Skip to main content

We make finding a doctor in the UAE free, transparent, and easy.

Zavis

What should you know about left side growing pain?

Where Growing Pains is typically felt, shown on a simplified body outline
Illustration: Where Growing Pains is typically felt, shown on a simplified body outline

Short answer

Left-sided leg pain in a growing child is not automatically growing pain; its timing, location, activity pattern, and general health guide what happens next.

This answers one question. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an assessment by a licensed doctor.

At a glance

Pattern
Typical growing pains are often in both legs and occur when the child is otherwise well.
Watch for
Limping, swelling, morning stiffness, fever, or persistent one-sided pain.

What it may mean

Typical growing pains are usually aching sensations in both legs, often in the muscles later in the day or at night, with the child otherwise well between episodes. Pain confined to one side, pain in a joint, morning stiffness, swelling, or a limp does not fit that pattern as neatly. Activity-related pain around the knee may occur with Osgood-Schlatter Disease, while heel pain in an active child may occur with Sever's Disease.

A recent increase in sport, a minor injury, flexible joints, or footwear can also contribute. Ask the child to point with one finger to the painful area and note whether sleep, walking, running, or school activities are affected.

What to do

Keep a record of when the pain appears, whether it wakes the child, and any limp, swelling, fever, rash, or change in activity. Check gently for visible swelling or bruising, but do not repeatedly press a painful area. Comfortable activity is reasonable if the child walks normally; pause impact activity when it clearly worsens symptoms.

Arrange a paediatric or family-doctor review for persistent one-sided pain, recurrent night pain, pain that limits activity, or symptoms around a joint. Bring the child’s activity history and footwear details so the examination can focus on the likely region.

When to seek care urgently

Seek urgent assessment if the child cannot bear weight, has marked swelling or deformity, develops fever with a hot or painful joint, or seems unusually unwell. Prompt review is also needed for pain that is steadily worsening, repeatedly wakes the child, follows significant injury, or comes with weight loss, unusual tiredness, or bruising without a clear cause.

Questions for your doctor

Ask whether the pain is muscular, joint-related, or linked to an injury or activity. Does the child need a gait, knee, hip, or foot examination? Which activities can continue, and what changes should prompt urgent review? Ask whether the pattern resembles [Osgood-Schlatter Disease](/conditions/osgood-schlatter-disease/) or [Sever's Disease](/conditions/sever-disease/).

Find care

General Clinics & Polyclinics in Abu Dhabi

That answer is general. If you want it applied to your own case, these are licensed general clinics & polyclinics listed in Abu Dhabi.

City
See every listing in Abu Dhabi

Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.

A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.

Questions people ask

Are growing pains always on both sides?

The usual pattern involves both legs, so persistent pain on only the left side deserves a closer look.

Should a child play sport with leg pain?

Pause impact activity when it causes limping or clearly increases pain, and seek assessment if symptoms persist or recur.

Related

Related reading

Keep reading

More on this

Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.