what do growing pains feel like

Growing pains usually feel like a deep, dull ache or throb in both legs, most often later in the day or at night, and they don’t affect how the joints move.

What Do Growing Pains Feel Like? (Quick Scoop)

The basic feeling

Most kids describe growing pains as:

• A dull, aching or throbbing pain, not sharp.

• Felt deep in the muscles , not in the joints.

• Often called “sore legs” more than “stabbing pain.”

Typical spots:

• Front of the thighs.

• Calves (back of the lower legs).

• Behind the knees or around the shins.

It usually affects both legs at the same time , not just one.

When they usually happen

Growing pains have a very “on‑off” pattern:

• Commonly start in kids between about 3 and 12 years old.

• Often show up in the late afternoon, evening, or at night.

• Can be strong enough to wake a child from sleep , but they’re usually gone by morning.

They tend to:

• Come and go over days, weeks or months.

• Not interfere with running, walking or playing during the day.

How to tell it might be growing pains (and not something else)

Things that fit growing pains:

• Pain in both legs , mainly muscles.

• No swelling, redness, or warmth in the area.

• Normal walking and activity when the pain is not there.

Red flags: get medical help quickly if you notice:

• Pain only in one leg or always in the same exact spot.

• Pain that’s still there in the morning or stops your child from walking normally.

• Fever, rash, weight loss, limping, swelling, redness, or bruising with the pain.

These can point to something more serious that needs a doctor to check.

What can help them feel better?

Common home comfort measures include:

• Gentle leg massage and rubbing the sore area.

• Warmth : a warm bath or warm pack on the legs.

• Simple stretching of calves and thighs for older kids.

• Doctor‑recommended pain relief (like children’s paracetamol/ibuprofen) when appropriate and dosed correctly.

If the pain is frequent, a pediatrician can double‑check that it really is growing pains and not another condition.

Mini “forum‑style” snapshot

“My 6‑year‑old wakes up crying that her legs ‘ache’ behind the knees and in her calves. By morning she’s running around like nothing happened.”

That kind of night‑time, both‑leg, deep aching that disappears by morning is very typical of what people call growing pains.

TL;DR:
Growing pains feel like a deep, dull ache or throbbing in both legs (thighs, calves, behind the knees), usually in the evening or at night, with no swelling, and kids feel fine again by morning.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.