Limb Pain
Symptom Definition
- Pains in the arms or legs
- The pain is not due to a known injury
- Main Causes: muscle spasms and strained muscles from overuse (eg excessive throwing and jumping)
- Brief pains (1 to 15 minutes) are usually due to muscle spasms. Foot or calf muscles are especially prone to cramps that awaken from sleep
- Continuous acute pains (hours to 3 days) are usually due to overstrenuous activities or forgotten muscle injuries during the preceding day
- Serious causes: fractures or swollen joints (arthritis)
See More Appropriate Topic
- If follows injury, see Arm or Leg Trauma
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- Swollen joint or can’t move joint fully
- Calf pain on 1 side lasts > 12 hours
- Bright red area on skin
- Muscle weakness or can’t stand or walk
- Tingling (pins and needles) sensation present > 1 hour
- Severe pain or cries when limb touched or moved
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Fever is present
- Pain makes child walk abnormally (has limp)
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
- You have other questions or concerns
- Cause of limb pain is uncertain
- Limb pain present > 7 days
- Limb pains are a recurrent problem
Parent Care at Home If
- Caused by muscle cramps in the calf or foot
- Caused by strained muscles
- Cause is obvious and harmless (e.g. tight new shoes, a shot within last 24 hours)
Home Care Advice for Muscle Cramps Or Muscle Strains
- Treatment For Muscle Cramps
- Muscle cramps in the feet or calf muscles occur in a third of children
- During attacks, stretch the painful muscle by pulling the foot and toes upward as far as they will go to break the spasm
- Stretch the muscle in the direction opposite to how it is being pulled by the cramp or spasm
- Massage the painful muscle with an ice pack for 20 minutes
- If these are heat cramps (occurring during exercise on a hot day), give lots of water to drink in addition to stretching the muscle and an ice pack
- Future attacks may be prevented by daily stretching exercises of the heel cords. (Stand with the knees straight and stretch the ankles by leaning forward against a wall.) Also give the feet more room to move at night by placing a pillow under the covers at the foot of the bed
- Treatment For Strained Muscles
- Massage the sore muscles with ice for 20 minutes several times on the first 2 days
- Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief
- If stiffness persists > 48 hours, have your child relax in a hot bath for 20 minutes twice a day, and gently exercise the involved part under water
- Expected Course: Muscle cramps usually last 5 to 30 minutes. Once they resolve, the muscle returns to normal quickly. A strained muscle hurts for 2 or 3 days. The pain often peaks on day 2
- Call Your Doctor If
- Muscle cramps occur more frequently
- Child develops a limp, a swollen joint, or a fever
- Pain caused by work or exercise persists > 7 days
- Pain becomes worse
- Your child becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms