To NOT go to a&e with 10 year old

[LunaLoveLess]

First off there is no minor injuries unit where I live. Just an a&e department.

Ds was playing football last night and got whacked with the ball to his hand when he was in goal. Bent his hand back and hurt but as he could move it we thought nothing of it and it would be fine.

Now he's complaining of a lot of pain when he put pressure on it. I think he may have just sprained it and will be fine with painkillers and rest. He says he's broken it (he loves a drama) and want to get it xrayed, plus miss the mor big of school.

I am I being unreasonable??? I really don't believe it's broken,

My daughter broke her ankle when she landed badly dancing. She was 17 so could make a reasonable judgement as to how bad it was. She, the dance teacher, DH and I all thought it was sprained but when, several hours later it was still painful we decided to go to A&E. Intial diagnosis supported our view, but Xray revealed a fracture. Get off MN and Go To A&E!

Didn't take dc last week until the next day as we thought it was a sprain. Small break was seen on xray. It's now strapped and we are going back tomorrow to see how it is. I changed the bandage last night and there was quite a bruise. It is easy to miss these things.

Gp would more appropriate if they think it could be broken they will send you for an xray

Gp would more appropriate
... when you get the appointment in 3 weeks time?...

this was an accident so a&e is appropriate if there is no minor injuries or no minor injuries that actually deals with paediatric patients or has x-ray available...

There are loads of different bones in the hand. It could be one of them has broken.

Take him to a and e

GP will never say whether it's broken or not, as they can't actually tell if there is a fracture without an x-ray.

However, what a GP can do is (depending on your local hospital) is send you directly to an x-ray clinic, rather than a&e.

Happened to my son too unfortunately it was broken

Why are people still telling the OP to go to A&E when she said at 8am, 4 minutes after starting the thread, that she was going.

@RedBugMug Most GPs operate same day appointments for emergencies. I've never had to wait for three weeks for an urgent or emergency appointment.

Does anyone know why they strap fingers as opposed to using a cast. Sorry stupid question but if anyone knows ...

Because a cast would fall off a finger?

Thanks, they said it wouldn't take long to heal and that makes sense I guess. Dc very impressed with the thumbs up pose it's been stapped in.

I've got a son who would have done this, so would have taken him after school, but let us know how you got on OP

Hope you're not still waiting

Glad your taking him OP, hope everything's OK.

I broke my arm when I was 8 and no one believed me cos it didn't "look" broken im still bitter about it to be honest! Sprained my wrist a few years later and passed out with the pain, definitely had more pain with that then when I broke it

My son did similar. I thought was sprained. Went to doctor next day and was sent to xray dept at local hospital. Fractured thumb and plaster for 4 weeks....... I would go

Redbug... a&e is for emergencies not something 24 hours old. My gp you can get an appointment on the day if you ring first thing, if OP'so gp doesn't offer that then yeah you can't wait three weeks but otherwise gp today IMO

What would the GP do? Send him to A&E for an X Ray, no need for the extra appointment

Keep us updated good luck

Redbug... a&e is for emergencies not something 24 hours old

ACCIDENT & emergency, not just emergency.

Anyway, OP has already gone to A&E so no idea why people are still making suggestions.

My son had a similar injury and in a lot of pain turned out it wasn't broken just sprained. Other times I've assumed he hadn't broken stuff but took him to MI anyway and it turned out he had. The pain level for him seems the same whatever! :-D If it's hurting that much its worth checking out. Hope hes OK.

@BillyNotQuiteNoMates No, in some areas the GP can bypass Accident and Emergency and refer to x-ray and assessment. If it's broken then A&E OR Ortho teams see the patient, if it's not broken, the patient can be referred back to GP for care, or discharged.

Doctors first, then get sent to Xray at hospital. Then if broken you are sent into A&E.

Seems the best way to do it

I hope he's ok - I made my daughter walk on a broken foot (that was broken in two places) for a week as it wasn't swollen or horribly painful.

When she slipped and caught her wrist on the corner of the table I took her straight to A&E because I was paranoid after her broken foot. 3hrs (and many medical staff telling us I was over reacting) the X-rays showed a break.

We're frequent visitors to A&E now and every time there's been a break despite presenting with no swelling or excessive pain.