Urgent: should we stay or should we go

[sef23]

Confused.com. This year we have booked a winter break in New Zealand where my family live - brother lives there and mothers visiting New Zealand as well, she lives in India. Haven't seen them in six years due to fly out dec 5th, back on Nye bargain payment of 2800 for a family of 4, brother has already paid and booked for flights from auckland (where we land) to Wellington. This is our first ever family holiday ever in 13 yrs of marriage and 2 kids.

Big problem - ds whose only 9 broke his arm 4 weeks ago plasters due to come off dec 19th.

They ve agreed to put on a split cast so we can take it off on the flight. Last x ray yesterday showed fracture is still there and still healing.

Hes a bundle of energy cant sit still, theres a high chance of refracture in the first 3 months and a full 12 months required for full repair due to angulation and movement of the bone, basically he broke it at a bad angle. (Green stick fracture in NHS terms).

I know kids heal quickly, but will he enjoy himself out there with a cast on for more than half of his trip? We were planning on lots of travelling and activities. I'm scared he ll hurt himself again and I'm worried about the low pressure on the pain and his arm hurting even though it's been 4 weeks, when they took the cast off yesterday (went round his elbow) to change it for a below elbow one it was still swollen and without the support of the cast it was hurting him.

Docs have said yes fine he can go... but hes not their child and forgive me I've had bad experiences with nhs so far in my life and dont really think some docs think things through properly. Their very busy and we don't really get more than 2 mins of their time and are shooed away pretty quickly.

Can you please give me some sensible advice. Am I being over cautious or right to be cautious I mean we can go to New Zealand again any time and have insurance to cover ticket costs.

Thanks

I'd go too definitely

Under a reciprocal health agreement, UK nationals who live in the UK and who are on a short-term visit to New Zealand are eligible for immediately necessary healthcare under the health system on the same terms as citizens of New Zealand. This extends, unusually, to pre-hospital care including air or road ambulance transportation. You should show your UK passport when requested.

from the foreign office travel advice

Go, he’ll be fine.

Dd8 had a cast for our two week holiday.
The split cast stayed on the whole time and she used a cast cover so was fine for swimming and showers.
I think the heat and rest was great for her healing.

The only thing she couldn’t do was go to theme/water Parks.

It's a long flight but he should only take the cast off if he feels it's getting tight or uncomfortable. Be sure to have Calpol in your hand luggage to take the edge off any pain he may experience.

Although the break isn't fully healed it's well on the way and by the time you fly out he'll only have another 2 weeks before the cast can be discarded for good.

He'll have 2 hands free to open Christmas presents - what good timing!

Definitely don't cancel.

It's still a week until you fly out anyway - which is a long time in a child's healing abilities.

I’ve flown a few times with various fractures, last one was with a broken femur that had an IM nail put in (I flew 5 weeks post op/7 weeks post break). I had absolutely no discomfort at all arising from the swelling, etc. I was obviously uncomfortable as I had a broken leg in a fixed brace and limited movement in a smallish space but once we were up in the air I just made sure I said up a few times an hour and where possible hopped to the the little space at the front to get some blood flow going.

Black slabs have also been fine to fly with. Again no more pain that I was normally experiencing from limb!

Holiday with cast on or knowing the first family holiday had been cancelled because of his injury? Of course he'll still enjoy it!

Take all the medical advice, prepare for the flight and go!

Go!

Can they put a back slab cast on it? So basically the cast just covers half his arm and is held on by bandages??

I would go. Ask about the possibility of a removable support for him to wear after the cast comes off. Two if he's likely to be swimming.

I'd still go! I'm sure he'll be fine

My dad broke his arm when he was six, he was in a full cast for 4 weeks, then they changed it to below elbow, and thats when he found it painfully, just for a few days. I think the elbow joint stiffened up. He was find after that

I flew with 3 fractures in my foot of which I had no idea until I got a call to tell me a few days later. I was absolutely fine.

For goodness sake, go. Take some painkillers if you're worried about that, but travel five weeks after the original injury whilst wearing an appropriate cast will be fine.

Just go.
Make sure you have adequate health/travel insurance and go.
He will be fine.

Go. I flew back from Oz to here, 5 days after breaking my ankle. Was a bit sore, but keep up the paracetamol/brufen regularly. He’ll be fine. It’s such a short time, compared to the whole holiday.

I took my 4 year old to England with a cast and a pin in her arm. She was absolutely fine during th e flight. It certainly didn't stop her doing things, except swimming. Her cast was removed while in the UK.
You should be able to receive free medical care in New Zealand. Check it out.It's a great country. Honestly, it'll be fine.

Does he have to have X-Rays? My daughter did similar at the same age, she did have surgery and was in hospital for a week, 6 week cast and was fine, a few restrictions for 12 months (goodbye brand new bike never used and still in the garage) anyway, the only problem was she had to have weekly x-rays until the cast was removed.

Go have a great time stock up on analgesia, get a waterproof cast cover and let him join in as much as possible. Kids are much less 'put about' by these things than adults are.

Absolutely go, I wouldn't even consider not going

Make sure you are well covered with insurance, but go.

If there was any hint of risk, the Dr would have told you. Just make sure you have lots of painkillers for the flight, and something supportive like a pillow/cushion for him to have.

I'd go too

I think if you have been given the All Clear by the Doctor then Travel Ins probably wont pay up .I think you will be fine ,If you make sure you have the correct travel documents for medical care once there and plenty of Calpol then he will be fine .Have a good trip and dont worry !

Definitely go. In my experience, doctors are over rater than under cautious when it comes to travelling when ill/injured.

rater=rather