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What could be the cause of ankle pain in children?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My son has very bad ankle pain. He suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and has been crying since. He did complain a couple of weeks back, but I massaged him, and he was normal. But this time, he cannot even sleep and is in pain.

Please help.

Answered by Dr. Manu Chandarashekhara Bharadwaj

Education:

DNB Pediatric Surgery

Professional Bio:

Dr. Manu Chandarashekhara Bharadwaj is a highly experienced pediatric surgeon with 14 years of clinical practice. Holding a DNB in Pediatric Surgery and an MBBS, he specializes in Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Bharadwaj is dedicated to delivering compassionate, expert care to children across India.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

There can be a few reasons for his ankle pain:

1. Growth pains in addition to calf muscle over-exhaustion can lead to such acute pains during sleep, or sometimes, it may not allow the cold to fall asleep at all.

2. Deficiency of calcium and magnesium, it could be a true deficiency (they are not getting enough of it in food) or it could be due to the sudden growth spurt or exhaustion, where the body’s demands are more than the amount supplied to it.

Apart from the above reasons, pain could also be because of a trauma to that area, and rarely due to a congenital disorder (unlikely in your child, if that were the reason, you would probably tell me about other symptoms as well).

So what you need to do now:

1. Supplementation of calcium and magnesium, various syrup formulations are available. Please find out locally as to which one is available.

2. Give him plenty of fruits like bananas, apples, and foods containing green leafy vegetables.

3. Having a hot water bath before going to bed helps in controlling the pain in a big way.

4. You can continue massaging his legs at night.

Let me know if this pain persists even after one week of following the above advice.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Vinodhini J.
Published At July 26, 2020
Reviewed At June 12, 2026

Education:

DNB Pediatric Surgery

Professional Bio:

Dr. Manu Chandarashekhara Bharadwaj is a highly experienced pediatric surgeon with 14 years of clinical practice. Holding a DNB in Pediatric Surgery and an MBBS, he specializes in Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Bharadwaj is dedicated to delivering compassionate, expert care to children across India.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Vinodhini J. is a Dental Surgeon with extensive years of clinical experience. She specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and oral health issues, including restorative, surgical, and cosmetic procedures. With a patient-centered approach, she focuses on maintaining oral health, alleviating discomfort, and enhancing smiles. Her expertise ensures comprehensive care tailored to each patient’s dental needs and overall wellbeing.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

DNB Pediatric Surgery

Professional Bio:

Dr. Manu Chandarashekhara Bharadwaj is a highly experienced pediatric surgeon with 14 years of clinical practice. Holding a DNB in Pediatric Surgery and an MBBS, he specializes in Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Bharadwaj is dedicated to delivering compassionate, expert care to children across India.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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