X-ray or not?

[DietCokeLover]

Money is tight so I want to make a wise decision. So, what factors do you use to decide if you take your kid for an X-ray or not?

DS was playing basketball yesterday and a kid twisted his arm in the game. DS said he felt “cracking” but he can move it. He continued playing after a rest, then played two games of soccer afterwards. He said his arm “fell asleep” at one point in the soccer game.

We gave ibuprofen and iced it.

This morning it is tender and he does not have full range of straightening in his arm, though it is close.

I don’t want to be alarmist, nor do I want to ignore anything. I just don’t know how to judge this type of injury.

[JBaxter]

Yes urgent care and an xray. My oldest did something similar in high school and played 3 additional quarters of a football game after he heard a pop in his arm. It was broken. He woke up the next morning swollen and bruised also. It may just be cracked but if it is then it would need at least splinted.

[georgiegirl]

I’d get an x ray.

DS1 broke his arm when he was little and was still able to play. The tip of his humerus had hairline fracture, so he still had a full range of motion and wasn’t in horrible pain or anything (he was fine at preschool that morning). But the orthopedist said it it were worse (or if he injured it further), he would have needed surgery.


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[Pear]

I do think it needs a doctor.

Given what you describe, I don’t think it would be absolutely crazy to have him rest today and go see your gp during office hours on Monday if your bill will be substantially lower. With our insurance we would save around $20 so I would just go to urgent care, but ymmv.

[khm]

Yeah, go get it an x-ray. Back in the 3rd to 4th grade zone, MANY friends had kids that broke arms (almost all were monkey bar falls), and because "they could move it", they delayed taking them in only to find they were indeed broken. Docs said it was completely common! The parents all worried they'd have child services called. One doc then rattled off all the docs and nurses who'd done the same. :)

Then, after witnessing all that. We did the same to our daughter a few years later after a ripstick fall. :bag:bag

In her case, it was a hairline and she could move her wrist and she could twist, etc. But, a week or so out, she said it still hurt a bit and we took her in.

Fortunately, they said it healed as well as they would have wanted it to had they cast-ed it! We were super lucky they didn't have to re-set it!!...

[doberbrat]

normally, I'm totally in the wait 24-48 (or more) hrs with rest and ibuprofen b/c if I brought my kids in after every fall where they complained etc I'd live at the drs and be reported to cps for sure!! Plus some fractures dont even show up for a week or 2.

that being said, the numbness concerns me. Has he ever mentioned his arm 'falling asleep' before? I'd be concerned it was partially dislocated and pressing on a nerve.

I'd take him in too. If he's not complaining about it falling asleep, I might be tempted to wait hoping to expose him to fewer sick people at the er/urgent care! Definitely bring your own sanitizer and try not to let him touch anything.

:hug:

[DietCokeLover]

So, I decided to take him to the convenient care. We get there and the doctor there is not certified to see kids so he could not be seen. We could have gone to the ER, but I decided now I will wait and take him to primary care doctor tomorrow.

[AngB]

So, I decided to take him to the convenient care. We get there and the doctor there is not certified to see kids so he could not be seen. We could have gone to the ER, but I decided now I will wait and take him to primary care doctor tomorrow.

At least they told you instead of just winging it. (Some places would. ) Depending on the state, a lot of these urgent care type places teach a medical assistant who may or may not have any idea what they are doing to take the x-rays. I had a couple girls in my ultrasound class that were also x-ray techs who both had horror stories of almost being overexposed to radiation at places like that (because they knew how the machine SHOULD have been set up, and it wasn't), and in both cases the person doing the x-ray had no background in x-ray. (I had no idea that they would let any Joe Shmoo take x-rays in some states before hearing their stories!) Also, I know x-rays aren't that complicated, but still, I'm assuming they don't have an actual radiologist looking at the images either.

I hope your DS is ok!

[rin]

After an experience in our family where two separate urgent care visits failed to figure out that the a cluster of worsening symptoms were actually acute leukemia (which a straightforward CBC blood test would have shown, or at least would have very clearly shown that there was an ER-worthy problem), I'm pretty much sworn off urgent care for anything where you, yourself do not already know what the problem is. I would still take my child there for something like falling on the playground and needing a stitch, but I am now very aware that many (probably not all, but many) urgent care places are staffed by people who do not have the training/background to make robust medical diagnoses.

[BunnyBee]

So, I decided to take him to the convenient care. We get there and the doctor there is not certified to see kids so he could not be seen. We could have gone to the ER, but I decided now I will wait and take him to primary care doctor tomorrow.

Does your PCP have an x-ray machine? Ours does not and would send us to the children's hospital for an X-ray. Do they have an after hours number?

[niccig]

I’m in ER now with DS. 2 fractures on either side of wrist from falling in soccer game yesterday. DS thought he was fine, just a sprain and wanted to play in today’s game. It hurt only when rotated wrist and when picked up something. He could move arm, touch all fingers with thumb, make a fist etc. You’re not going to know without an X-ray.

ER put a big splint on his arm and we have to see a pediatric orthopedic hand specialist tomorrow. Dr said they don’t think he needs surgery but specialist will make that call.


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[mikala]

I’m in ER now with DS. 2 fractures on either side of wrist from falling in soccer game yesterday. DS thought he was fine, just a sprain and wanted to play in today’s game. It hurt only when rotated wrist and when picked up something. He could move arm, touch all fingers with thumb, make a fist etc. You’re not going to know without an X-ray.

ER put a big splint on his arm and we have to see a pediatric orthopedic hand specialist tomorrow. Dr said they don’t think he needs surgery but specialist will make that call.


Sent from my iPhone using Baby Bargains (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87652)Oh no! I hope they are minor fractures and he heals quickly.

[Indianamom2]

I would definitely take him. The “arm falling asleep” sounds like it could be nerve related and you really don’t want to mess with that. Hope it turns out to be nothing, but I would go for this.

[hillview]

Sorry to see the update. Hope he heals quickly!

[niccig]

Oh no! I hope they are minor fractures and he heals quickly.

The ER thinks he’ll just need a cast and not surgery, but said it was decision for orthopedic specialist. He has fracture on ulna and radius. Thing is, he said it only hurts when rotated arm or lifts something. Moving arm other ways is fine. He wanted to play soccer again today.


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[DietCokeLover]

I’m in ER now with DS. 2 fractures on either side of wrist from falling in soccer game yesterday. DS thought he was fine, just a sprain and wanted to play in today’s game. It hurt only when rotated wrist and when picked up something. He could move arm, touch all fingers with thumb, make a fist etc. You’re not going to know without an X-ray.

ER put a big splint on his arm and we have to see a pediatric orthopedic hand specialist tomorrow. Dr said they don’t think he needs surgery but specialist will make that call.


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Oh no! I am so sorry. I hope he heals quickly and does not need surgery.

[niccig]

Oh no! I am so sorry. I hope he heals quickly and does not need surgery.

Hope your DS is fine too.


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[bisous]

Hope your DS is fine too.


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Oh my! I hope both of your DSs are okay!

[niccig]

DietCokeLover, how’s your DS?

My DS got a cast this afternoon. Dr said the 2 fractures aren’t serious and he should heal with 4-6 weeks in cast.


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[doberbrat]

OP I hope it went well w/DS today! I've been thinking of you (And you Niccig!!)