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	coughs	cradle cap	croup	diarrhea
	earache	fever	head injury	head lice
	headache	hives	impetigo	insect bites
	limb pain	menstrual cramps	mouth ulcers	nosebleeds
	pinworms	poison ivy	ringworm	sore throat
	sunburn	teething	thrush	tick bites
	vomiting

LIMB PAIN

Limb pain, which most often occurs in the legs, has three (3) main causes:

• Muscle cramps;
• Growing pains, and
• Muscle strain.

Muscle cramps usually occur at night in the foot or calf muscles, especially after a very active day. Growing pains also usually occur at night but tend to be located more in the front part of the lower legs, These cramps and growing pains occur off and on and may occur in different limbs. The child does not have a fever associated with their limb pain and does not limp the next day.

Muscle strain is from overuse or injury to muscles. The pain is more continuous and usually located to one area.

Call our office immediately if your child:

• Is acting sick or has a fever associated with their limb pain;
• Limps or has restricted movement of the painful limb;
• Has redness or swelling of the painful limb;
• Has a known injury to the limb, or
• Has a swollen joint.

If you have an emergency during or after office hours call 345-3133.

Call during regular office hours:

• If there is thigh pain;
• If the limb pain persists at night, or
• If you have other concerns or questions.

To treat muscle cramps:

• Massage the painful muscles, and
• Keep the foot and toes flexed upward until the spasm relaxes.

Future attacks can often be prevented by daily stretching exercises of the heel cords. This can be done by having your child lean forward at their ankles with their hands against a wall, keeping their knees straight. They should hold this position for 10 seconds and repeat three (3) times.

To treat growing pains:

• Massage the painful area;
• Apply heat, and
• Give Motrin or Advil.

During the first 24 hours, treat a strained muscle with ice packs on the painful area for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times a day. This can be followed with a warm bath for at least 20 minutes and gentle exercise of the involved muscle. You may give Motrin or Advil for pain relief.

This advice on limb pain is presented as general information and is not meant to be specific treatment for your child’s medical problem. If you need further assistance, call 345-3133 to speak with one of our Health Information Nurses.