3 year old with leg pain

[jkcs]

My daughter has been complaining of leg pain on and off for about two weeks now.  Yesterday it brought her to tears and again today.  Everytime I ask her where it hurts, she points to either her thigh, knee or calf area.  The pain is intermittent, no swelling that I can see, no fall that I remember.  No other symptoms.  My first initial thought was growing pains, but wouldn't it be in both legs?  And would it bring her to tears?  Also, I thought growing pains were suppose to happen mainly at night.  I was researching on-line and found osteomyelitis.  She did have a severe ear infection about a month ago in which the dr told me she has a blister in her ear it was so bad...could this turn into osteomyelitis?  Any suggestions?

[sadie6784]

Hello i have a 4 year old that has had continued leg pains now for almost 2 years,we have seen lots of doctors and he actually seen a sleep doctor and did a sleep study wondering why he was up cryimg at night and they discovered he has borderline limb movement disorder and he has low iron,so they have had him on iron liquid once a day and it has helped..maybe talk to your peditrician about these things..Hope this helps out!!!!!!!!

[Jjjsss]

My son (10 years old going on 11 in april)got a cold with a bit of throat infection around Sunday we took him to the doctor on Tuesday got coughing med and antibiotic, he took them tues wed and twice today, I stopped giving him the med tonite cause he's been complaint about not being able to move his right hand and right foot and was crying just now trying to fall asleep, it's so painful to see my little one in pain and I am not able to help him. I talked to the doctor he said to bring my son in in the morning... Anyone knows what might be the problem here? Thank you!

[TOMC76]

I AM GOING TO THE DOCTOR TOMMORROW AND CHECKING IF SHE IS FLAT FOOTED IF SHE IS HOPEFULLY THAT WILL STOP HER PAINS,AND I WILL TEXT BACK TO LET YE ALL NO TO HELP ALL OF THE CHILDERN BY

[summergyrl]

get a blood test fast.  This will show why the leg pain.  There are a few disgnosis out there but all of them are very serious and should not be taken as just growning pains.  There have been cases of rare blood disease lukemis.  I pray not for every child.  But every chenge and every hope is all we have and should also looked into.  Blood tests reval alot but be sure to include the rare blood cases reported.  Its becomming more common.

[summergyrl]

I had a family members boy approximately 4 years old at the time and he was complaning of leg pain in one leg.  Doctors could really find a reason.  Upon seeing a really good local doctor he checked the boy over and said to immediately get him checked in to a hospital and have a specialists come check his blood levels.  Sure enough,  he had a rare blood disease (a lukemia or cancer in the blood. )  After many transfustions and long longs stays in the ICU he came home.  Some restrictions applied and had to take medication on time everyday he did come into remission,.  And is now age 11 and is doing very well.  Still in remission with no more pain.  We were told it was a good thing we did get the proper diagnosis before too much more time passed.  It is a diffucult sympton to disgnosis and because of the rare cases reported it sometimes is overlooked.  Hope is all we have and every bit of information shared is another piece of hope.  I send all my wishes and prayers for full recoveries of the children having pain.  Thank you.

[MomToBoy21]

Hello everyone,

I'm a mom of a 4 year old boy who also had this happening - I hope your kids all get some relief from their pain.

Well, in my son's case and likely in your children's as well - it's a combination of growing pains (natural at those ages) and since their bodies ARE growing, it is extremely likely to also be iron/folic acid/magnesium deficiencies, other vitamins, etc.

Some foods, like dairy products, INHIBIT the absorption of iron and other vitamins. Unfortunately, you'll need a blood test which if you prep your child properly, will only hurt for about 10 seconds when they draw the blood sample. They can run an iron and TIBC, serum ferritin test and other vitamin test for deficiency. But according to several pediatrician's I've spoken to, it's totally natural for kids to be low on iron because their bodies use up so much. By extension, it's also very natural for them to be vitamin deficient because they simply are not going to get all their nutritional needs from food.

Your little teaspoon or child's vitamin pill just does not have enough vitamins in it. If you REALLY start reading the labels on your kids vitamins, you'll see how little there are in there. Please check the label on the bottle and read up on exactly what you are giving or not giving them. Don't be fooled by "KID Vitamin Brands", check around.

Although there is no true recommended daily allowance, just guides, I have increased my son's vitamin levels during periods of obvious growth, like more sleep, more appetite, leg pains. Remember the bone marrow is where the red blood cells come from, which fuels the whole body. When the body is not getting enough iron, it starts "squeezing" it out of the bones.

I give him 3 doses with each meal for up to a week or 2 weeks at a time, then I go back down to 2 doses. After doing this, he really started feeling better. Honestly, I'd rather give him more vitamins than pain pills.

It's also important to give the vitamins at the right time and not with certain foods, etc, that can block absorption.

Caution about iron though, it's possible to overload, so make sure to get separate iron vitamins and not the multi-vitamins with iron. Also, make sure to get screened for THALASSEMIA - too many people have this blood disorder and don't know about it and don't get the kids checked.

Good luck to all and last but not least - I'M NOT A DOCTOR, Please see your child's doctor and bring up your concerns. But do insist on getting a blood test or vitamin PANEL test to see what your child's deficiencies are, if any. Sometimes, IT IS MORE THAN JUST GROWING PAINS.

Best,

GS