Growing Pains in Kids

[mommamia]

Hi everyone,

My daughter has constant growing pains in her legs. Is there something that would help with this? My first thought was calcium from leafy greens, but I'm not so sure this is a calcium issue as it is a muscle related issue. I thought growing pains came from the bones growing so fast that the muscles couldn't keep up so in stretching cause pain?

Any thoughts for this newbie would be welcome!

[rawispeace]

I had this when i was little for years...i would wake up in the middle of the night screaming and crying and my mom would take me to the hospital and every time they would say growing pains...growing pains year after year after year? and i wasnt noticably growing either. I dont know but I was also lactose intolerant...dont know if that had anything to do with it. Id say increase calcium and raw foods all the way around. I know when I was little all I would eat were hot dogs macncheese ane peanut butter sandwhiches. not very healthy things. these leg pains must have went from age 4 or 5 to 10ish.

[Mina]

My son used to cry every week, his legs used to bug him all the time, specially at night. My mother in law called them growing pains. I did not beleive on that. So I happend to read a book on allergies and this doctor did not beleive in growing pains either , he was saying it was an allergy to milk. So I took my son off milk 6 months ago. Never had any pain since. he still drinks his green smoothies every day, no problem.
mina

[mommamia]

Fascinating. My daughter has flat feet and we always thought that there was a connection. I'll do some more research. I will bear in mind what the two of your are saying, thought. We've always been big dairy/milk drinkers until about a month ago. Since then, we've hardly had any milk in our diet. I"m going to follow this carefully. She's just started drinking Almond milk and I wanted to introduce Sesame for the calcium.

Thanks so much for this food for thought!!

[Mina]

don't forget it is not only milk but any diary product. my kids lately started to eat yogurt( last two weeks) so they started to complain about the pain in their legs. my daughter never complaind before because she does not like milk, but she does like yogurt. So no more diary product.
mina

[mommamia]

Thanks for that reminder, because my daughter does like yogurt! I'm starting to test this out this week!

[Lauradee]

i would lay off dairy and drink greens instead


cheers

laurs

[mommamia]

Thanks so much. My husband is 6 3' ~~she does grow FAST. Three inches in about 2 months at one point.

[cpinokc]

Sometimes I think my daughter gets leg cramps because of a potassium deficiency. All 3 of my kids eat a high raw diet, but my daughter just doesn't eat much compared to my boys. So I think she may occassionally be deficient. I try to give her an orange every day because it has calcium and potassium. It's helped reduce the amount of leg cramps, so that could be the problem. You might give oranges a try! ;)

[b_light]

Is your daughter very flexible?

When I was young, I had terrible "growing pains" and found out in early adolescence that it was hypermobility (loose joints). I think it isn't that rare, and is more common in girls (but hardly anyone tests for it). Eating raw or high raw has helped with pain associated with this (I still have pain in my early twenties, and have already developed osteoarthritis in my hands/wrists). I am finding out now about all the things I could've done to prevent arthritis (physical therapy, etc.). Anyway, it's just a thought, and if you think it might be a possibility, go to [ http://www.hypermobility.org/beighton.php ] to see how it is diagnosed.

[mommamia]

cpinokc: Thanks for mentioning that...just starting out on raw so am always concerned about wanting to get her all the minerals/vitamins she needs. She eats a lot of bananas and has always LOVED oranges. I'll keep working at that, though.

She does have some issues w/flat feet, but when I took her to the podiatrist he assured me that the growing pains are seperate. She gets some heal pain which has to do more w/the flat feet. She has orthotics and we areworking on that...but I was hoping there was something more nutritionally I could do. Interestingly, she had some cheese a couple days in a row and then had pains for two nights in a row! I told her what was written here and she is willing to try to go w/out dairy for awhile to see what happens!

b-light: Thank you so much for mentioning this too. I don't see her as being really flexible. She has friends that are more so that she is..HOWEVER...I know a girl who is about 16 that seems to have the hyperflexibility issue! She's been to Dr's and this is what they seem to be coming up with. She is incedibly limber and when she overdoes it physically she is often in terrible pain. Thanks for pointing out this site adn if it comes up I will mention that you were helped by going raw. Thanks!!

[mommamia]

Hey B light!

Can I ask a bit more how raw has helped your hypermobility? I was discussing this w/the aforementioned friend and would be interested in telling them what you experienced?

Mind sharing?

[b_light]

The very best thing I have done for my joints is the master cleanser (I do mine with raw agave nectar instead of maple syrup). I understand some people don't do well at that particular cleanse, but for me it has helped immensely! I experience no pain whatsoever when I do that cleanse. After a cleanse, as long as I don't eat any cooked food, I have no pain. But as soon as I eat just a little bit, some pain comes back. I have had back pain since I was a preteen (I think it is from the hypermobility) and it completely goes away when I am 100%. Also, I've added some new foods to help prevent/treat arthritis, most notably: lots of dark greens and celery juice (half and half with my morning apple juice).

Also, I've made a few modifications with how I do things. For instance, just because I can wash my own back without a tool doesn't mean I should... so I try to use a handled brush, etc. Also, I try not to use my hands to assist in getting myself out of a chair or off the ground (it causes them to hyperextend and stresses them). I try not to jump from a higher place to a lower place because it hyperextends my ankles. It may not hurt at the time, but I know I will pay for it later.

I have two knee braces, two ankle braces, and two wrist braces handy (one of each is in my car) in case I step on my foot funny or twist my wrist funny. It kind of feels like they are just not held in well, so I support them externally for a day or so if they feel week (a suggestion from a co-worker who taught marshall arts). The braces I bought are slim enough to fit under my clothes so people won't know.

Whew! I wasn't planning on writing that much, but I hope that it is helpful. If you want more info, just ask!

[mommamia]

B-light:

Thank you so much for that information! I will pass it on if I have a chance. I am so glad that this your hypermobility is so much more managable on a raw diet. Amazing. It sounds like you've really learned to work with your body too. I hope that this can help my friends and I may take you up on asking more info. if they would like it!

Thanks again for the information!

[ANNIEOM]

Growing Pains Are Often Related To Magnesium Deficiency- Let Me Check On Raw Sources Of Magnesium. :)