pain in fingers and toes

[Atlanta_mom]

Hi,
My 4 years old son complains that something (he calls it little pain) is always in his fingers and toes, however, he also experiences extreme pain once or twice a day. It is very painful to watch him to corp with the pain. It seems like he has to press them so hard to relief the pain or hit them on the wall or floor. I've taken him to rheumatologist at a major children hospital, but he's not been diagnosed to have any serious disease, such as reynolds disease, as they do not turn pale or purple at all. His blood work result was normal. I'm now trying to research what causes this particular pain in  my son's fingers and toes on my own as we've seen 2 specialists without any diagnosis. Please help. Thanks.

[laokss]

Thank you SO much for the solution. Vitamin D and Iron- He doesn't have the problem anymore, mine is almost 3 and it began and progressed rather quickly (within a month)- he would get on his knees and rub his palms against the carpet. It was horrible to watch his discomfort. Another thing, its crazy how complicated people can get on here recommending psychiatrist and neurologist, on another website- X rays even. Vitamin D and Iron did the trick.

Also, Off-topic but another simple solution... If your child gets Croup or Pneumonia (especially viral type since antibiotics cant treat) you can give Vitamin C high doses (google it or go to Doctoryourself.com, its free information) .

[specialmom]

My son has sensory issues which is caused by his nervous system.  He's had these problems on and off-------  we do occupational therapy and there, we learned about "brushing".  Basically, his nerve endings are sending faulty signals.  When we started occupational therapy and we started OT, in 6 weeks he stopped complaining about this.  We occasionally go back and do it when the issue resurfaces.

Google "sensory processing disorder" and read about this.  May not be the case at all for your kids, but it never hurts to have the information.  If it helps one child, it is worth it.  

If anyone feels like their child's cause may be the same as mine, let me know and I'll pm to you how to do the brushing.  goodl uck

[Dee1956]

Great information! Then below someone mentioned Krill Oil to help the nerves

[Hadenough24]

My daughter has been experiencing very similar symptoms since she was about 2 1/2 (6 now). Pain in toes, fingers, feet, hands and sometimes legs and arms. We’ve been to numerous specialists and no solution, no diagnosis. She was deficient in vitamin d, which the doctor said was normal for kids in our area during winter, so she takes supplements. And she wears a night splint on her right foot at night to stretch her Achilles’ tendon (she has always walked on her toes). She still gets the pain randomly several times a week and it wakes her at night occasionally. The pain subsides after a minute or so of rubbing the area.  I’ve also been told that it’s growing pains. She’s pretty tall, but it doesn’t sound right to me. Now she’s been waking every night to pee. Not sure if that’s related.  I’m going to follow up with the doctor and look into krill oil. If anyone gets answers, mind sharing??

[Libbs528]

This is very interesting to read. My 7 year old daughter is complaining of the pain in the fingers and toes. We have also investigated her for aspergers due to her being highly intelligent with issues handling her anger and emotions. She also complains of neck pain and she  habit toe walks which are also associated with the high functioning autism. The issue is that she is coachable in her attitude. Meaning she listens and adjusts her behavior, which is not aspergers. We've had her tested and bloods and scans and no answers anywhere. Another thing I feel I should note is she has Alice in Wonderland syndrome. Sometimes people will look as though their head is super huge. We have been giving her protandim which has improved the neck but the toes and fingers are a new symptom. I will try the vitamin d, iron  and krill oil. I'd love to know if this is some sort of new illness/syndrome in our kids not understood yet, considering all the similarities of our kids with these symptoms.

[Mumofeps]

Hi, our almost 5 year old daughter has the same unbearable pain in her fingers and toes. It has got much worse recently but looking back at her, even as a newborn, I now see all the screaming and pressing her toes of one foot against the toes of the other foot for around an hour each night before she went to sleep is exactly what she still does now but now she can explain what's going on while still screaming about it. I used to think as a baby it was her going to sleep ritual and didn't realise the pressing the toes together was related to the screaming. She too does not have any symptoms when she is happy and/ or doing something she likes. I have tested this and regardless of what time I tell her to turn off YouTube at night, that is precisely when the pain starts but I do believe her that the pain is real. It is awful to watch. We have been told for years that it is growing pains (she is very tall and smart etc for her age - and very emotional. Any small thing can set her off. Typically not anger - but tears of hurt, sadness etc). She has just been prescribed vitamins this week so we'll see how that goes and, if no luck, pursue other options. I'd be grateful to hear from anyone with an update. Do these kids ever grow out of the constant pain? I feel so sorry for them.

[Dee1956]

Supermum, ugh autocorrect

[Dee1956]

Hi, did you read what Superman said above?  Also interesting is the Krill Oil to help the nerves. Good luck!

[Rach1606]

Hi I was just wondering if you ever got to the bottom of this my daughter is experiencing the same pain in her fingers and toes we have been to many Drs but all we go was low iron and low vitamin Dbshe was put on medication for both. She then finished them and her levels were normal but she still got the pains and have had no follow up appointment

[Sanbal]

Hi... even my 6 yr old son is complaining about the same uncontrollable tingling pain in his toes (not in his fingers so far). This I have noticed only when he is tired and is sleepy or about to sleep. He will ask me to press or prick all his finger tips real hard at a time. He also experiences tingling feeling his penis, may or may not be linked to the finger tip pain.

Today he mentioned that he experiences same pain in school too and hence he has to remove his shoes and prick his toes. So I just started my research, someone please update if you have found a solution.

Note: I noticed that most of the children facing this issue are 6 yrs old boys.

[shazza_64]

Hi - my 7 year old daughter has had pain in fingers and toes and legs since 4 years old - have followed this thread with interest and thought I would feed back. We have had a significant decrease in pain levels through giving her vitamin D, silica, a homeopathic called calc carb. We had her bioenergetically tested and that came up with the silica and vitamin D deficiencies. She still needs to crack her fingers and toes but now it is a couple of times a day and not all the time. She can sleep and sit and relax and is not in constant discomfort to pain. I hope this information also helps some other children - My dtr continues to improve and we are hopeful her condition will resolve eventually. I wish you all the best. Sharyn

[Vellefson]

Did you get any answers and did it go away?

[shazza_64]

Yes , I did get answers  and yes it has completely resolved. The medica profession was absolutely no help whatsoever attributing my daughters’s signicant pain levels to ‘growing pains’ and dismissing her with a ‘she’ll grow out of it’ attitude. To the regime described above, we increased the dosage of Calc carb, added magnesium oil and acupuncture.

[Mumuf2]

This is a general response kaplishah and not necessarily meant for you. 1st make sure your child is getting a well balanced diet! Talk to a nutritionist or your pediatrician not only about what your kids eat but also how you prepare it and that goes for all parents! Its weird the issues that eating right eliminates all by itself. 2nd part of a parent's job is raising their children, preparing them for the adult world. If you give your kids everything they want, never let them experience failure (which is the only way to success) and realize the sun still comes up the next day, and that working hard for something and achieving it despite the obstacles and naysayers is a feeling all the new gadgets in the world isn't going to give them. 3rd try krill oil unless your kids are allergic to seafood. My daughter has sensory integration disorder and she uses it as it coats the nervous system. Our therapist explained that naked wires on the phone lines would have a great deal of static. Coating the wires makes the sound much cleared with less interference. If it is a nerve thing might help.

[Kapilshah]

My son is having similar problems means pain in leg fingers and toes and he is also allergetic. He has a peanut allergy. As he has allergy we do not give him peanuts. Is this pain related to peanut allergy?

[shazza_64]

Hi - My 6 year old daughter fits symptoms and behaviours exactly as described. We find she gets some relief with magnesium tissue salts.... it has certainly lessened the amount of attacks but they are most severe when she is at rest or standing still. If she is active and running around she doesn't get symptoms till she stops. THanks for the tip on iron and vitamin D - will look at both

[allyk100]

I dont know if any body can help me to suggest some solution for my son. He is 5 yrs old and has somewhat similar problem as many other are describing here. But he often complain this sever pain during night time, he often get up crying for this pain. he complain this pain just in his feet webbings and ask me to massage between his fingers which gives him a little relief when I do. I have not noticed any other symptom.

[riojas05]

HI !! MY son is 7 and complains about the same problem.  He has allergies and asthma. He also says it really doesn't bother him when he is doing something fun.At first he only complain at night when he was trying to go to bed but now it is during the day.  We saw a cardiovascular doctor but everything was normal. He told us it was just growing pains.  It stopped hurting for a little bit but now he is complaining about the pain again.  Not convinced it is growing pains. Have any of u found a solution
Thanks

[margypops]

May I ask if your child has any fever, or other symptoms or is this just the pain you describe ?

[Bill_Parent]

My son (8yr) has been having about the same thing, only limited to his small toes and little fingers but mostly his toes, for about maybe a year. It appears when he is upset / unhappy and or tired. It does not seem present when he is having fun or is content. He also has pain in his calf on both legs. He resolves this in his toes and fingers by bending them hard with the other hand or against something. His calf pain he just pushes his finger hard into the point of pain.
I would have thought this to be some kind of growing pains? It seems to maybe appear more so after physical activity outside of what would be his daily routine.
No Dr. visit yet but his checkup is coming up

[mommom5]

My son has the same has the same problem with his fingertips and sometimes his toes.  Although he has gotten better with his behavior, because of a great book, "Have A New Kid By Friday."  I think the ability to deal with the anger and frustration could be a result of the pain he is feeling.  Giving him something else to focus on may just take his mind off the pain.  I am anxious to get him on some good vitamins and I may also get him tested to see what his vitamin levels are.  Also, he is 8 years old, second grade, very bright,quick witted,and reads on a 5th grade/6 month level.  I will let you know how it goes with the vitamins.  It could be that simple!  

[Moni_00]

I just wanted to add a small note!  I came on here for my 5 yr old son who was experiencing the exact same symptoms and had the exact same temperament.  And I just wanted to suggest to all these parents to try upping their vitamin intake.  I know it might sound silly.....but I was at my wits end!  I felt so bad for my son and would pray to God every night to help me find the answer.  When my son's lab work came back he was slightly low on vitamin d and on iron.  So I started supplementing with vitamin d and also added flinstones complete with iron daily.   The problem has not gone away.......but over the last three weeks that he has been taking the vitamins he has improved dramatically.  Going from complaining about the tingling hourly......to maybe complaining about it every 3 or 4 days......once a day!  So I just wanted to say, try it!  It may work for you, it may not......but there's no harm in trying.  It just may help:)
Good luck to all of you!
Monica

[BOImom_1]

We have an 8 yr old son with all the issues cited above (jams toes into wall/floor for relief, etc.). He performs well in school, reads above grade level, and has a quick wit. It was just within the last couple of years that he started complaining about the pain in his toes and, to a lesser extent, fingers. Our pediatrician did his blood work a few months ago and it came back fine. She tried a topical cream on his toes to eliminate fungus as a cause (since his toes looked red and were peeling from the constant abuse). We have not been back to the doctor since, but his complaints of discomfort has escalated lately and I am looking for information.

I thought the comments regarding temperment were interesting. This is our second child and, unlike his older brother, he gets very emotional/angry at times. It can begin with very small issues and escalate into a tantrum rapidly. I hadn't associated this with the pain in toes and fingers before, but we had an episode this morning that correlates. I will be watching going forward.

Thanks to all for your posts!

[chassielujo]

I was just researching pain in my sons fingers and toes when I came across your posts.  Wondering if you have any new information.  My son is 6 and has developed callouses under his thumb nails due to pushing his other fingernails under his thumb nails.  When questioned, he said he does this because his fingertips hurt.  I continued to ask about it and he said he also has it in his big toes.  When he experiences this pain, he bends his toes under and pushes down on them.  If wearing shoes, he said he presses really hard on his toes inside his shoes.  Wondering if I should talk to our pediatrician, but it doesn't sound like either of you have had any luck.  What do your sons' fingernails and toenails look like?  My son has very peely toe nails.  They have never looked normal.  His pinky toe nail is about 1/16 of an inch in width and looks very odd.  His fingernails also look peely, but not as bad as his toenails.  

[ocmomma]

we had all the blood work done and it all came back normal.  so i knew it had to be in his head.  so the next time he complained about his hands i told his that the doctor said there was nothing wrong with him, and he hasnt had the pain since.

[Atlanta_mom]

Does your son have any allergies? We are finding that my son is allergic to something that caused him wheezing twice. I do not know if this is related to what he is experiencing. We are not convinced he has any pervasive disorders, and his pediatrician does not even think he is close to it. I am wondering if this is all psychological. We made an appointment with a neurologist at emory just to see if there is anything else going on. I just cannot seem to find anyone who suffers from this pain attack.

[Atlanta_mom]

We just got back to US, and we are in the process of getting Referrals from our pediatrician to neurologist and phychiatrist. I did make a meeting appointment that will help us to find if my son really needs further autistic testing at Emory autism center, however, the wait at Emory is until 2010. I just started researching where to go in the area, but I think I will have to meet some moms who have children who have pervasive disorders to find out more. Where do you live and have you gotten any good resources?

[ocmomma]

My son is very affectionate and very bright as well.  My cousin is a preschool teacher and says he is ahead and very bright for his age.  He was talking clearly and using full sentences at a very early age.  He can be distracted from a pain attack by something special or by something he wants.  I have been looking on different websites for some alternative ways to handle the anger and frustration, or "fits" as we call them.  I have a friends with a 5 year old son who was diagnosed with high functionaing autism at the beginning of the year.  I think she might have some insight, because she didnt have a clue her son was autistic until he was around 4.  As far as the hunger thing, I think he IS more prone to attacks when he is hungry or tired.  Have you seen a psychiatrist yet?