Richard Haynes PTA/CPT - 2/18/2009

Question
QUESTION: My 16 year old daughter has EXTREME pain from her knee to ankle when it is cold. This has been going on for years and getting worse. The doctor keeps telling us it is growing pains.She has a high pain threshold and I just don't buy the growing pain story anymore. What could it be? We tried tylenol for the pain. No good. We warm up her legs by rubbing and blankets. Eventually it helps. It has kept her from and inturrupted her sleep. She is not overweight, healthy in her eating and activity. She has never injured her knees or legs before.

ANSWER: Hi Tara,

Thats a difficult one. I would have her blood flow checked in the leg if it has not been already. It sounds as if something with cold weather may be causing her blood flow to slow or stagnate in the leg causing the pain and build up of lactic acid in the muscles.

This may be a long shot but if the doctors have confirmed nothing orthopedic is going on with the hip or knee in that leg they may be the next place to look.

Good Luck
Richard Haynes
Punta Gorda, Florida.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you so much. Had not thought of that. They have not checked her out orthopedically either. What do I need to ask them to check? If it is not orthopedic I will ask them to check her blood flow. You are great! Thanks

Answer
Hi,

They the orthopedic doctor can check her hip and knee and surrounding area. Her age however its unusual that theres a problem in those areas unless she has had something going on since birth or hurt her leg in some sporting event.

Its a longshot as I had previously stated but to  have pain in those areas is being caused by something.

An orthopedic doctor can also x-ray the leg and see if her bones have fused as well.At 16 most have that would tell them if she would have what they call "growing pains or not" in other words are the bones still growing as far as her reaching her adult height or not.

Good Luck.
Richard Haynes