[siljie]

Ughh, they are so annoying and persistent! I have them all the time, since forever. I thought that they were supposed to stop when you get like 11 or 12, but I'm 14 now. At least I THINK they're growing pains. Either that or.. charlie horses? I honestly have never been able to know the difference? Can someone explain that to me? The most common place I get these aching pains (and where I have it right now) is at the bottom of my foot or feet. I also occasionally get them in my calves, or knees, or thighs but not as often. I notice I have them more when I have a more active day, but not always. Like today I was outside for like 6 hours straight running around campus and town for this summer film school thing I'm in because we were shooting today.

They say that you're supposed to get them at night and when you wake up they're gone, but for me that is never the case. I'll usually wake up with it still there, and if it is gone, it usually comes back and stays the rest of the day.

Does anyone have any tips for relieving the pain?? Can I have any of your own personal experiences? It's often so bad that I'm almost crying, and the fact that I'm really sunburned and have a crappy back doesn't help. I even took some of the cyclobenzaprine I have prescribed for my back(which I don't take every day, just when it's acting up) because since it's a muscle relaxer and I thought it would help, but not really! It's very frustrating and painful.

[Leed]

Hi ~ OUCH. That sounds painful!

When we're lacking in a nutrient (I think it's potassium) that can cause those kinds of cramps. You might possibly be low in potassium, so eat lots of bananas! Plus it CAN be from over-activity. But if this happens every single night, I think I'd talk to my doctor about it.

I used to have HORRIBLE pain in my legs when I was growing up -- and it went into adulthood. It got so bad at times, that I couldn't walk!!! I was tested for all kinds of things, but everything was normal.

When I grew up, I had an MRI of my spine, and it was found that i was born with an extra vertebra. You're supposed to have 5 lumbar vertebra, and I had 6. The neurosurgeon said that was probably the cause of all the pain in childhood -- there wasn't enough "room" in there for the extra vertebra. He also said that it is very COMMON to be born with an extra. So who knows?

I hope you find the answer to your pain. Talk to your Mom about possibly going to the doctor. Best of luck & keep us posted. Hugs, Lee

[Perna]

I would go to the doctor, make sure you have growing pains: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/growing-pains/DS00888

My stepson, for example, had Osgood-Schlatter disease at your age: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osg...CTION=symptoms

Charley horses are literal cramps in your legs/feet, usually at night, so you have trouble standing and can be a mineral deficiency problem (your doctor can also determine that). Try eating a banana a day for a few days and see if that helps any (or cantaloupe is even better, tomatoes, green peppers, strawberries, avocado. . .) I remember my stepmother would wake screaming and my father would have to help her out of bed so she could work it out. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mus...SECTION=causes There are other minerals besides potassium (the foods I listed are high in potassium) that could be the culprit, calcium's one too; they all work together in concert and if you don't have enough of one you might have too much of another, etc. Let your doctor do some blood tests to see how you're doing with the growing/nutrition thing.

[siljie]

Thanks, and I think the first thing I'll try is stashing up on bananas and seeing if that helps any! If not, I'll definitely mention it to my doctor the next visit.

[unaluna]

What kind of shoes are you wearing?

[siljie]

I mostly wear comfy tennis shoes and sometimes sandals/flip-flops. I have a history of onychomychosis so I avoid tight shoes. So I don't think that(the shoes) relates to it, but who knows.

[unaluna]

Those types of shoes might be lacking bottom padding and sufficient arch and general support. And I'm a nail tech, so I know what onymonymochywhatsis means!

[siljie]

Good, technical terms sound so much more legit! And I don't know, but I'll check it out. It just seems rather unlikely since I've been dealing with this all my life.