Many things get branded as “growing pains” but merely because there is pain in a developing child does not mean it's a true growing pain. It is easy to dismiss pain in a growing child as growing pains. A true growing pain just occurs during the night and never in the daytime. The pain is also in the upper calf muscle and behind the knee. If the discomfort happens during the day and in another location than the rear of the leg and knee, then it's not a true growing pain and it is most likely because of something different that ought to be looked into. Typically, it only happens in younger kids and awakens the child at night. There will be no history of trauma or any sort of damage to the area which the pain happens in.

Growing pains tend to be fairly harmless and self-limiting, in that they do come right after eventually. However, they usually are stressful to the child and parents at the time and, most importantly, there are several very serious and rare disorders which may have signs much like growing pains, so each case does need to be given serious attention and looked into to rule out these other possible causes. The repercussions of missing these rare reasons for similar symptoms can be significant.

The typical treatment for growing pains is just reassurance of the child. They should be comforted and helped to return to sleep. Soothing massage or rubbing of the leg will in most cases help. In some instances medication can be used to help the pain and relieve the returning to sleep. Stretches prior to going to bed and when the pain happens may also be useful. Of most importance is education about the nature of growing pains and that it will pass as well as an assessment of those possible unusual and serious reasons for the discomfort.