Are Growing Pains Real? Interestingly, growing pains, like scoliosis, seem to affect girls more frequently than boys. “Mom, my legs really hurt!” How often have you heard that from your child? And, how often have you been quick to dismiss it as, “It’s just growing pains,” without really understanding if there even is such a condition? Actually there is! Growing pains generally affect young children and adolescents. The child usually feels pain in the calves, thighs, and behind the knees of both legs. Sometimes the pain can even wake a sleeping child. Studies indicate 20 – 40% of all children experience growing pains and the condition is typically seen more often in girls than in boys. Before the diagnosis of “growing pains” can be made with any relative certainty, other conditions or symptoms might need to be addressed, especially if the pain is accompanied by fever, inflammation, limping, fatigue or loss of appetite. If no other cause for the pain is f