My 7 year old Son gets cramp / growing pains in his legs at night.....?

Question

Why?

Answer 1

It could be a potassium deficiency. Try having him eat one banana a day for a week, this may cure it.

Answer 2

I don't know why but if they are cramps in the calf muscle I know how you can give him instant relief and you can show him how to do it for himself too if you are not there when he has a cramp.

If it is in the calf, as they usually are, the muscle locks and becomes very hard. I think it may be because of the circulation being restricted while sleeping with one leg resting on the other and this causes a lack of oxygen to the muscle. The most likely time it will cramp is when your son wakes and stretches.

What you do is to take his foot in your hand, hold the heel and with your other hand push all his toes together upwards, as if you are trying to push the front part of his foot up in front of his shin.

This will give immediate relief and it will stop the cramp totally in a few seconds. I think it works by stretching the calf muscle linearly and this unlocking it without making it work while it is oxygen starved. The one thing I am sure about is that it works.

When you have shown him how then the way he deals with it himself is to stand with the knee of the affected leg bent, pressing his toes on the floor so that his foot is in a position as if he were wearing ladies high heels.

Answer 3

Have you discussed it with his pediatrician just to be sure? That's always a good idea.

My children, my husband and I all had these pains when we were kids, and I can sympathize. They seem to occur during periods of rapid growth. They may be worse after periods of intense exercise or hard play. However, kids really need to continue to play hard, so don't restrict his activities!

There are other things that can cause leg pain so if you have not mentioned it to his doctor, it would be a good idea. It is probably nothing to worry about except that he is so uncomfortable, but check with the doc.

Answer 4

I learned this recently in my coaching certification class. In a roundabout way you could call it growing pains. When a child grows the bones get longer, while the tendons and muscles attached to them do not. What they do is stretch, and during stretching the muscles are microscopically torn and repair themselves over a short period of time. The pain is simply the muscles adjusting to the growth of bone.

Answer 5

I used to suffer as a child from this and one of my children do aswell It is part of the course and nothing too serious but if it is a continous thing and carries on (like evey night or more often than not ) I would get it checked out just keep check hope he gets over it soon I so remeber what it was like and it felt like hell at the time and it is

Answer 6

Hi...this happened to me as a child and now to my children. I have noticed it happens when they are on their feet all day, running and playing. I just give ibuprofen and they feel better. The two oldest of my four have begun to outgrow this ( ages 7 1/2 and 10). I give my four-year-old ibuprofen on nights we have had a busy day and that helps it. Good luck.

Answer 7

If he doesn't play ask him to play in sunshine on ground.
Avoid all cold drinks.
Keep both legs in warm water bucket before sleeping.
Give warm water to drink before sleeping if needed.
Use fresh, warm and spicy food for him.

Answer 8

Google 'Restless Leg Syndrome'. It sounds like this condition which can effect people of any age in varying degrees (I have it).

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

You are not going to believe me...but it works.

Try it before you grumble.
I used to be a dancer.
Put a bar of soap under the TOP sheet on your bed.
The cramps and ALL muscle spasms will go away....

Answer 10

Try giving the kid some Gatorade during the day. Maybe he needs electrolytes.