ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Children with aching joints: When should parents worry?
Dr. Wayne M. Fichter Jr.
What does joint pain mean in a child and should you be concerned? After 19 years of private practice and pediatric care, I have found that anytime a child complains about joint pain it should not be overlooked. I understand that some children are more sensitive and might complain on a regular basis, but it is best to address joint pain right away. The reason for this is that I have found many times a small problem that wasn’t evaluated often leads to a more extensive problem causing more pain and takes longer to recover.
Typically, children do not complain about joint pain unless it is a continual source of discomfort. I would recommend asking the child to point to the area of pain, and then ask other questions- Did they fall, or get hurt playing sports, worsen with activity, waking up with pain, or do they have a fever, etc? Based on the answers to the questions, you may need to dig deeper into the situation. This may be a good time to get the expertise of a chiropractor that specializes in pediatric care to help differentiate the problem. A chiropractor is proficient in evaluating not only the spine but extremities and can determine if imaging is necessary to rule out any abnormalities in the joint.
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