Leg pain in a 6 year old

[Lyssa0408]

My son is 6 and almost everyday has to sleep with a heating pad. He makes up screaming of leg pain sometimes he cant walk without limping, i have tried all pain meds for kids rubs massages cream nothing helps i refuse to accept its growing pains its too much pain and too often. its been since he was 2. My husband was wrestling with him around that time and my sons knee was twisted i guess he cried and cried and limped for a week his doc said he was fine could the 2 be related ? what should i do if my doctor is refusing to even see him and when she does she says iits normal    ***@**** please let me know what u think    thanks melissa

[Lyssa0408]

thanks

[specialmom]

Thanks for the tips Sandman!!!  I know I can always count on you for great advice!

[Sandman2]

   The common wisdom is sports now is not to stretch until you have warmed up.  I know with my creaky old body, I won't even attempt a stretch till I have jogged for about 7 min.  Having said that - given the weather you have been having, that's kind of tough to do.  A brisk walk with the dog (if I remember correctly) might be enough.  On weekends, the whole family could go go a jog and then stretch.  Of course a treadmill or an indoor bike would be perfect.  The bike would probably be safer and easier.  Its why you will see pro athletics during a basketball or football game pedaling away during a game - it keeps them from tightening up.  Of course, the main thing is to start out slowly - and make it fun ( I know you will)!

[Sandman2]

   Your comment that he wakes up screaming, makes me think it is more of an issue with leg cramps.  Do you know the difference?  In a cramp, the muscle will knot up.  You can feel it.  Its very painful and certainly will cause you to limp.  If you think it sounds like a cramp.  Try having him drink a pleasant tasting athletic drink by someone like gateraid for a couple of days and see if that makes a difference.  It may be he needs the salt and electrolytes.  And the drink won't hurt him.  Any grocery store will carry them.   And I do agree with specialmom about your doctor.  

[specialmom]

One other thing------------- my oldest son is pretty active.  He's 7.  And something that often happens with kids is that not too much time is spent on stretching.  My son is solid muscle (I'm pretty much not kidding here)-----------  and his leg muscles get so tight.  He can hardly stretch them and will say it hurts to do so.  We slowly try to stretch.  It is a bit of a battle because he doesn't want to and it is uncomfortable.  But not stretching can lead to leg pain.

Are your son's leg muscles super tight?  Either way, I'd add in stetching.  I do a lot (should do more though :>) ) for my hip issue.  Stretching is always a part of physical therapy.  So add some stretching into his routine.  good luck

[specialmom]

Melissa, some kids do have growing pains that hurt.  Ligament stretching I suppose.  This sounds  a little extreme though.  It has been four years since the wrestling incident and guess  anything is possible but that seems somewhat unlikely to be the cause.  

However, if I had a doctor that ignored my asking for help with my child, I'd switch doctors. I've not heard of doctor's refusing to see patients.  They may tell you they can't solve this problem but usually they refer you on to a specialist.  In your case, I'd imagine this would be an orthopedic doctor or neurologist.  So, I'd either ask to be referred on by your current physician or I'd change doctors.

I have a congenital hip defect.  It makes me a bit pigeon toed  which is what my parents were trying to follow up on when they discovered that my hips are not in the sockets properly.  It can occasionally cause me pain.  I had "growing pains" (only at night as a child) too.  It is hereditary so we had my son checked as a one year old by an orthopod who did not find the defect.  So, my point of telling you this is that you should see a specialist to rule out any abnormalities in his bone or musculoskeletal structure or nervous system.  

That is what I'd do anyway.  And it may end up being just growing pains.  good luck