Leg Pain Causes in Children

Leg pain is one of the common conditions experienced by children. It can be caused due to abnormalities or injury to the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels or nerves associated with the leg. Leg pain causes in children can range from minor to severe ones. It is advisable not to ignore leg pain as it can be a symptom of some severe disorders. What causes pain in the legs in children? Let us take a look at leg pain causes and symptoms in children.

Causes of Leg Pain in Children

In minor cases, pain in the legs can occur due to standing or sitting in one position for long. The pain caused due to these reasons subside after some time and do not require any medical help. Apart from these, the following are the severe leg pain causes in children.

Injury
Injury is one of the most common causes of pain in legs in children. A fracture, trauma caused due to accident, fall, blow, etc, can lead to severe pain in the leg. It can be followed by swelling, tingling and numbness in leg.

Herniated Disc
Herniated disc, also known as slipped disc or ruptured disc, can lead to severe leg pain. This condition occurs when the disc located between two consecutive vertebrae bulge or get ruptured. Sciatica is also one major leg pain causes. The pain caused due to sciatica or herniated disc is observed on only one of the legs.

Achilles Tendon Rupture
The rupture of the Achilles tendon (a fibrous cord connecting calf muscles to heel) is another leg pain causes in children. One experiences shooting pain in leg and foot due to this condition. Achilles tendon rupture can occur due to injury or trauma.

Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that develops when the nerve running down the legs get damaged. Injury or inflammation to these nerves can lead to burning leg pain. Weakness, abnormal walk, sweating, etc. are the other symptoms of it.

Muscle Cramps
Cramping or sudden contraction in the muscles in another common leg pain causes in children. It can be caused due to performing over strenuous sports activity, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, etc. Muscles cramp is also one of the causes of leg pain at night in children.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Although arthritis is commonly observed among older adults, there are cases of juvenile or childhood arthritis found. One of the forms of arthritis in children is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation in joints, swelling, etc. Although rare, it is one of the potential causes of chronic leg pain in children.

Apart from the above mentioned ones, leg pain in children can also be a symptom of some other diseases and disorders like mineral and vitamin deficiencies, muscle strain or pull, ligament sprain, etc. Therefore, it is advisable to consult the doctor if one observes frequent leg pain that does not subside even after taking rest or after using home remedies. All the causes of leg pain can be treated effectively with the help of medications or surgery. In some cases, even physical therapy may prove beneficial to get rid of pain in the legs. As a preventive measure, children should be encouraged to have a balanced diet and undertake regular exercise to prevent leg cramps and pain.

This was brief information on leg pain causes in children. As a concluding note, we can summarize that one should not ignore the symptoms of chronic leg pain; rather undertake timely treatment to get rid of the pain and discomfort. Take care!