text: my 4 yr old son is complaining of frequent pains in arms and legs. is it more than growing pains? he often wakes in the night to leg cramps, we think (docs too) that its growing pains. however, lately he's been complaining of his shoulder, arms, elbows in addition. any thoughts? still growing pains or any red flags for other problems? this is more than like growing pains. but if you are really concerned there are some blood test that your doctor can order to check for inflammatory conditions that may be causing the pain. you can ask your doctor about performing an ana, sedrate, coag panel, and ra. these simple blood test can help you feel more secure about whether these are growing pains.