Editor's note: Editors of Parents magazine and parents.com recently selected Dr. Melissa Arca's blog as the Best Kids Health Blog for 2011. Readers nominated the contestants.

Growing up can hurt, literally.

Parents ask me all the time if growing pains are a real condition. Often, they wonder if "growing pains" is a blanket term for childhood aches and pains that we cannot explain.

The truth is that growing pains are quite real and can be downright painful. Roughly 25 percent to 40 percent of children will experience growing pains, which spike in the 3- to 5-year-old set and then again between the ages of 8 and 12.

The typical scenario is a healthy, active child who, after a day full of vigorous physical activity, complains of leg pain in the late afternoon or early evening. They will often point to their thighs or calves and tell you it hurts. The pain is typically in both legs and may even wake your child in the night but is usually gone by sunrise.

The distinguishing feature of this type of leg pain is that it is limited to the muscle area, not the joints. Also, growing pains respond well to touch. Massage, heating pads, cuddling and the like will soothe and comfort your child. With other potentially serious medical conditions, on the other hand, touch and movement exacerbate the pain.

Occasionally, your child may need an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve the pain. Never give your child aspirin, as this could lead to a serious condition called Reye's syndrome.

There's no firm evidence that bone growth actually causes pain. What we believe happens is that during times of growth, children's tendons are relatively tight. This causes aches and pains in the surrounding muscles as those tendons stretch.

Thus, growing pains are particularly evident after a day full of running, jumping and climbing. All involve plenty of pulling and stretching of tendons.

Is your child having growing pains? Parents and pediatricians alike need to be aware of symptoms that require further evaluation.

Pain of the joints is not a symptom of growing pains. Any pain, swelling, redness or warmth of a child's joint needs to be evaluated by your child's doctor.

Pain in any joint or limb following a specific injury is not due to growing pains.

Pain that is limited to one specific area of your child's leg or is consistently only in one leg is not the pain of growing pains.

Pain that is exacerbated by touch and movement are not typical of growing pains.

These are all circumstances in which your child must be seen by his pediatrician as another, more serious, medical condition may be present.

So, growing pains are indeed a real … pain. While they are a normal occurrence for many children and resolve with time, they hurt.

Give your child extra cuddles, leg massages and reassurance that these pains won't last forever. For that pain in her legs no doubt mirrors the pain in your heart as she propels toward adulthood at what seems like warp speed.

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Dr. Melissa Arca is a mother of two, a writer and a blogger. Her blog, www.confessionsofadrmom.com, is where her worlds of doctor and mom come together, and it is featured on The Bee's blog and community news network, Sacramento Connect.

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