Would I be unreasonable to leave my daughter sleeping even though I think her arm is broken?

[user1475350703]

Hi my daughter fell off a swing at the park this evening and it hurt she cried for a bit but was then fine. It has swollen a bit and she can't move it properly but she has fallen asleep. Would you wait until tomorrow or wake her up now?

I broke my own leg and it was agony. I crawled to bed and managed to sleep a bit. I woke up and drive to hospital (automatic) basically to get crutches so I could go to work.

Brokity broken brokered

When my youngest daughter was a toddler, she broke her collarbone. After the initial screaming, she then calmed down and had a nap. When she woke, she was still obviously in pain, so we took her to a & e. Turned out it was broken, but the doctor actually said we were sensible to let her have her nap first.

If she is sleeping I would leave her be and wait until she wakes up, and assess then.

If she is sleeping soundly, then she isn't in too much pain. If she was she would keep stirring.

When I hurt my arm I didn't go to the hospital until the next dat - despite pain I kept thinking it'd be ok. Waiting caused no further damage.

likewise, when DD broke her foot - we didn't now she had and she slept on it, and went to school. We took her to A&E after it became more painful the next day at school, to find it was broken. Again, we were told very clearly that the delay would have caused her NO further damage and wasn't a concern to them - I was naturally concerned and worried so asked, as in my head we'd left her with a broken bone, albeit unknowingly.

I would take her now. Apart from the fact that it may need treatment as soon as possible, if you delay it will be viewed with suspicion.

I think MN should publish the current threshold guidance for social workers. If, IF a hospital rang and said you'd delayed seeing them by a few hours because your child was sleeping comfortably, if wouldn't go beyond the children's services front desk.
It's exasperating, the constant "what would SS say"

And actually with my arm (which ended up being a very painful transient dislocation and broken finger) - by going the next day, the swelling had settled and they were then able to treat it and out a cast splint on there and then. Had I gone on day 1, they'd have had to dell with partially, send me home - and then return on day 2 anyway to have the splint on.

That sounds exactly like what my daughter, the same age, did. It was a buckle fracture, from bending too far. She didn't even cry at the time, and the next day went to the play park, in and out of a wetsuit to go bodyboarding etc. The only reason we took her is because I had a feeling it looked like she was holding it awkwardly, and couldn't decide if it looked a wee bit swollen.

Docs said that that it is incredibly common in kids her age, their bones are so bendy that they almost bend (buckle) or twist (greenstick). After it happened I chatted to so many parents who have had similar experiences, it happens! It isn't a break, but a fracture. If it was a break, you would see the misshapenness, and she would be in a lot more pain.

Doc explained it as the fractures I described hurt a bit when done, feel like a sprain for a while after (ache) and then fine. Quite often don't need casts, and if they do, sometimes only for 2 weeks. Dd had hers for 4, but was told she could carry on as normal.

I am amazed so many people are suggesting waking a peacefully sleeping 6 yr old to go to A&E on a Saturday night. Go tomorrow morning if it is still swollen, it will be more peaceful then

I broke my wrist at school when I was 7. I fell asleep while waiting for my parents to pick me up. Children often sleep after they have been injured, so I wouldn't say that sleeping means she hasn't broken anything. On the contrary, it could mean exactly the opposite. I'd take her to A&E tonight.

A broken arm is fucking painful. If she is asleep then she's either got the pain threshold of a heavy weight boxer or it isn't broken

Utter rubbish.

I fell on my wrist when I was 10. It hurt, I cried, it felt OK. I carried on and then three days later I told my mum it was still aching. Because it was the tiniest bit swollen still, she took me for an X Ray. It was broken in two places.

If you don't mind taking her in the early hours if she wakes up in pain by all means see what she is like when she wakes.

Personally, I would prefer to take her now to avoid the possibility of going up A&E in the early hours. My minor injuries is just as slow as the main A&E but the kids part wouldn't be too bad at this time of night.

I wouldn't assume it will be less busy tomorrow morning. I work in A&E and some Sunday mornings are heaving.

JettyBetty

I am aware of all of the facts and no there were no other concerns. I safeguarded the child whilst it was sorted.

This was in Essex where SS where told they where not reaching their targets. The family court were horrified at the what took place and the mother is still being treated for depression now.

I would have agreed with you until I lived through it.

I left my son overnight when he broke his foot, took him Sunday morning first thing when it was obviously more than a bump. While we were there 4 other kids came in with fractures from the day before, I mentioned it to the nurse and she said loads of people leave it overnight when it's not obviously broken. So don't worry about leaving her asleep. It'll be OK

The only instance in which I would wake her and take her now is if she had hit her head or lost consciousness at any point.

If she fell on an outstretched hand it could be a scaphoid. Take her now.

Surely many, many parents have adopted a 'wait and see' approach to a child's injury? Otherwise a&e depts all over the place would be full of children with twisted ankles/jarred wrists etc? SS couldn't possibly be involved in every single case where a parent/carer didn't take the child directly to hospital with an injury?

I'd wait till the morning unless you have a specific children's emergency department in a children's hospital.

If you think she's broken it id have had her at a&e this evening. If you want medical advice ring 111. My advice would be to take her to a&e ASAP as you shouldn't leave a break. they often have a children's bit in a&e so they don't have to wait as long .

Regarding SS... OP please don't think I am referring to you in this post.

There are many peole who read mumsnet and store the information they read. My advice is if SS are already involved in your life, esp regarding children, then go straight to A and E in this situation. Failure to do so could be added to concern about parenting ability.

My ds broke him arm a month ago. We put him to sleep as usual but he woke 4/5 Times so we took him to a+e at 6am. Was quiet and on a ward for surgery by 1pm. I'd leave it til the morning.

Leave her to sleep, a night in a&e won't be good for anyone and she is unlikely to be worse off for waiting until morning. We did that for my DD, she was nearly three at the time and broke her leg. It wasn't an obvious break and she was tired so we went in first thing the next morning. I broke my arm as a child after falling from a swing, again we waited until the next morning and it's fine (decades later). A good nights sleep is much better than a disturbed night and a waste of a day sleeping it off. Plus the hospital may not have some services at night, or reduced due to lower staffing.

She isn't in a life or death situation like some posters are acting. I honestly wouldn't bother now with a potential fracture/break. If she has managed to go to sleep it won't be unbearable whatever it is.

Saturday night in A&E will be utterly miserable for both of you. She will be fine in her bed, and if she wakes up you can get cosy on the sofa and go to hospital first thing in the morning

When I was six years old I broke my arm in a fall, close to the wrist. My mum (and I) didn't realise that it was broken until a week later, when I fell again and properly screamed.... She obviously took me to A&E immediately, where the doctors proclaimed that it was a week-old break, and how could she not have noticed The break healed just fine. I wouldn't wake her unless she has other symptoms, or a head injury as well.

for you and DD.

I would let her sleep, and take her when she wakes up.

All the people saying wait and see can't see your daughter's injury so don't listen to them. Take her to A&E to get a proper medical opinion.

Have you decided what you are doing? I think ringing 111 at a minimum would be best.