failure to thrieve, growing pains, feeding tubes

[sarahlaw]

My 3 yr old didn't grow much for the first 1.5 yrs (gained 9 lbs since birth) Now has a feeding tube for 1.5 yrs and doing much better. She is 28lbs (8lbs @ birth). Her health seems to have improved and she throws up a lot less. She does suffer from growing pains. She also has been waking up screaming since she was little. I use to think it was her tummy. As she got older she said my leg and would hold it. Now she tells me where it hurts. It bothers her during the day sometimes, but a lot at night. She'll go maybe a week of pain free, two if lucky. WE rub it, ice it, and medicate her w/ pain relief. She cries a lot (more like screams sometimes, and will crawl or limp at these times) I've been told it's growing pains. Her SED rate test was normal. Does anyone have a child w/ feeding prob. that has caught up and had these growing pains? I'd like to find other people who kids go through this that can reassure me that she will grow out of this and not to worry too much. Is there anyone who has any idea what else it can be. I mentioned arthritis to the Dr. that is why the SED rate was done. How bad can growing pains get to be?

[mammo]

I've gone thru a lot of medical issues with my sons and grandson, and lost my oldest son, and just 11 months ago my grandson.  From where your daughter complains of pain is not typical of growing pains, they are in the muscles, and should not be tender to the touch.  If you read the article I sent, it states that when your child limps, is tired, or has unusual behavior (pulling out her hair) to seek medical advice.  I don't think I would continue thinking it is growing pains.  I would want another xray, and bloodwork done on her.  I lost my son because I trusted that his doctors were being vigilant and doing all that could be done....they weren't.  So I am a big advocate of second opinions and even third.  A lot may have changed since your daughter's last tests, I feel it's time to take another look, paticuarly if it's only the one leg.  My oldest son had growing pains, but they were in the calves of both legs.  I don't want to worry you, you've been thru a lot, but unfortunately we sometimes have to demand that testing be done.  We need to be advocates for our children.

[sarahlaw]

She had x-rays to rule out some rare problem when they were trying to figure out the failure to thrive. The measured her bones back then (At a yr) She didn't have this pain problem then that I recall. (We have been thru a lot so it kind of blurs together).  When she use to wake up crying I figured it was her stomach at first, until she got older and told me. Today she mentioned several times her legs hurt, but still play and acts like a active kid. It became really bad for a little while where she would stop playing and cry it hurt for a little while, but is not normally that bad. The pain gets bad at night, she wakes up from it. That is when she will limp or crawl. In the morning somedays she says it hurts and may limp a little for a while, but then eventually goes back to being able to run/play normal. Sometimes it hurts above knee area, but usually in lower leg and ankle. She gets tired easily I feel, but may be due to not eating as much- she was on meds for a long time where tiredness was a side effect. She ***** her thumb and pulls out her hair when tired and does it a lot during the day at times. (She puts herself to sleep this way- WE give her a barbie to pull the hair out) She'll seemed tired for a little while, but then snaps out of it. She says she wants me to massage it, but still screams and cries when I do.
I will try the heat. She asks for ice, but then wont put it on. Heat may be helpful. What stretching do you recommend?

[mammo]

Were xrays done to rule out any physical problem with the leg?  Does she prefer that you not touch the area?  If so, then it is not growing pains.  If she appears to feel better when you tend to her, then it is growing pains, but if the area is tender to the touch, again it's not growing pains. Growing pains are in the muscle and not the bones or joints.
I assume she had a thorough examination and history before making this diagnosis?
Treat growing pains with heat not ice, massage the area, and do stretching.
When to Call the Doctor
Alert your doctor if any of the following symptoms occur with your child's pain:
persistent pain, pain in the morning, or swelling or redness in one particular area or joint
pain associated with a particular injury
fever
limping
unusual rashes
loss of appetite
weakness
tiredness
uncharacteristic behavior
These signs are not due to growing pains and should be evaluated by the doctor.