waking up with aching legs?

KateLouise

DD1 has been waking in the middle of the night with sore legs. Maybe once a week.

She wails and wails. We've tried cold cloths, and warm cloths, with limited success.. It seems to be her knees and shin/calf area.  Pamol helps.

I assume it's just "growing pains,"  I remember having aching legs when I was around 6-8, but wondered if there's something I could do. If it could be improved with diet or something else?

Anyone else's LO have this problem? 

angel1015

DD1 (3.5yo) just woke up with sore legs the other night.  We just rub some "medicine" (lotion) on it and try and massage the legs a little.  I think it helps her a little that we are doing something which I hope makes her feel better.  I think it is just the "growing pains" that they are going through and it is normal.

acaudill75

The only thing dietary I could think of is possible dehydration? Like runners get a cramp when they become dehydrated, only on a much smaller scale? When you were pregnant, did you ever wake up with cramps in your calves? I did, and my OB told me to drink more water. I also had bad growing pains as a child, to the point my parents took me to a specialist when I would have trouble getting out of bed and walking because it hurt so bad. They tried arthritis medication which I refused to take because I just choked on the pills, and in the end, it sort of cleared up when I stopped growing. Not much help, but if you experienced it as a child, maybe it is just a normal component of growing up. BTW, what is Palmol?

KateLouise

acaudill75:

The only thing dietary I could think of is possible dehydration? Like runners get a cramp when they become dehydrated, only on a much smaller scale? When you were pregnant, did you ever wake up with cramps in your calves? I did, and my OB told me to drink more water. I also had bad growing pains as a child, to the point my parents took me to a specialist when I would have trouble getting out of bed and walking because it hurt so bad. They tried arthritis medication which I refused to take because I just choked on the pills, and in the end, it sort of cleared up when I stopped growing. Not much help, but if you experienced it as a child, maybe it is just a normal component of growing up. BTW, what is Palmol?

Pamol, is what we call our version of paracetemol for kids. I don't like giving it to her though, unless she really needs it. So I'd prefer to try other options.
I really like the idea of lotion as "medicine" and might give that a go next time. 

tracey4228

DD will say that her knees hurt on occasion. We put "special lotion" on them (really, it's just a bottle from a hotel stay). I figure it's growing pains because there are no scrapes or rug burns from a fall. I just keep an eye on her walking and running to make sure she's not favoring a leg.

groovygrl

KateLouise:

acaudill75:

The only thing dietary I could think of is possible dehydration? Like runners get a cramp when they become dehydrated, only on a much smaller scale? When you were pregnant, did you ever wake up with cramps in your calves? I did, and my OB told me to drink more water. I also had bad growing pains as a child, to the point my parents took me to a specialist when I would have trouble getting out of bed and walking because it hurt so bad. They tried arthritis medication which I refused to take because I just choked on the pills, and in the end, it sort of cleared up when I stopped growing. Not much help, but if you experienced it as a child, maybe it is just a normal component of growing up. BTW, what is Palmol?

Pamol, is what we call our version of paracetemol for kids. I don't like giving it to her though, unless she really needs it. So I'd prefer to try other options.
I really like the idea of lotion as "medicine" and might give that a go next time. 

Paracetamol is acetominophen or Tylenol  in the states for those who haven't heard of it ....

My dd complains of various things hurting all the time, but definitely knees and legs, I am glad to hear other kids do too...I am not sure half the time if it is entirely true...