What could cause quadriceps pain in children?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 12-year-old son has been complaining about pain in his front thigh (quadriceps) on both legs since he was 3 years old. It happens to him after playing and doing activities like sports and after school.

It happens to him at least once a week, and it lasts between 12 to 72 hours. Sometimes he clicks on the front quadriceps, and he feels relieved after clicking. Sometimes he says it is burning and stinging.

Sometimes he needs rest to get rid of the pain. Sometimes he cannot walk even for a day and needs painkillers. I could say it is always with him. This issue has affected his running, sports, and activities. He is always the last person in all sports activities, which means he is too slow.

We visited many doctors, took different X-rays and blood tests, and received many physiotherapies. But nothing has been diagnosed. I need help to know what to do and what his problem is. His health and life have been affected because of this issue, and he has lost his self-confidence as he is always a loser in all games.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The symptoms you are describing are signs of malnutrition. There is probably some deficit in protein intake for this child. I would suggest a high-protein diet along with some iron supplements for this child.

Another rarest of rare possibility can be myasthenia gravis, which can be diagnosed by doing tests for nerve conduction and velocity, and results on electrical stimulation of the muscle and its response to the stimulus. Please visit a pediatric neurologist to go through the above tests.

First, give him a high-protein diet along with iron supplements and see. If there is no relief, then approach a pediatric neurologist.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please let me know if you need any help.

Thank you.