Joint pain in 16-year-old?

Question

I'm a 16-year-old female and recently experiencing on-off pain in my knees and ankles, mainly my left. In the knee the pain feels almost as if fluid is leaking but I'm sure that's just my imagination, while my ankle simply feels weak and as if it will give out, though it doesn't. It isn't severe crippling pain, more of an ache.

The ache/pain does not considerably worsen with exercise but is mainly present in the cold (which to me suggested arthritis, but I'm only 16).

I do have the idea it might be a calcium deficiency as I don't get my required 3 serves of dairy (mainly due to a slight eating disorder), though I do take a multivitamin. Again, is this likely at 16?

Any other ideas?

Answer 1

Im 16 too. I also get pains in my ankle, but its because i fractured it and in the cold and when i run its starts to fail. About the pains, i think you should talk to a doctor about it, it might be nothing but it can also be something serious. About your eating disorder, you should try to fix it, i dont get my required servings of calcium either, so i dont think the pains are calcium deficiency, and i also dont think its normal for you to be experiencing any pains at our age. You should talk to a doctor, it might turn out to be something simple. Good luck!

Answer 2

I have had knee pain since I was four years old. At 13 I was diagnosed with (spelling?) Osgood Schlatters disease. It is a condition where the cartilage is getting worn down because the bones are scraping it. Also, at age 25 I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and the doctors say I may have had it since I was 4. The doctors told me that with my knee condition to exercise the knees, but it never helped me. All I can do is take pain medication for it. But, my knees hurt severely and sometimes they would give out because of the pain. I would definitely go to the doctor and get it checked out.

Answer 3

It could be tendonitis. You can tell it is if walking down stairs aggravates it/is painful.

It could be some other thing the spelling of which I do not know but sounds like "oz-good-shlot-ers" which has to do with growing. If when something taps you around that area on the knee it hurts (from painful to funnybone style) than that's probably what you have

I'm not sure about the ankles though.
Arthritis is unlikely, and as for Calcuim be sure to get Vitamin D which may actually be more important.

Answer 4

I began having achy joints at 15. I was told I was a healthy farm girl and it couldn't be anything serious. Now I'm 66 and I have rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative joint disease, spinal spondylosis and scoliosis. I've got my education, raised a family, taught school and managed a day and residential program for elderly mentally challenged people and I've done it all THROUGH the pain! I had to retire at 55 and am now unable to walk. I've had knee replacement, hip replacement, cervical discectomy, and am headed for more surgery. Arthritis doesn't check your age before it moves in to stay. Listen to the messages you're getting from your body!