Managing Growing Pains

Managing Growing Pains

I recall growing pains all too well as a child. I was a tall, skinny kid and grew like a weed. I vividly remember screaming out for my mom and dad in the middle of the night, knowing full well if I kept crying, they would eventually come in my room to help massage my legs. They are saints for that. It helped. 

I was also a child growing up in Wisconsin, eating a lot of processed convenience foods. It was the 80s, and we didn’t know much about food quality then, organic foods weren’t heard of, and my parents were working around the clock so there wasn’t a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Grass fed beef and free-range eggs? Nope. 

Fast-forward 30 years and a medical degree. I am now able to see that growing pains are much more than a manifestation of fast physical development. In fact, the medical community does not associate growing pains with fast growing at all, but likely has more to do with increased physical activity. From my perspective, they are more likely an indication of nutritional demand.

Here are some of my thoughts when parents of children report growing pains.

1. Calcium-Magnesium, AKA Cal-Mag. This is my favorite and most reliable go-to for growing pains. You can find liquid and powder versions, just make sure you’re dosing as directed for children. Calcium and magnesium are minerals found primarily in animal sources like meat and dairy, but dark leafy greens and nuts can be great sources as well. I recommend giving Cal-Mag before bed as prevention of not only growing pains, but restless leg syndrome and leg cramps in adults as well.
   1. Magnesium can also be used topically either in an oil with massage or as Epsom salts in a bath before bed. 
2. Essential oils: Massage with essential oils like frankincense and lavender (along with a carrier oil) can be a great treatment for kids with growing pains. 
3. Homeopathy: Calc Phos 6X is a gentle over-the-counter homeopathic and an easy treatment for kid compliance. These little chalky pellets are liked by most kids. See your naturopathic physician about a specific remedy for your child. 
4. Good footwear. Many kids (including my own) have shoes that have little to no support for developing bodies. Growing bodies need supportive footwear more than anyone else as they are developing their structural bodies. Their posture and alignment begins at an early age as they adapt to their environment. Consider investing in quality footwear for your children. I really like Keens shoe ware. 
5. Vitamin D. I recommend all children get 400IU of Vitamin D every day with food (even in the summer months). This is protective to the immune system especially, but is a helpful nutrient in bone development. Vitamin D deficiency can often go unnoticed because most physicians don’t run blood tests on children.
6. Consider seeing your pediatrician if these ideas don't help. Bloodwork may be indicated to check to make sure your child is not anemic (deficient in iron or B12/folate). They may also need workup for an autoimmune condition called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease.