in the late afternoon or evening. The pain might even get bad enough to wake them up.  If your child has had a full day of activity, there is a greater chance of having muscle pains or growing pains at night. Growing pains are typically felt in both legs and subside by morning.

How can we treat growing pains? 

The achiness and pain should go away with ibuprofen and gentle massage or heat. You may need to call a doctor if the pain does not subside, or if the muscles seem overly tender. If your child refuses to let you touch the area, this could be a concern.  Other signs to watch for are redness, or heat, or swelling especially in the joints, as growing pains do not affect the joints.

If you are concerned about the pain and symptoms your child is experiencing, please don’t hesitate to call the offices of Tucson Orthopaedic Institute for an appointment at (520) 327-KIDS (5437).

We have two board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeons – Dr. Luis Piedrahita, MDand Dr. Brian Nielson, MD – on staff ready to serve your family’s needs.  They see patients at two locations – East or Northwest Tucson.

For more information on what we can do for you check out our pediatric orthopedic section on our website.

Dr. Brian Nielson, MD

Is Your Child’s Backpack Weighing Them Down?

10 Nov 2010 Brian Nielsen, Doctors, Media , , ,

TUCSON – For parents, school always brings up health concerns: how to keep your kids away from germs, how to keep them eating healthy, and how to make sure they get enough sleep.

Something parents may not think about is how to keep their children’s backs safe from harm.

Dr. Brian Nielsen, a local pediatric orthopedist, says your kid’s backpack should not weigh more than 15 percent over the weight of your child. He says too much weight on their shoulders can leave them with irreversible back damage.

“If you have a heavy backpack and you’re leaning back, you can develop a little stress fracture at the lower back and those don’t usually heal,” he said.

New sixth grader Mackenzie Sanders is already feeling the pain.

“It hurts around the shoulders and sometimes I’m kind of hunching over because of the weight,” she said. Her concerned mom does not have any answers.

“I really have no choice. She’s got to have all of her books and supplies,” she said.

However, doctors say there are some things parents can do to help.

Make sure your kids backpacks have wide, padded straps and that they carry it on both shoulders. Fitness level is also a factor that can make a difference.

“The more fit the child is, the better the posture is, the more flexible they are, the less they’re going to have problems,” Dr. Nielsen said.

Another thing to keep in mind is your family history. If your family members have back issues, your child may be more prone to having them as well. See a specialist if their pain persists for more than a couple of weeks or spreads to other parts of their body.

As appeared on KVOA Channel 4 News on November 10, 2010

Related Document: Is Your Backback Safe? 3 Steps to Safe Backback Use

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