A&E??

[Asmallishproblem]

Shamelessly posting for advice.
My 4 yr old was sitting watching TV with her arm behind her back. She went to get up and yelped in pain. Lots of tears. Took a while to calm down, no marks or swelling.
She’s now not wanting to use her arm, and lifting it with her opposite one when she wants to move it. I have squeezed her arm (gently) up and down and no pain. She can make a fist and squeeze my fingers (but not very tightly). She doesn’t want to lift it up.
She is quite dramatic and so I was wondering how much of this is exaggerated, but - and this is the real reason I am concerned - she always sucks her fingers and will not lift her arm to her mouth.
What on earth could have happened? I’ve given Calpol and she is drifting off to sleep. What should I do? Is my only option to take her to A&E or can I wait and see what happens in the morning?

I'd phone 111 for advice. Hope she is ok.

My 2 year old broke her wrist, we weren’t sure and left it till the next day, but she was guarding it and not using it so took her to A&E and she got a cast, but no issue with having waited, if she’s comfortable sleeping I’d wait till tomorrow as it’s likely to be a very long wait and she’s better off at home in bed for now

Yes - this is kind of my thought process. To try and let her sleep if she can. I just didn’t know if it was negligent to leave it if there could be a problem.

If she's settling I definitely wouldn't take her in or even call 111 yet. Just wait and see how she is in the morning - if she's still in pain then follow up but she may have forgotten all about it and you won't have wasted any time on it!

It sounds like a dislocation. I would take her to A &E.

Could it be a pulled elbow? Probably worth getting it checked in the morning if she’s still not using it normally.

I agree that it sounds like a dislocation, maybe the shoulder. I’m not remotely medical trained though. I would let her sleep but if she wakes in pain then go to hospital. If not but she’s still not using the arm normally in the morn I would go in the morn

I'd say it's not broken wrist or shoulder, else she wouldn't be able to grip or lift arm at all. And would be screaming in pain on light movement.
Can you make a sling out of a cloth or teatowel? She could've easily pulled a muscle or something. Definitely call 111. Or take to minor injuries?

111 will most likely send you to A&E. Ligament injuries in the elbow can be common, it sounds like it might be that?

I'd head over, save LO being uncomfortable all night. If your local hospital is like mine then they are good with getting kids through.

She’s just woken up crying - Calpol worn off I guess. She is moving her arm with the other one, not lifting it by itself. However, she’s gone back to sleep with it propped on a pillow. I feel like a break would be more painful. @Stoptherideiwanttogetoff24 - was your daughter in a lot of pain?

Dislocated elbows are so common in young kids. My eldest done it, I down played it, then thought she'd broke her wrist. It was a dislocated elbow and it was reset fairly quickly after the xray.

Yeah I would tonight as it might be dislocated. I think it’s hard at that age for them to pinpoint where the pain is coming from, so I would err on the side of caution. Nobody is going to say anything for you getting it checked out. She is only 4!

Good luck x

Can she turn her hand like she’s turning a doorknob? Try even gently doing that in her sleep, that relocated a slightly dislocated elbow which had similar symptoms in my grandson.

I broke my wrist and kept using my hand because it didn't hurt that much.

No one can tell you what's going on but she's a small child, isn't using a limb and has been crying in pain.

You need proper medical advice.

Probably a dislocation.
Easily fixed if you know the manoeuvre
Take to a and e they will do it and watch carefully in case happens again

I reckon nursemaid's elbow, you can put it back easily by giving the arm a gentle twist.

The first time it happened to DS, I managed to fix it accidently (without knowing what it was) when putting his coat on to take him to A&E.

After that it happened regularly, and after I'd been shown what to do, I did it myself until he grew out of it.

Maybe a dislocation. I dislocated my collar bone (I think) when I was younger and couldnt explain to my parents how Id done it as I genuinely couldnt remember. It just hurt to put my arm up so we took a trip to a&e. If you have a walk in centre maybe take her in the morning if she will sleep.

I pulled my toddlers elbow, by lifting him up from sitting, by his hands with arms extended. He then wouldn't move it from his side - couldn't even dress him. I felt devastated, but it was a quick procedure in kids A&E to get it put back.

Definitely go get it sorted tonight. It could be a dislocation or break and as the pain has woken her, it definitely needs looking at.

Pain doesn't seem to be a good indicator of fractures in kids, I've noticed they are more likely to described their arm or leg as "feeling funny" than to be in a lot of pain.

Does your DD have good movement in her shoulder and elbow joint? If not could be a dislocation. Potentially more painful than a break.

Sounds like a pulled elbow

Not enormously that’s why it took till the next day to go to A&E if inconsolable would have taken her but I would always try and avoid children in A&E at night

This happened to my daughter 4 times, twice on each side. Each time was a visit to A&E to have it put back in place. We were told that the two bones in the lower arm sometimes move (not a true dislocation) so they are on top of each other. It's painful but is quickly put back in place. On one of the ocassions my daughter's arm reset when she took a swipe at us when they were trying to get and x-ray.

The first time it happened was really scary as we thought we'd broken her arm. She'd dropped to the ground when having a bit of a tantrum and I was holding her hand. Another time she was bouncing on the bed and knocked it. She grew out of it around the time she was 5.

Thanks everyone - quick update. Went to MIU and a very lovely Dr popped her elbow back into place and she’s now fine. I was mostly worried about whether or not waiting in A&E last night was the right thing to do, but he assured me that her resting and being comfortable at home was definitely the best option in this case. Phew. Thanks again to everyone who took time to comment.

My daughter had a little fall off her scooter. We thought nothing of it. Didn't complain of pain. Next day she was using the other arm to eat.
When it was x-rayed there was a small fracture. They can easily have small breaks as kids. I'm medical, but I was surprised it was broken from a minor injury