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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Could it be fractured?!

44 replies

GooGoo30 · 30/06/2026 12:37

This morning my 6-year-old fell onto a wooden floor and immediately cried, saying he’d hurt his arm. He was very upset and wouldn’t move it, saying it hurt and saying his hand felt “tired/strange” with reduced movement. He sat quietly holding it for about 10–15 minutes. Out of character as today is actually his birthday and he wanted to play 🙈
Then he wanted to ride his new bike and managed this without issue, but said it hurt again when using the brake.
Since then, his symptoms have been on and off—at times he appears fine with full use of the arm (including pushing himself up and carrying things), and at other times he becomes quiet and holds the arm saying it hurts.
On the way to school he was quiet and holding it. At school he cycled again and seemed fine, but became upset at drop-off so I took him to urgent care. By the time we got there he had regained full movement and wasn’t complaining. I touched (and squished!) his arm and hand and couldn’t find any points that caused pain. I took him to school and we didn’t see anyone at urgent care.
School have since called to say he fell again on that arm at break, was upset but settled quickly, and is generally using it, though intermittently holding it and saying it hurts but then resting his chin on it like it’s fine again 🤦🏽‍♀️
I’m unsure whether this is just a bruise or if I should take him to A&E.

OP posts:
Onegiantpupil · 30/06/2026 12:39

Just take him OP, best get it checked out, could be bruising or there could be a hairline fracture. Kids’ bones are more malleable than ours so he might feel pain but it might not hurt in the same way a full break in a grown adult might hurt

If he has just bruised it, great, if it is worse you will want to know in case all the activities he is doing could make it worse

Whatafustercluck · 30/06/2026 12:41

It's likely just a sprain but better to get that confirmed. Even sprains can be painful and need extra support for a few days of recovery.

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 30/06/2026 12:42

it really could be, i would definately go and get it checked out. Good luck OP, i am currently in a boot in this heat with a fractured foot that wasnt spotted 8 months ago and walking around has caused more damage so not worth the risk.

Original poster
GooGoo30 · 30/06/2026 12:57

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 30/06/2026 12:42

it really could be, i would definately go and get it checked out. Good luck OP, i am currently in a boot in this heat with a fractured foot that wasnt spotted 8 months ago and walking around has caused more damage so not worth the risk.

8 months!!!

I feel for you in this heat.

I go between thinking he is absolutely fine and nothing is wrong to being convinced he has fractured it… x

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 30/06/2026 13:01

Have you got a minor injuries unit you can take him to? DH hurt his ankle recently and was seen very quickly there.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/06/2026 13:02

It needs checking

thinkofsomethingdifferent · 30/06/2026 13:06

Please take him to be checked. Very similar to my daughter a few years ago. She did the initial “ouch”, reluctant to use it, cried etc. but then very much got on with her day. And the next day. And the next. We had even been bowling. It was only on day 4 when she refused to go in soft play that I thought hmm, something is off. I took her and it was indeed fractured. They knew it wasn’t a new fracture too and therefore a safeguarding check was made, luckily she had been at nursery and they confirmed they did not suspect anything was wrong, so all was fine but still rather embarrassing. As a parent, I felt awful I had left it so long so please please go.

Superscientist · 30/06/2026 13:12

The only way to know if it is broken is to have it x rayed.
I fell and my ankle balloon and I couldn't move it or put any weight on it and it was "just" a sprain. My sister fell, could put weight on it and was just a bit bruised but got it checked out anyway and she had fractured her leg.
My mum had a bad fall down the stairs first impression by paramedics and A&E was a broken arm and bruised ribs. It was actually a bruised arm and two broken vertebrae.....we are an accident prone family!

Holgen · 30/06/2026 13:19

Honestly, it takes so much brain space to wonder if it is broken vs driving to nearest hospital with an xray department (doesn't necessarily have to be your big A&E Trauma centre), and then you'll know!

StormGazing · 30/06/2026 13:25

Feel both arms together ante same time then it’s easier to feel differences in the bad arm. My DD broke her leg and my FIL said see how she is in the morning g, she was still in pain so GP saw her and said hhmm doesn’t feel broken but perhaps pop to A&E if it’s still hurting tomorrow. A&E said it’s probably ok but we’ll x ray it … clearly a hairline fracture … 3 weeks in full leg plaster (bright pink!)
DS broke his arm on the monkey bars, you could clearly feel a difference in the two arms and x ray sound chipped bone

Original poster
GooGoo30 · 30/06/2026 18:07

So.. since school he has been 90% normal. Using it to climb onto a swing, leaning on it with his weight, clapping, lifting. But in ‘down’ times is holding his arm with his other arm like you would if you had hurt it. Periodically will say “my arm hurts” and when I ask where it hurts he points to his wrist and then his elbow. But then the way he is using it, you would think it’s fine. I have touched it, squeezed it, and no reaction. But he will say “my arm hurts”. The only time he very visibly winched and it hurt to almost the point of crying was when he went to hit something with his hand.
he desperately doesn’t want to go to hospital and as it’s his birthday I feel mean, and from an outsiders view he seems normal.
any thoughts?! X

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/06/2026 18:12

Take him. He'll get a fuss made of him (wear the party hat and badge), they'll do an x-ray and you'll know whether he's got a little chip, a greenstick or a fracture that's opening and closing depending upon what he does.

Doughlene · 30/06/2026 18:14

I’d still take him! My daughter fractured her foot and was walking on it at the hospital, both me and the doctor agreed we would xray to be safe as it was a hard bang when she hit it and she had a fracture! You really just never know, especially with children!

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/06/2026 19:31

GooGoo30 · 30/06/2026 18:07

So.. since school he has been 90% normal. Using it to climb onto a swing, leaning on it with his weight, clapping, lifting. But in ‘down’ times is holding his arm with his other arm like you would if you had hurt it. Periodically will say “my arm hurts” and when I ask where it hurts he points to his wrist and then his elbow. But then the way he is using it, you would think it’s fine. I have touched it, squeezed it, and no reaction. But he will say “my arm hurts”. The only time he very visibly winched and it hurt to almost the point of crying was when he went to hit something with his hand.
he desperately doesn’t want to go to hospital and as it’s his birthday I feel mean, and from an outsiders view he seems normal.
any thoughts?! X

Everyone already said to take him for an x ray so I’m not sure what other thoughts you want. What he wants isn’t really relevant here, he’s 6.

Superscientist · 30/06/2026 19:40

I have an almost 6 year old and if she was telling me she was in pain on her birthday I would be putting her straight in the car to a & e.

This is pain that a birthday can't fully distract him from. He's in pain, get him checked out.

Shinyandnew1 · 30/06/2026 19:40

I’d take him for an x-ray.

PinotPony · 30/06/2026 19:45

At that age it’s likely to be a greenstick fracture. Definitely get it checked out.

Clairey1986 · 30/06/2026 19:47

Slightly against the grain - if he is fine 90% of the time and you can poke and squeeze it it’s likely fine - from my own breaks and kids they hurt a lot more initially.

That said every doctor I’ve ever met would rather you got it checked to make sure.

Original poster
GooGoo30 · 30/06/2026 19:50

We are here! Hopefully not all night 😩

OP posts:
BiteSizeByzantine · 30/06/2026 19:52

I could walk on a broken ankle that I found out was broken far too late. Get it x rayed

Velumental · 30/06/2026 19:53

Why on earth didn't you go immediately? Some parents are so strange

Original poster
GooGoo30 · 30/06/2026 20:00

Velumental · 30/06/2026 19:53

Why on earth didn't you go immediately? Some parents are so strange

Because he has spent the day riding a bike, running around and (mostly) been perfectly happy. 🤦🏽‍♀️

OP posts:
HoraceCope · 30/06/2026 20:03

i am glad you have gone

justasmalltownmum · 30/06/2026 20:03

The feeling sick and tired is a sign on a fracture. Take him in.