Myths and Truths
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include:
Muscular aches and pains in both legs – typically in the calf, behind the knee and in the front of the thigh.
Moving the legs does not make the pain better or worse, which shows that the joints are not affected.
The pain comes and goes, occurring perhaps every night for a week or so, or a few times a week, or only occasionally.
The onset of pain is around the late afternoon or evening.
The pain is worse during the night, particularly when the child is supposed to be going to sleep.
The pain may be severe enough to wake the child from sleep.
The pain is gone by morning.
The pain doesn't cause a limp or make it hard to run and play normally.
Occasionally, the muscles of the arms may be affected as well.
The child may also complain of headaches.
With growing pains, children don't experience:
Limping
Swelling
Pain during the day
Waking pain in the morning
Morning stiffness
MYTH: Infants have growing pains
Truth: Growing pains occur when the long bones in the legs go through a growth spurt. It is believed that the pain is caused not only
from the bones growing, but the stretching of the tendons. Children usually between 3 and 5 as well as 10 to 13 are the ones who suffer
from the coming and going growing pains.
MYTH: JRA is the same as osteoarthritis
Truth: JRA is not the same as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and is more prevalent in the elderly population.
It is most commonly results from "wear and tear" of the articular cartilage of weigh bearing joints. This is in contrast to JRA which is a
persistent, progressive, autoimmune disease which affects symmetrical joints such as the finger, wrists, feet, hips and knees. It may
progress, irreversibly damaging joints within the first 2 years of disease onset.
MYTH: JRA is a form of rheumatism
Truth: JRA is not rheumatism. This is a general medical term used to describe rheumatic pain. The term rheumatism is derived from the
Greek word for stream - "rheuma" - and was probably adopted to describe the aching and stiff joints suffered by people who work in damp
conditions.
See your doctor:
Growing pains are diagnosed by making sure that there is no other cause for pain. Other health problems that can cause pain in the legs
include:
Arthritis – which damages joints.
Infections (such as osteomyelitis) and some virus infections (such as Ross River virus).
Problems that affect how the muscles work together – such as knock knees and very flat feet.
Always see your doctor if your child:
Has severe pain or pain that only affects one leg (or arm), or if the pain is still there during the day.
Is unwell or has a fever, loss of appetite or rashes.
Has swelling, reddening or tenderness of the leg or arm.
Is limping