Childhood joint pain and fainting in the elderly

February 8, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Regarding your past columns about “growing pains,” I had such severe pain in my knees as a young teen that I could barely walk. I was told it was due to a growth spurt and to just learn to live with it. I had no fevers, redness or swelling, but just a few years later was hit with MCTD, including rheumatoid arthritis. I am happy that you told the child’s granny to look for other symptoms, such as fever, etc., but I think the pediatrician should have looked into doing some blood work to rule out other possibilities.

On another topic: For all those elderly people out there who have “fainting fits,” the “woozies” or the “spins,” drink a couple of glasses of water. My dad used to conk out for no apparent reason, and it usually turned out that he did not consume enough fluids and overused laxatives. [Read more...]

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Osgood-Schlatter possible cause of ‘growing pains’

September 28, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I wonder why you didn’t mention Osgood-Schlatter disease in your column about growing pains. Our son, who is now 38, had this condition when he was 12 and had to have both legs (one at a time) put into a cast for two months.

DEAR READER: Osgood-Schlatter (OS) causes a painful lump below the kneecap (where the tendon attaches to the shinbone) in some children. It results from growth spurts during puberty and typically occurs in children who participate in sports that involve jumping, running and swift changes in direction.
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Growing pains revisited

August 8, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I just read with interest your column on childhood growing pains. When my children were young and complained that their arms and legs hurt, we came up with the idea of wrapping an elastic bandage loosely around their aches. We named it the “growing-pains bandage.” It seemed to bring them comfort, and they always felt better once it was on.

As a parent, it can be frustrating because you don’t know how to help. This was our solution, and it worked for our kids. Hopefully, it will help some of your readers as well.

DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column about growing pains. I also suffered from these as a young boy. My mother took me to many doctors and was always told that it was growing pains. During my teen years, I had many joints that clicked and made noise. I have been suffering from arthritis for many years now.
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Are childhood growing pains real?

May 21, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 5-year-old grandson sometimes awakens in the night with pain in his legs, ankles or wrists. My daughter says he has growing pains. Is this true?

DEAR READER: Yes, it is, sort of. Up to 40 percent of children experience “growing pains” during two periods — from the ages of 3 to 5 and 8 to 12. There is no evidence to substantiate that bone growth causes pain. What is experienced is likely caused by activities such as running, jumping, climbing on a jungle gym, and being extremely active during the day. Most of the pain is concentrated in muscles behind the knees, in the calves and on the front portion of the thighs. It is often severe enough to awaken a child in the middle of the night, leaving a parent unsure of what to do.
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