Relieving Toddlers’ Joint Pains

– What No One Told Me

Whenever our children are in pain or discomfort it always worries us – and we naturally want to fix it as quickly and gently as possible. That is also true for growing pains.

If you google “how to relieve joint pains in kids” or “how to treat growing pains” you get a list of the most commonly used treatments and a lot of other useful information.

However, I haven’t found a detailed, step-by-step, illustrated guide on how to actually relieve the pains.

Although it is good to know that the four most commonly used remedies are (1) applying warmth, (2) massaging, (3) stretching and (4) painkillers, many parents may feel a bit lost when it comes to putting those things into action.

When a dear friend of mine whose daughter just turned three told me that her little one started to complain about pains in the thighs, and that she didn’t know how to relieve those pains either by massaging or stretching, I became aware of the fact that many other parents may experience the same trouble.

Therefore, I decided to dive into my pool of knowledge and experience from years of professional swimming and receiving physiotherapy and massages. I also did further research and have put together easy-to-follow, step-by-step illustrated descriptions with additional useful information and hacks.

What no one actually told me…

During my research, I noticed a few things that no one actually tells you about growing pains of children:

Firstly, as mentioned, how to actually implement the recommended methods of relieving the pains.

The following links take you to the articles I wrote, describing the “how to” in detail, including helpful photos and tips.

Secondly, yes, growing pains usually occur between the ages of 3 and 12, but it is not uncommon for toddlers younger than three, or even babies to experience similar painful sensations. My two year old regularly asks me to massage his feet and thighs before he goes to sleep, or sometimes even wakes up during the night in pain.

Thirdly, applying warmth by means of a bath or a hot water bottle can provide relief from those pains, but there are situations when heat does the exact opposite of taking the discomfort away – it actually makes things worse. I’ll explain briefly why that is the case further down in this article. In the articles mentioned above I also explain in more detail.

What growing pains are, and where they come from

Growing pains, also known as joint pains, are most common between the ages of 3 and 12, but can also occur in babies younger than 2. They are often a direct result of growth spurts or increased exercise during the day such as playing (running, jumping, etc.) or doing sports.

These pains are usually muscle pains that manifest as cramping and throbbing during the night. They typically occur in the thigh and calf muscle or in the muscles located behind the knees, and less often in the arms. Less common are pains caused by too much heat in the muscles. This either causes a slight internal swelling and pressure or, in the case of weak connective tissue, the muscles can’t give the veins enough support, thus decreasing blood flow.

Children often describe growing pains as a feeling of ants or spiders in or on their thighs, or the sensation of something biting or stinging.

How growing pains can be treated naturally

As mentioned before, joint pains and discomfort can be taken away with the following natural remedies:

The best treatment for growth pains is to relax the musculoskeletal system. This can easily be done by (1) applying warmth (warm bath, hot water bottle, heat bag), or cooling the thighs, depending on the cause of the pain, (2) massaging the muscles, loosening sticky fasciae, and (3) stretching. Painkillers are an option as well but will only dull the symptoms and do not take away the source of the pain.

Applying warmth or a cooling pad as well as massaging and stretching are not difficult. But be aware that when they are not done correctly they can be quite ineffective. Therefore, I invite you to go through them together with me in more detail in the following articles. In order to get the most out of them, let’s look at what causes joint pains.

What Causes Growing Pains

In order to pick the right treatment, we have to understand how the musculoskeletal system works, what causes the pain and where it’s located.

Most pains and discomforts are caused by brief cramps of the muscles or the “pre-cramp-stage”, which are those moments where you can feel a cramp is about to happen and you avoid it just in time by briefly stretching or changing position. These types of pains are directly located in the muscle tissue and leave the muscle tense, “tired” and hard.

Another source of the discomfort can be caused by the fasciae – the thin layers of fibrous tissue that cover every muscle. The fasciae fibers are usually loose and wrap around the muscle smoothly like silk, but they can also literally stick together (imagine a woolen sweater washed too hot) and stop being flexible. When this happens they put pressure on the muscle itself. The muscle tries to counteract that pressure and is constantly under stress, which in turn is felt as tiredness in the muscle.

If the muscle and fasciae put too much pressure on the tendon (the flexible but inelastic cord that attaches the muscle to the bone), it is also felt as either discomfort or pain.

Is it necessary to see a doctor when your child suffers from growing pains?

The responsibility of whether to see a doctor or not always lies with you, the parent or legal guardian. I am therefore in no position to give you a clear “yes” or “no” answer to that. However, I would follow the advice given on www.Mayoclinic.org, www.medicalnewstoday.com, www.my.clevelandclinic.org, or www.Webmd.com to see a doctor when the following circumstances apply:

The pain is persistent and/or is still present in the morning
The pain is severe enough to interfere with your child’s normal activities
The pain is clearly located in the joints (the joints are red, warm or swollen)
The pain is associated with an injury, like a fall
There are other signs or symptoms such as swelling, redness, tenderness, fever, limping, rash, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, difficulty walking, or noticeable weight loss.

I would also see a doctor if applying warmth/cooling, massaging and stretching don’t help your beloved little ones. I personally would not give painkillers immediately (if not prescribed), as painkillers usually only take away the symptoms, and don’t treat the cause of pain.

If you decide to take your child to the doctor, you can prepare by having answers ready for questions like:

Where exactly does it hurt?
When do the pains usually occur? At a certain time of the day, or after a certain activity?
How long do the pains last?
Were you able to treat or relieve the pain? What worked, what didn’t work?
Does the pain wake your child up at night or make it difficult for them to fall asleep?
Are there any other symptoms that you’ve noticed? (check the list above)
Has your child recently had a lot of exercise or started a new physical activity?

I wish you and your beloved little ones all the best and good health, happiness and joy!

Remember that although growing pains usually occur after 3 years of age, they can also affect a toddler or baby. Because babies in particular make enormous leaps in terms of mental and physical development, which also include bouncing and hundreds of repetitions of the same movement and steps, I would not be surprised if a lot of crying and fussing (also during the night) can be directly linked to discomfort and pains in the muscles and joints. Since babies are still too small to tell us what the matter is (which can be frustrating for both sides), I highly recommend massaging little ones daily. This has many health benefits and enables great bonding time. If you would like more information, please feel free to check out this article I’ve put together:

How To Do Ayurvedic Massage On A Newborn Illustrated Guide