child w/foot pain during the night

[dmarie0723]

Periodically, for the past year, my almost six year old son wakes up in the night sobbing from foot pain. This seems to happen in streaks - several nights in a row for a week or so, then not again for several more weeks. He says the tops and sides of his feet hurt.

I do think he is in genuine pain and have checked his shoes & toenails. When it is happening, I give him some ibuprofen and massage his feet until he falls asleep again. However, this has occasionally taken 45 minutes or longer of him just crying in pain.

He has a very good diet & gets plenty of exercise. He takes a daily vitamin and 1.5 mg. Tenex daily. I do believe the foot pain was a problem before we started the Tenex. I also don't think this is an attention seeking behavior or "growing pains."

Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this? Thanks.

-dmarie0723

[Unregistered]

My almost two year old son also wakes up in the night sobbing from foot pain. Just like you are experiencing, it happens in streaks - several nights in a row for a week or so, then not again for several more weeks. He says his foot or leg hurts but since he is so young, he doesn't stress any other details.
He just hold his foot and sobs.

This just happened again tonight which is what prompted me to research online. I was wondering if you have spoken to a doctor yet? I mentioned it at his 18 month exam but his pediatrician checked his foot and said if it happens again we could do xrays. Then it seemed to disappear for quite awhile.

Another thing I find strange and worrisome is that it is always the same foot...I say foot because even when he says "my leg" he is still holding his right foot.

Have you been able to find any more information about this symptom?

[dmarie0723]

The only thing I have discovered about my son's foot pain is that the medication he is on can cause leg cramps. But, it is not his legs, it is his feet, and I believe he had this problem before the Tenex. However, since my first posting, we have cut back the Tenex to 1 mg/day. There have been no further incidences (but I don't believe the problem is gone).

I asked his Dr. about the foot pain and he seemed to think it was "growing pains." I don't buy that. Still, I have found nothing more that I think would be a strong possibility when doing my own internet research.

I have looked at all the well-knowns; arthritis, diabetes, etc. None of them fit. I have also looked into the less common illnessess. I have no clue at this point. Have you learned anything new?

-dmarie0723

[Unregistered]

I haven't heard anything new. Whenever I research online I either can rule out all the other conditions/symptoms, or I get really scared because some articles talk about bone cancer and other horrible diseases.

I have an appointment with the pediatrician in a couple of weeks and am hoping he will refer my son to an orthopedic specialist or maybe recommend some other investigating like xrays or something. Have you done anything like that? Since my last post (6/15), my son has not woken up during the night or complained of any further pain, but this is usually how it goes. He will be fine for a month, or even a few months, and then randomly be back for a week.

Keep me posted if you hear of anything and I'll do the same!

Thanks,
JS

[dmarie0723]

Let me know what your doctor says, please. So far, my son has had only one more instance since my last posting. Unusual that it was only one. Even more so, because he told me about it the next day. I found him on the sofa in the morning and he said he went there because his foot was hurting. Yet, he never woke my husband nor myself up. So, it must have not been severe or perhaps he was just giving me an excuse for being on the sofa. Still....

I did find something on the internet you may/may not have seen. Some elements I found there affirmed that I need to keep looking. Go to: http://www.parenting.com/parenting/c...535338,00.html

Keep me posted if you learn anything on your end, please.

-D.G.

[dmarie0723]

Thought I had something. Stumbled across Kohler's Disease. Yet, it says nothing about the child waking up at night in pain. The sex & age fit my son, but your son would be a bit young.

I'll keep looking. Have you had any progress?

-D.G.

[dmarie0723]

Just found more on Kohler's Disease. Your son may not be too young. Check out this link: http://www.emedicine.com/orthoped/topic410.htm

We should both be only too lucky if this were the cause of our sons' pain. It is not long term and complete recovery is to be expected.

-D.G.

[Unregistered]

Nothing new on my end. My appointment got rescheduled, we are going on the 27th so I'll let you know what the doctor says I should do/try next. My son still hasn't complained of the night time foot pain since my original post. It was happening every few weeks or so before. I am still anxious to hear what the doctor might recommend.

The only other bit of info I have heard is from other mother's. I have a few friends who have older children now but say that they had complained about foot pain and/or leg cramps when they were young, and usually just at night/bedtime. They said their doctors all called it "growing pains".

[YGOS]

I Also Have A Grandaughter Who Has Night Foot Pain. She Is Only 2 1/2 Years Old, And Has Had This For About 6 Months. I Am Very Concerned , However Her Mom Says She Had Foot Pain At Night As A Young Girl. My Grandaughter Is
A Very Sound Sleeper. And It Wakes Her Up. She Cries Sometimes For A 30 Mon. To And Hour. I Give Her Tylenol For Pain And Rub Her Feet. It
Occurs About Once Every 2 Weeks. Her Pediatrician Says It Is Growing Pains.
I Don's Beleive This So I Am Turning To The Internet Hoping To Find Answers.
I See There Is Many Other Children With The Same Problem. Please Respond
If You Can Help. Thank You

[Unregistered mom]

Hey moms,

My son who is now 6 years old has been experiencing the same described foot pain for the last year or so. He is not an overweight child and from his dr.'s appt. his feet are perfectly normal otherwise. I have been told that it is just "growing pains" but it seems odd to me that his "growing pains" are only in his feet and are not experienced anywhere else.

I too am looking for further answers, I will keep you posted on my research and further Dr. appts he has regarding this issue.

Kindly