wtnhunt Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 When I picked up my oldest(10 years old) from school Monday afternoon, she whined about her arm hurting at her wrist. She had fallen in the gym during PE. She complained but did not ever cry. I asked her if she wanted to go to the doctor, she said no. I figured it was probably a sprained wrist and would bother her for a couple days. Just about a month ago we had gone through taking our 4 year old on a Sunday to get her checked for what we thought was a broken bone, turned out to be a sprained wrist. But thought for sure the way she was screaming that she had broken something. Anyways, Allison our 6 month old had her shots yesterday afternoon. The wife picked up Christina our oldest from school. She was still complaining about her arm/wrist and I had told her if it was still bothering her to go ahead and have them check it out while she was there. Turns out she has hairline fractures in both bones at the wrist, so she is in a cast for 6 weeks. This brings me to the question, when aside from the obvious as parents do you decide it is time for a trip to the ER or to the doctors? I feel bad I did not go on and take her to the doctor Monday afternoon, but how can you know. When you think it is likely a sprain, do you give it a day or so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question Don't beat yourself up about it. All you can do with a child that age, is go by what they tell you. If she didn't seem that bothered about it , then that's all you know. If there were no outward signs like swelling or redness.....then it would likely seem to be a sprain. I mean, really, if I took my sons to the ER every single time they fell down and said they hurt something...........I'd have to change my address to North Okaloosa Medical Center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question First off, I'm sorry to hear about your daughter William. Prayers sent for a speedy and painless recovery. Secondly, don't feel bad. I'm from the school of thought that a lot of people go to the doctor way too much. I feel that if we run our kids to the doctor every time they are feeling bad, we will end up with a bunch of hypochondriacs. My girls already seem to think that they need to see the doctor every time their nose runs. Sorry, isn't going to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question I wouldnt feel bad about it either. Kids have so many pains growing that she may not have had it that bad. Seriously. I shattered my right foot as a kid. I told mom and dad I fell on gravel when in fact I had a wide flange beam roll onto my foot (I was in flip flops). I didnt want them to know I was playing where I wasnt suppose to so I limped around for 2-weeks before I finally broke down and told them. Im sure the hairline fracture didnt feel good but I doubt they wrecked her day.... Chin up dad, she will be just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question Tough call William. Went through the same thing the other day. Katie fell while doing a flip off the high bar on our "jungle gym." It swelled up a little, turned purple, but it's getting better now. She has a pretty high pain tolerance. I really debated taking her. That was about a week ago, and her hand is better now. I have a little first aid training and sports training knowledge, so that's what I fall back on in a lot of cases. Past that, I think you just have to know your kid. Joe had a nurse maid's elbow one day, and we knew right away he had to go to the doctor, he was miserable for about an hour before I took him. I think you will err on the side of caution now with your oldest, because she must have a high pain threshold if she can endure a broken wrist like that. She must get that toughness from her mom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question [ QUOTE ] She must get that toughness from her mom. [/ QUOTE ] LOL. Haha pretty funny Chris. Normally she does not really have a high pain threshold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question I would have waited ... the only advantage to her going the day before is that she gets her cast off one day earlier ... I mean it wouldn't have stopped the pain ... I think you did the right thing ... its deffinately a tough call though ... but I wouldn't sweat it ... just hope everything heals up good for her ... make sure that there is some sort of therapy afterwards ... my daughter broke her arm and she never had therapy afterwards ... what a struggle .. she still doesn't have 100% strength in the arm ... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question It suprises me that the Hospital actually was able to detect the hairline fractures.......my bet is that if you have taken her in right away, they may have not found them anyways, and would have sent you home........both the wife and I have had ankle fractures that the docs couldn't dtect for several weeks.......mine took them nearly 2 months before the fracture showed up on x-rays...... She'll be fine, and so will you Dad..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question you did the right thing. glad it's found out now. your daughter will be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question Don't beat yourself up William. I agree with iminrut. Sometimes just the fresh swelling will prevent the doctors from seeing a hairline fracture. A few days later after the swelling goes down, it is easier to assess the damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WI2506 Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question I went for years wondering why my wrist hurt..It was broken and the bones deteriorated to the point of now having the bones fused and no bending of the wrist..I waited to long to go back in and have it checked..good thing you did have her checked.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question We see so many people out here that it just makes you sick. Parents bring their little kids in saying the kid is sick but the kid is playing like a wild child and only has a fever from all of the activity. They need to teach parenting in schools now more than ever. Common sense doesn't seem to be getting passed on anymore. When I was growing up, we didn't go to the hospital unless we were dying or something was sticking out. I never got pain medicine other than tylenol until I married my wife. I still hate the stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Re: oldest broke her arm-question [ QUOTE ] It suprises me that the Hospital actually was able to detect the hairline fractures.......my bet is that if you have taken her in right away, they may have not found them anyways, and would have sent you home........both the wife and I have had ankle fractures that the docs couldn't dtect for several weeks.......mine took them nearly 2 months before the fracture showed up on x-rays...... She'll be fine, and so will you Dad..... [/ QUOTE ] Yeah Clay, the wife said the fractures as they showed up on the x-ray were very small. Our family doctor is pretty good. I looked at her arm and wrist and did not see any bruising or any significant swelling, really figured it was just a sprain. Just too bad her cast is not waterproof, no swimming for her for half of her summer break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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