Patient's question:
The child is ten years old now, and it has been about two or three years. Mainly, it's leg (knee) pain. When it hurts, I can't quite describe the feeling. The child is in extreme pain, but it only lasts for a short while, and then it's fine. Sometimes when taking the child to the hospital from home, the pain disappears before they even arrive at the hospital.In Qianxi, X-ray tests were done, and all the results were normal. Some said the child is calcium-deficient, and the child is a bit tall in height.
Doctor's answer:
Children's leg pain can generally be attributed to three main causes. The most common ones are:1. Transient Synovitis of the Hip Joint. This is a common condition in children, characterized by leg pain and limping. Due to the innervation of the obturator nerve, most children report knee pain, but the actual lesion is primarily in the hip joint. In mild cases, hip joint examinations may be normal, while severe cases may show pelvic tilt, making the affected leg appear longer than the healthy side. The exact pathogenesis is unclear, but known causes, ranked by frequency, include upper respiratory infections (especially those occurring about half a month before onset), trauma, and unknown causes. Treatment for mild cases may involve conservative measures such as rest and avoiding weight-bearing. Most children recover within 3–5 days, but to prevent recurrence, a two-week rest period is generally recommended. For cases lasting more than a week with severe symptoms, in addition to medication, hospital traction treatment should be administered. If the duration exceeds two weeks, a pelvic X-ray should be performed to rule out femoral head necrosis.
2. Growing Pains. Growing pains are a physiological response during the peak growth period of childhood. The peak occurrence is around age 11. Active boys tend to develop this condition earlier, sometimes as early as age 3 or 4. Growing pains typically occur during nighttime sleep and are most commonly felt in the knees and calves. The pain is usually described as a dull ache, though some children with growing pains may experience more severe pain, sometimes accompanied by cramp-like sensations in the calves. The exact cause of growing pains is not fully understood, but it is often believed to be related to excessive physical activity. Treatment for growing pains includes:
(1) Local massage with the hands twice a day for 15 minutes each time to alleviate symptoms;
(2) Calcium supplementation (e.g., milk or calcium tablets).
3. Traumatic Pain, such as muscle strains or fractures, usually has a history of trauma.
If your child experiences intermittent pain in both knee joints, growing pains may be a possible consideration.