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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

DD's bone came out of place....

32 replies

ScoobyDooooo · 07/09/2007 13:09

I was walking to the car this morning to take Ds to school holding dd's hand when she decided she did not want to hold my hand & throw herself on the floor well where she fell a bone moved out of place in her elbow area.

I have taken her to hospital & they said they would move it back in, 2 attempts & she thought it was done.

She now is home with it in a sling but still won't move it & is crying alot.

Is this normal to carry on crying like there is pain? i am not to convinced it is "right" so to speak, they idd no X ray.

They said if she is still not moving it etc in the morning to bring her back.

What do you think? anyone have any experience?

OP posts:

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TooTicky · 07/09/2007 13:13

My dd1 dislocated her elbow when she was very little. It hurt a lot and she cried a lot but once it was back in place, sheas fine. I'd suggest going back.

Miaou · 07/09/2007 13:15

Aw bless her I've forgotton Scoob, how old is your dd?

Dd1 did this when she was about 16 months (well, we did it by swinging her by the arms never did that again!!) and it popped back in by itself.

It's quite possible that she is still in pain as dislocating the bone will have stretched the muscles and ligaments where they don't usually go! I would give her calpol and keep an eye on her and go back tomorrow as they suggest if she is still not moving it.

Re the lack of x-ray, I wouldn't worry about that. The medics are experts in being able to "feel" if a bone is out of place, and it can be very tricky to x-ray a small child because they won't keep still enough.

Hope this helps!

TooTicky · 07/09/2007 13:15

How old is she?

KTeePee · 07/09/2007 13:33

This happened to my ds2 too. I would say it is normal for it to still hurt/her not use it till the end of the day but if it's still not right in the morning I would take her back

ScoobyDooooo · 07/09/2007 13:52

Thanks everyone, dd is 20 months, god it is so so seeing her like this.

actually i just laid her in her cot for about 20 mins & she is now up she seems to be walking about now, still not using said arm but if she moves without knowing she does not seem to cry so it "may" be on the mend.

I think i will keep an eye, see how she is tonight.

My poor little baby x

OP posts:

ChippyMinton · 07/09/2007 14:10

Think it's known as Nursemaid's Elbow. Happened to DS1 at about the same age. Agree, see how she gets on overnight, maybe give a little calpol?

SoupDragon · 07/09/2007 14:12

DS1 had this at 20 months. Doc popped it back in and he was right as rain in less than 30 minutes. He did not even require Calpol.

I'd definitely take her back tomorrow if she's not using it.

popsycal · 07/09/2007 14:13

DS2 did this in July.
Took 4 goes to put it back
He was fine within 30 seconds of it being out back

ScoobyDooooo · 07/09/2007 14:54

She had calpol at the hospital & i am going to give her some more now, i have just tried to take it out the sling to see how she feels but she screamed & cried, we left the hospital at 10.30 this morning so surly it should be ok? or maybe not.

OP posts:

WotsZePoint · 07/09/2007 15:02

ScoobyDooooo, my dd dislocated her elbow when she was 5 and was sent home, in a cast thinking she had broken bone.

Anyway hold her arm gentle, will she let you help her rotate her wrist at all (let her hold a sweet and let her show you it, or something like that)?
Can she extend her arm? Can she bend her arm?

It wil be sore for the fall and from the hospital trying to relocate it, but if she is still afraid to let you touch it, I would be concerned and take her back today for another xray.

WotsZePoint · 07/09/2007 15:09

Miaou just read you thoughs about the lack of xray and that they can 'feel". From my own experience this was not the case. My dd did have an xray and it was still not diagnosed.
We went back 3 times to make a 'fuss' and were sent away.

Also go by your maternal instincts, you know your childs "hurt" cry from a "fed up" cry.

I hope dd is OK scooby.

WotsZePoint · 07/09/2007 15:14

ScoobyDooooo where are you?

ScoobyDooooo · 07/09/2007 15:18

Sorry back my mum was on the phone

Right i will do what you say but dd has just gone for a much needed nap so i am going to let her sleep for a bit & see how she feels about me touching etc when she gets up.

Dp is home about 5pm & if she is still not right i am going to go back, the doctor & the hospital did say she could feel the bone & then after she put it back in she said she felt it click but dd has still been in pain when you move or touch the elbow area.

OP posts:

WotsZePoint · 07/09/2007 15:22

If she can sleep, that will be a good sign. My dd (was older at the time), couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep as it was still dislocated. I realy hope she is OK.

ScoobyDooooo · 07/09/2007 15:27

Thank you i hope she is ok too.

There is an improvment from when she first done it so i am taking that as a good sign.

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vole3 · 07/09/2007 16:19

A 'pulled' elbow is very common at that age and typically happens when a child is swung between 2 adults or you have to suddenly grab them to stop them hurting themselves.

The joint will be sore and swollen for a few days and she won't wnat to use it, but try and keep her comfortable with calpol / calprofen overnight and see how she is in the morning.

ScoobyDooooo · 07/09/2007 17:40

Well i got her up about 40 mins ago she is very whingy, i again sat her on my lap & managed to remove the sling but then she tried to move & started to scream, so i put it back on, it just seems very very uncomfortable for her if it is touched or moved an inch.

There is no swelling & the nurse did say it should be back to normal within 30 mins or so well this is far from the case so makes me wonder...

Will wait for dp as he is going to be late tongiht & then decide what to do.

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popsycal · 07/09/2007 18:47

Scooby - ds2 went from screaming blue murder to being fine within a minute. They tried 4 times - thinking they had done it the third time but he was still as you describe. The change ws immediate.
Take her back

WotsZePoint · 07/09/2007 19:11

If she won't move it or let anyone touch it, I would take her straight back to A&E. Do not try to move her arm now, if she is not willing to do so herself. If it is still dislocated every jolt and bump will hurt, so put a cushion on her lap in the car to rest it on.

Listen to you instincts and don't let anyone tell you that you are being silly. Get another doctors opinion. The sooner the better.

Swelling may not come straight away and may be minimal anyway, so that realy isn't a clue.

Do you have a childrens A&E near you? When you go to xray and if she is upset (as they will try to position it in various ways), don't let them tell you, or that she is being silly, as it may still be dislocated.

ScoobyDooooo · 07/09/2007 19:27

Still waiting for dp

She is quite happy when it is just sat in the sling not moving, she is now playing one handed but very aware of her other arm.

Will see what dp thinks when he gets here & probably take her to a different hospital with a much better reputation.

OP posts:

Miaou · 07/09/2007 19:38

I think I'll go back on what I said earlier and agree with other posters that you should take her back - she certainly shouldn't be in so much pain so many hours later.

Hope you get it sorted out!

NAB3 · 07/09/2007 19:39

This happened to my daughter. The doc was crap. Another doc tried to put it back in position but it wouldn't go. She had several x-rays which didn't show any breaks or fratures, but since she still wouldn't use her arm she had it in a pot for a week. Is fine now, though she does still say her arm hurts at times.

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SoupDragon · 07/09/2007 20:01

This definitely doesn't sound right. From an older child, yu get "malingering" where the memory if the pain and knowing what they've done makes them favour the arm but she's too young for that. She sounds in too much pain for it to have been put back properly IM(non medical)O

ScoobyDooooo · 07/09/2007 20:02

The nurse 2nd time round said she could feel the bone out of place she then pushed it back in & said she felt it had clicked back into place & to sit in the waiting room & dd would start moving it if it was ok.

Well dd did not start moving it & in fact got extremley upset & was crying alot if i even touched it a tiny bit or went near it.

they then proceeded after 30 mins to say they would put a sling on it & if it was still like this in the morning then to bring her back.

Have added pic of dd with sling in profile

OP posts:

popsycal · 07/09/2007 20:21

They said they felt it 'click' on the 2nd and 3rd time that they tried to do ds2's arm.....

It went back in on the 4th time....

Do take her back. You will be amazed at how quickly she is better when it goes back in...

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