Painful limb Dr Trisha Macnair A child who has been previously well may suddenly complain of pain in their arm or leg. While this is usually a result of a knock or fall, there can be other causes.

In this article

What's the cause? What are the symptoms?

How's it diagnosed? What's the treatment?

The most common cause of a painful limb is damage to the muscles, ligaments and soft tissues caused by a sprain or tear after moving or falling awkwardly. Muscle cramps are also common, especially after exercise or at night.

Other causes include growing pains (when bones grow faster than muscles) or a broken bone or dislocated joint (usually after more severe trauma).

Dislocated joints may also be congenital - for example occasionally a congenitally dislocated hip isn't spotted at birth and then causes a painful limb when the child starts to walk.

Other causes include flu and feverish illnesses, infection of the bone or joint and, very rarely, a bone or muscle cancer.

The child may complain of pain when using the limb or even at rest. It may be stiff, its movement restricted by pain, and swollen or oddly shaped (especially if there is a broken bone or dislocated joint).

There may also be general symptoms, such as fever, nausea, headache or tiredness.

Most children complain of a painful arm or leg at some time but the cause is rarely serious. The diagnosis may be very obvious - for example, after a fall or accident soft tissue injury and broken bones are more likely. But in some cases, further tests may be needed.

Treatment depends on the cause of pain. Soft tissue injury can be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, an ice pack around the injury, firm bandaging, elevation of the limb and rest.

If there's no obvious cause for the pain, you should get medical advice.

And, of course, if there's a risk of serious damage such as a broken bone, urgent help may be needed.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Orlena Kerek in March 2009