Your child has been complaining about their knee hurting, or maybe they've been limping after soccer practice. As a parent, joint pain in your child can be incredibly worrying, especially when you're not sure if it's something serious or just part of growing up.
Joint pain causes in children can range from completely normal growing pains to conditions that need medical attention. While most childhood joint pain isn't serious, knowing when to be concerned can give you peace of mind and ensure your child gets the care they need.
In this article, we'll explore what's normal when it comes to joint pain in children, the most common causes, and when it's time to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician at Íøºì³Ô¹Ï.
Is Joint Pain Normal in Children?
Many parents are surprised to learn that some joint pain during childhood is actually quite normal. Children's bodies are constantly growing, which can naturally lead to some discomfort.
Growing pains are a real thing, and they're pretty common between ages 3 and 12.
If your child complains about their legs hurting at bedtime or wakes up with achy thighs, calves, or the area behind their knees, you're probably dealing with classic growing pains.
Signs of normal growing pains:
- The aching happens in muscles, not the joints themselves
- Both legs hurt in the same way
- You won't see any swelling, redness, or warm spots
- Your child bounces back to normal during the day
- Rubbing their legs actually helps them feel better
When joint pain isn't normal:
Certain signs indicate that your child's joint pain needs medical evaluation:
- Persistent pain that lasts more than a few days or keeps returning in the same spot isn't typical of growing pains.
- Swelling or visible changes around joints are never normal. Swelling, redness, or warmth indicates inflammation that needs medical attention.
- Morning stiffness lasting more than an hour after waking up can signal inflammatory conditions.
- Pain affecting daily activities is concerning. If your child avoids sports, has trouble walking, or seems reluctant to use an arm or leg normally, the pain may be serious.
- Fever with joint pain always warrants immediate medical attention.
- Limping or favoring one side suggests significant pain affecting normal movement.
Trust your parental instincts. If something seems off about their joint pain, it's worth having it evaluated.
Common Causes of Joint Pain in Children
Understanding joint pain causes in children can help you assess your child's symptoms and know when to seek medical care.
Injury-Related Joint Pain
With more kids playing organized sports these days, sports injuries are becoming more common. Since children's bones are still growing, they're more prone to getting hurt than adults.
Some injuries happen suddenly from falls or crashes. With these, you'll usually see instant pain with swelling or bruising.
But others, known as , develop gradually when kids repeat the same motions over and over, including:
- Little League elbow (from throwing)
- Jumper's knee (from basketball or volleyball)
- Runner's knee (from running sports)
Inflammatory Conditions
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis in children, affecting about .
Signs of JIA include:
- Joint swelling that sticks around for more than six weeks
- Your child feels stiff for over an hour after waking up
- Pain that actually gets better when they start moving around
- Limping, especially first thing in the morning
Reactive arthritis can show up 2-4 weeks after your child has had an infection. Even one that didn't seem like a big deal at the time.
Infection-Related Joint Pain
Septic arthritis is a serious bacterial infection requiring immediate medical attention. Warning signs include:
- Severe joint pain that worsens quickly
- Fever and feeling unwell
- Swelling, redness, and warmth around the joint
- Inability to move the joint normally
Viral infections can sometimes cause temporary, mild joint pain that resolves as the illness clears up.
Other Medical Conditions
- Lyme disease from tick bites can cause joint pain weeks to months after infection.
- Autoimmune conditions like lupus can occasionally begin in childhood, causing joint pain along with other symptoms.
- Bone conditions such as Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease affect the hip joint when blood supply is interrupted, typically in children ages 4-10.
When to Seek Medical Evaluation for Joint Pain
Immediate medical attention needed:
- Fever with joint pain
- Severe pain preventing normal movement
- Rapid swelling and redness
- Joint pain after a significant injury
Schedule a routine appointment if:
- Joint pain lasts more than a few days
- Pain interferes with sleep or activities
- Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes
- Persistent limping
How Íøºì³Ô¹Ï Pediatricians Can Help With Joint Pain
When your child is hurting, you need answers fast.
The Íøºì³Ô¹Ï pediatrics and adolescent medicine team knows exactly how to tell the difference between normal growing pains and something that actually needs treatment.
Our approach includes:
- Thorough, child-friendly evaluation: We take time to understand what's happening. We check how their joints move, look for any signs of inflammation, and see how they're getting around.
- Targeted treatment plans: Conservative management (activity modification, pediatric physical therapy, child-safe medications) and coordination with specialists like pediatric rheumatologists or orthopedic surgeons when needed.
- Family-centered care: Clear communication about your child's condition, realistic recovery expectations, and practical guidance for managing daily activities.
- What sets us apart: Our experienced pediatricians quickly identify various joint pain causes and provide comprehensive care addressing both immediate pain relief and long-term joint health.
Ready to get answers? Our pediatricians have the experience to evaluate joint pain causes in children and develop effective treatment plans. Find a Íøºì³Ô¹Ï pediatrician near you and schedule an appointment to discuss your child's symptoms.