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Growth Spurts in Teens
I hope I am writing in the correct forum, as I cannot find another one that this goes in. I am going to try and keep this as short as possible. First of all, I take my son to 2 doctors, as strange as that might sound. I have his local doctor who basically is for minor issues. Then he started going to a pediatrician who specialized in the area of tourettes and tic disorders, only after seeing a neurologist for awhile. As they indicated, he would eventually grow out of it and it could come back when he was older. He has grown out of it (I pray forever). Anyway, he is 13 years old and he has gotten a huge growth spurt. I know he has grown over the year, but now just in the last 3 months, it seems he has grown a lot. He will be 14 in close to 2 months. He is almost my height, as I am 5'8 &1/2". He is almost 5'8". Is this the normal height for his age? He also has been getting knee pains as he has been growing. The family doctor recently said that when he gets those it is just growing pains, so did the pediatrician. Now I might be paranoid that they are wrong, only because I have had them say I was fine when in fact, 2 surgeries later, it proves that I was in fact not fine.
When do boys usually stop growing? If he is having these pains still in both knees, does that mean he has a lot more growing to do? I honestly cannot remember my growth spurts when I was a kid and what it was like. He's also been getting headaches, in which he's had a couple of CT scans & blood work and they say he is fine, that everything is normal. Do boys just get headaches when they are in puberty? I thought he might have Chiari, like me, but they say he does not. I am just being paranoid? I have always been a little over protective of him (he'd say a lot over protective). I worry about him all the time. I have reason to from the time he was a baby and the fact he almost died (longer story). I will probably always be over protective of him in all aspects.
When do boys usually stop growing? If he is having these pains still in both knees, does that mean he has a lot more growing to do? I honestly cannot remember my growth spurts when I was a kid and what it was like. He's also been getting headaches, in which he's had a couple of CT scans & blood work and they say he is fine, that everything is normal. Do boys just get headaches when they are in puberty? I thought he might have Chiari, like me, but they say he does not. I am just being paranoid? I have always been a little over protective of him (he'd say a lot over protective). I worry about him all the time. I have reason to from the time he was a baby and the fact he almost died (longer story). I will probably always be over protective of him in all aspects.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi there,
Generally speaking, puberty and growth in boys often starts around age 10 and continues through 16 or 17, though most of the growing usually occurs between ages 12 and 15. Your son’s final height will depend on both your and his father’s height. If your son is almost 14, it sounds like he’s right about where he should be.
Joint pain is very common during this active phase of growth, particularly knee pain. It sounds like your son has a particular type of knee pain that occurs during puberty: Osgood-Schlatter. This pain occurs in both knees, is localized to the front part of the knee below the kneecap, and gets worse with activity like running and jumping. It occurs because of rapid bone growth, stretching of the muscles, and the resulting tension on the joints. It’s not dangerous and he’ll grow out of it. Make sure he’s stretching daily and rests from sports if he’s having a lot of pain. Icing and ibuprofen may help.
Headaches are also very common during puberty. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had some health struggles yourself. It’s understandable you would worry about your son, and I’m glad to hear he’s had normal scans and bloodwork. One recommendation is to see if your son can identify a pattern to his headaches. Perhaps have him keep a headache journal that includes: the time of day his headaches occur, how long they last, what makes them better or worse, how much sleep he got the night before, what food he ate prior to onset, how hydrated he is, and his stress level. Once patterns to the headaches are identified, they can often be controlled with behavior and lifestyle changes.
With all this growing he’s doing he likely has a healthy appetite. One of the most important things you can do it make sure he is getting good nutrition during this time – lots of fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins and fats.
It sounds like you love your son very much. Some level of motherly overprotection is natural and healthy, and you’ll have to balance that with his growing need for freedom and independence as he transitions to adulthood. It’s a delicate balance. Good luck!
Generally speaking, puberty and growth in boys often starts around age 10 and continues through 16 or 17, though most of the growing usually occurs between ages 12 and 15. Your son’s final height will depend on both your and his father’s height. If your son is almost 14, it sounds like he’s right about where he should be.
Joint pain is very common during this active phase of growth, particularly knee pain. It sounds like your son has a particular type of knee pain that occurs during puberty: Osgood-Schlatter. This pain occurs in both knees, is localized to the front part of the knee below the kneecap, and gets worse with activity like running and jumping. It occurs because of rapid bone growth, stretching of the muscles, and the resulting tension on the joints. It’s not dangerous and he’ll grow out of it. Make sure he’s stretching daily and rests from sports if he’s having a lot of pain. Icing and ibuprofen may help.
Headaches are also very common during puberty. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had some health struggles yourself. It’s understandable you would worry about your son, and I’m glad to hear he’s had normal scans and bloodwork. One recommendation is to see if your son can identify a pattern to his headaches. Perhaps have him keep a headache journal that includes: the time of day his headaches occur, how long they last, what makes them better or worse, how much sleep he got the night before, what food he ate prior to onset, how hydrated he is, and his stress level. Once patterns to the headaches are identified, they can often be controlled with behavior and lifestyle changes.
With all this growing he’s doing he likely has a healthy appetite. One of the most important things you can do it make sure he is getting good nutrition during this time – lots of fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins and fats.
It sounds like you love your son very much. Some level of motherly overprotection is natural and healthy, and you’ll have to balance that with his growing need for freedom and independence as he transitions to adulthood. It’s a delicate balance. Good luck!
Thank you! That is very helpful and makes me feel better about it all. :)
p.s. he is losing weight (he is not obese, but he is not at the correct weight he should be). The urologist (I know this will sound strange) said he will grow into his body and he will lose weight when he hits puberty and gets older. He also said that about the genitalia issue too (because it has always hid - I feel uncomfortable talking about it, but it's happened since he was little and they said it was normal too). They said it would be fine one day. I don't go looking because he is older and all, but I have asked him and he refuses to talk about it. He won't let the doctor look anymore either.
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