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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you think my son's wrist is broken?

142 replies

WilkinsonL · 14/05/2016 18:15

My son is 11 and is in Year 6. He plays football at lunch.

He fell over and was rolling around on the floor telling his friend to get a teacher. She came over - not a teacher, but the lunch assistant. Told him to get up, he got up and she asked if he was okay now and he said that his wrist was hurting. She said he should go to medical. He goes off to medical with his friend. The lady in medical is the receptionist, but she has done a first aid course. She was touching it and was asking if he could feel her and he said yes, but it was hurting. She said "I think you'll be fine" and he said no but it hurts and can't move it properly, she said that's why happens after an injury and that if he broke it he would be in absolute tears, so she knows it isn't Hmm

He was sent to his classroom, his teacher even said it looked a little odd and my son said that he had already been to medical and she said it was fine, so his teacher just left it. I got him at the end of the day and he was okay, gave him some pain relief and seemed alright, he said it was still a bit sore. I suggested to the medical lady (as I went to the office when I got him as his teacher gave me a medical slip, which means there is a recorded accident) that maybe I should get it X-Rayed... She told me to definitely not worry about that and it will just be wasting A and E time and resources as he clearly isn't in distress. I'm not medically trained at all. So I did take her word for it... He has woken up today, with it looking a little bit bruised and not able to properly move it. I was going to take him, but his dad said that I shouldn't worry because school said it was fine. He has been okay today, he has just been watching films, not moving it, but now I'm not sure if I should just go against everyone and take him???

What do you think...? Sorry if I'm coming across a bit stupid, I have never dealt with a broken bone before! He has never even needed to go to a and e.

Do you think my son's wrist is broken?
OP posts:
Freddiethefirefly · 14/05/2016 19:14

Hello
I agree(Doctor).... Dinner fork deformity, fracture distal radius... How are you doing in A+E?

Skrewt · 14/05/2016 19:16

If someone hasn't already suggested this: see if he can clap his hands - if he can't tis probably broken. This was the test for my child by the GP. She couldn't and it was broken.

mirime · 14/05/2016 19:19

My husband broke his wrist 3 weeks ago. We were sure it wasn't broken but thought it wise to get it checked out, so he reluctantly went off to A&E the next morning. It was broken and he's been in a cast since. Lots of bones in the wrist!

I've also done First Aid Training. What has stuck in my mind was how often the trainer said "if in doubt, ship them out". To me the schools first aider sounds a bit over confident of her skills!

kelda · 14/05/2016 19:21

Just googled dinner fork deformity, as previous poster has suggested and yes, it could be that. Hope you are seen quickly at A&E.

Emochild · 14/05/2016 19:21

I walked round for 5 days with a broken wrist

Hope your wait is not too arduous

Thebookswereherfriends · 14/05/2016 19:26

I broke my wrist when I was 10t was sore, but not agonising and I could fully rotate it with not much pain. My Mum didn't take me till the next day when it had swollen a bit. It was not a big fracture but still required being in a cast for 6 weeks, so on that basis I would get it checked out.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 14/05/2016 19:29

I would put money on that being broken! I would be less than impressed at the schools attitude as well tbh and your dh.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 14/05/2016 19:36

I work in a school and I would want that looked at...

Junosmum · 14/05/2016 20:22

Glad you are getting it looked at. My ex broke his wrist. Was sore but not agonising.

Let us know how you get on.

I'm surprised school didn't suggest you get it x-rayed, it's very difficult to diagnose a break without one (you know, unless it's sticking out through the skin!

Witchend · 14/05/2016 20:30

Ds broke his for a week. He didn't really even complain. Just chose to use his right (dominant) hand,at times when he wouldn't normally.

MissBeaHaving · 14/05/2016 21:06

Another hard nut here who didn't cry or perform with a wrist fractured at school.
DM finally took me after a few days as the swelling & bruising didn't go down....plaster cast for 6 weeks then physio.

Also ,my very young niece had a bad fall & was x-rayed,told it wasn't broken but was in so much pain a week later she had to be taken back & re X-rayed,it was then found she did have a fracture!

Hope Ds isn't waiting for long Op.

lalalalyra · 14/05/2016 21:13

I would be getting it looked and and when (I think that's a when, not if) it turns out to be broken I'd be speaking ot the school about the First Aiders over confidence. She should not be advising people with such confidence when she presumably doesn't have x-ray vision.

Ilovewillow · 14/05/2016 21:27

I would go to A&E better to be safe than sorry! A first aid certificate does not make you a medical professional!

MavolioBent · 14/05/2016 21:28

Glad you're taking him. They don't always make much of a fuss. Ds2 broke his wrist when he was 4. Only took him to a and e when he refused to ear his favourite dinner as his arm hurt. He was happily flapping said wrist around in hospital so I was certain it was just bruised...he spent 4 weeks in a cast. When dd1 did the same thing we were straight to a and e... Grin

BumWad · 14/05/2016 21:32

I can't believe you posted that massive opening post with picture before going to the Emergency Department to be honest. Confused

Hulababy · 14/05/2016 21:33

Not sure why the first aid person said it was def fine and advised not to have it checked tbh.

I have done the school FA training and it is not something we would advise in such circumstances as reported here. You can't use your eyes to x-ray a bone so there is no way of knowing if it is broken or not, especially with children. You definitely can't rely on pain either, not even visible soreness.

It is easy to miss broken bones in children - for parents and teaching staff. So the advise is normally to get it checked out if there is any likelihood at all. The A&E staff will not be worried you turned up and you are definitely not wasting tier time, even if it isn;t broken in the end.

FWIW it is normal soft tissue injuries, and those including tendons, etc that cause the main pain rather than the break itself - ime. Certainly was with DD when she broke a bone in her foot, but the pain in her sprained toes far out shadowed the break.

firesidechat · 14/05/2016 21:36

Looks exactly like my daughter's wrist when she broke it. Did he put his hand out to protect himself and land his weight on it? It's a classic injury.

firesidechat · 14/05/2016 21:40

I've just goggled dinner fork deformity and that is indeed what my daughter had.

ExasperatedAlmostAlways · 14/05/2016 21:47

Hope you are getting on op. I'd of taken one of my kids with a wrist like that That receptionist needs a boot up the arse she's not trained to make a decision like that. Even doctors can't always tell when something is broken hence the need for X rays who does she think she is.

PeonyStick · 14/05/2016 21:49

Broken !

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 14/05/2016 21:57

My sister fractured her wrist but could still wriggle her fingers, our mum realised when she fell off the loo trying to hold herself on the seat!

3boys3dogshelp · 14/05/2016 22:00

That looks broken!
The school's handling of his injury is disgraceful. It's one thing to miss a fracture in a child who doesn't seem distressed. It's quite another to actively discourage you from seeking medical attention yourself. I would be furious if I were you op (and I'm normally pretty laid back). Hope he is ok.

anotherdayanothersquabble · 14/05/2016 22:00

Adding my story to mark my place... My son was at a paint balling party when he fell. Two mums got him to move his arm and hand and concluded he hadn't broken anything. I wanted to post 'spot the kid with the broken arm' on the party photos on facebook later, poor boy was grey and so obviuosly in pain. (Only much later did I learn that he also banged his head, helmet fell off and he possibly lost consciousness... DS doesn't remember that bit.)

PUGaLUGS · 14/05/2016 22:01

DS (then 11) broke his wrist. It didn't really hurt that much but school called me and said to take him to A&E. I would complain to the school if I was you. They should have been called you.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 14/05/2016 22:17

My ds didn't cry when he broke his arm. Either time.
He knew it was hurting. He was 9 the first time.
I picked him up from school with a piece of kitchen roll round it, and a cool pack. (He crashed playing rounders, 20 mins before end of school).

Had just been told dds shoes had arrived in the shoe shop. Been waiting ages for them.

He said "Mr x thinks I need an xray"
I said ok. It does look a bit funny...

Is it unbearable when you are sitting in the car, resting it on a jumper?

No. It's OK.

If I leave you in the car, can I stop at the shopping park on the way to the hospital.
Pick up dd shoes. And some snacks and drinks as we will probably be there a couple of hours?

Yes, I think that's a good idea.

So we went. It was broken.

A friend fell off a ladder (only knee height).
His shoulder was sore. He had paracetamol and went to bed. Saturday night.
Monday he was no better so saw his gp.
Gp says "you aren't screaming in agony, it can't be broken. Have better painkillers and come back in 2 weeks"

2 weeks later. Worse. Gets sent for xray.
Arm bone is snapped in two. Shoulder blade has chunk missing.

But it can't be broken...

And lastly, I twisted my ankle. So I thought. Rested it as much as I could for a few days. Found out 7 years later, it was very broken...

Hope your ds is OK. Take him for an xray. Better safe than sorry.