Broken arm/not broken arm?!

[longdiling]

My 5 year old had a fall on Saturday and the nurse practitioner diagnosed a supracondylar fracture and put a cast on. It was very painful immediately after so I knew something was wrong. Anyway at fracture clinic today the doctor was b very sneery about her diagnosis and said it wasn't fractured and took the cast off. All great but her elbow is very swollen and without the cast its painful again too. Has anyone else been through similar? I'm just worried and unsure which diagnosis to trust!

[WanderWomble]

Did the fracture clinic take new x-rays?

It could be a nasty sprain which really hurts.

[longdiling]

No but they did look at the ones from minor injuries. I'm sure it'll be fine, it's ju so swollen it looks unnerving! Thanks

[WanderWomble]

Fractures don't always show up straight away, especially if they're hairline. Might be worth popping back to your GP if it's still swollen in few days.

[IKnowRight]

Could well be a sprain which is still really painful. Does she have any kind of support, might be worth getting hold of a tubigrip and a sling for a couple of days? Ibuprofen better than paracetemol for painful swelling too ime.

Agree that if it still hurts and looks swollen in a few days' time that she needs to go back for another xray.

Poor dd, it's horrible, I have a 5yo with a cast atm and she felt properly sorry for herself for the first few days. Even if it's not a broken bone, it is still very painful.

[longdiling]

She has a little sling, I'll try and get a tubigrip too. She's been having regular ibuprofen. I'll give it another couple of days and go to the GP...she says it doesn't hurt but she's keeping it close to her body and not using it even with the sling off. Thanks again!