NanceXToo Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 He'll be 7 in November. He woke up saying ow, ow, ow over and over, and then crying, and then screaming hysterically that his legs hurt. I massaged them but he just kept crying. I encouraged him to try walking around and he threw himself on the floor crying. I finally got him to take some kid's ibuprofen. I tried putting a hot water bottle on his legs. I tried talking to him and distracting him. Finally, he began to calm down and a blueberry waffle and juice took care of the rest. Now he's sleeping again. That was awful, he was so miserable and I felt so helpless and bad for him! Growth spurt/growing pains, do you think?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I don't know but :grouphug:. My dd9 has had these off and on for a couple of years and I feel so bad for her. Hope he gets some sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily_Grace Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Maybe low in potassium? A banana or orange juice usually helps if that's the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 Maybe low in potassium? A banana or orange juice usually helps if that's the case. He doesn't like bananas, but I'll pick up some OJ. It can't hurt to try! This used to happen sometimes when he was younger, but not as bad as it was tonight! I hope/think it's growing pains and not a sign that anything is wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9763653 Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 My DD has had these for months now, on and off. They seem to be growing pains. What helps her, is to stretch her leg out completely (while lying down in bed), to lift it up slowly while keeping the leg straight, and to point the toes to her face as far as she can. I found this exercise on Google somewhere, and it eases the pain a little. Cold packs make the pain worse, while a hot bath helps sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieF Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 ds 9 has had them since he was about 4yrs, although he hasn't had any for a while. Nothing would calm him except for a painkiller. I did mention it to his dr when we were there any way and he said that it is quite common in boys for a time. Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabella Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Sounds like growing pains - watch for a growth spurt soon! Poor little guy! Glad he finally got relief, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy in Australia Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Magnesium helped both my boys at that age with growing pains, which this sounds like it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soonermomma Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Growing pains for sure. All four of my kids have them and it's terrible. My oldest sees and orthopedic surgeon regularly and I asked him about the growing pains. He says noone knows why they happen and that all you can do for them is motrin, heat, and massage. He told me if we go through periods where it's happening frequently to go ahead and give a motrin at bedtime to try to prevent for a few nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnylady303 Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 But my girls (6 & 8) get these. Magnesium. We made an arnica, clove, and mint massage oil (it is warming and cooling) that really seems to help. I think I've only given motrin once since we made that. I bet you could find something like that somewhere. But yeah, they can be really severe. I am sorry for your little guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I agree. Increase the magnesium levels some and see if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indygirl Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 My son gets leg cramps really bad at night too. A warm bath along with Tylenol really helps him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenangelcat Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 My DD has had these for months now, on and off. They seem to be growing pains. What helps her, is to stretch her leg out completely (while lying down in bed), to lift it up slowly while keeping the leg straight, and to point the toes to her face as far as she can. I found this exercise on Google somewhere, and it eases the pain a little. Cold packs make the pain worse, while a hot bath helps sometimes. :iagree: Once I learned to avoid pointing my toes in bed while stretching I have completely avoided having these cramps. If I wake up and feel one coming on then I immediately flex my toes up towards my face and it stops before it starts. When I used to get them, I'd end up with a sore leg for the rest of the day and be unable to put me down. As I kid I had a pair of plastic toy heels to walk around in until the pain subsided. I wish I new the flex trick earlier, it would have saved me 20 years of pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I get leg cramps when pregnant. Worst pain ever. The trick to getting rid of it is to FLEX the feet, NOT point the toes. The first time I pointed the toes and OUCH!!!! Walking does help too, but flexing the feet to stretch the calf is what makes it go away for me. magnesium/potassium help to prevent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 :iagree: Once I learned to avoid pointing my toes in bed while stretching I have completely avoided having these cramps. If I wake up and feel one coming on then I immediately flex my toes up towards my face and it stops before it starts. When I used to get them, I'd end up with a sore leg for the rest of the day and be unable to put me down. As I kid I had a pair of plastic toy heels to walk around in until the pain subsided. I wish I new the flex trick earlier, it would have saved me 20 years of pain. Yup, when pregnant I flex my feet to stretch every time I roll over, just to prevent them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Magnesium deficiency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I agree with magnesium supplement. If he won't swallow a pill, try a bath with epsom salts. Too much magnesium can cause diarrhea. I saw a Dr Oz episode where he said pickle juice cures leg cramps. Apparently it has the right ratio of salt to potassium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 My DS is the same age and he went through this a few nights in a row a couple of months ago. It definitely wasn't a potassium/magnesium thing because we'd been eating to rid DH of his leg cramps at the time. We attributed it to growing pains, heated his legs, and it was over after a few nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessed3x Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 ds 9 has had them since he was about 4yrs, although he hasn't had any for a while. Nothing would calm him except for a painkiller. I did mention it to his dr when we were there any way and he said that it is quite common in boys for a time.Stephanie :iagree: Same with my ds10. Any pain reliever usually works. DS10 stopped getting them at around age 9 for a couple of months, then he had one the night before last. Every time he has had them he has grown inches in a short amount of time. I just bought him new pants last week. :D Be ready. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rident_Mama Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I used to have them on long road trips (not growing pains, but leg cramps so bad I would cry), DD#1 gets them (growing pains). My chiropractor told me to try taking a good calcium/magnesium supplement with vitamin C. If we don't take it regularly to prevent leg cramps, we take it when we start having leg cramps and they stop within 1/2 hour. This is what she takes: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/LFT005/ItemDetail I take a packet of Emergen-C and 1.5 teaspoons of dolomite powder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I used to get those. Poor dear. :grouphug: When I get Charlie Horses I find that eating bananas helps, but I don't know if that would work with growing pains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misidawnrn Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Give him magnesium. A perinatologist I work with told me to do this when I was having leg cramps a while back. Also, when my son was having these, I gave him warm milk and told him that would fix it. (mind over matter) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.