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Children's health

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Original poster

DD has had a fall and I think she has pulled a muscle in her chest, she says it really hurts

18 replies

pinkbasket · 16/09/2010 19:43

What can I do for her? Wondering about Calpol as not sure there is anything I can do about a pulled muscle.

OP posts:
SayItWithWine · 16/09/2010 22:06

Give calpol and brufen (if she can have it) as pulled muscles in the chest are very painful and can take forever to resolve. May be warmth (wheat pad) after the first 24 hours.

AnyFucker · 16/09/2010 22:15

did she fall directly on her chest ?

Original poster
pinkbasket · 17/09/2010 08:05

She fell sideways. She was grabbing for the banister and it was wet so she slipped and fell sideways into a door. She hit her ear on the door and kind of did the splits as well. She said it still hurts this morning.

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 17/09/2010 08:08

could she have cracked a rib?

Original poster
pinkbasket · 17/09/2010 08:14

I don't think she hit her chest on anything, I will ask her.

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkbasket · 17/09/2010 08:16

She can't remember but thinks she might have hit in on the door. I think she might mean the door frame as she fell the wrong way to hit the door.

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 17/09/2010 08:17

might be worth getting her checked out?

Original poster
pinkbasket · 17/09/2010 08:20

I wonder if the school nurse would be able to look at her as I can't get a GP appointment for her.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 17/09/2010 08:24

possibly, not sure they could do much for a broken rib anyway but better to know I think!

PixieOnaLeaf · 17/09/2010 11:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SayItWithWine · 17/09/2010 11:30

They dont treat broken ribs anyway, and if it was going to puncture a lung it would do so immediately so provided she has no breathing difficulties its a bit pointless as they rarely xray. The treatment is the same for muscular skeletal injuries and broken ribs anyway. Does she have bruising or swelling to the ribcage?

Make sure she does deep breathing exercises especially if she has asthma. The pain is usually worse the following days and takes forever to get better. Lots of pain relief is needed. If you need reassurance by all means take her to a minor injuries unit, just knowing what the problem sometimes takes away the anxiety.

PixieOnaLeaf · 17/09/2010 11:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
pinkbasket · 17/09/2010 11:33

HI, she was checked over by the first aider at school. She has no swelling and no bruising. She has no problems with breathing and her teacher is keeping a close eye on her. I gave her calpol before school and they will ring at lunch time if she needs more and I will go and give her some more. Thanks for all the support.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 17/09/2010 11:37

glad all seems OK Smile

SummerRain · 17/09/2010 11:39

I've had torn intercostal muscles and also broken ribs on seperate occasions and the pain is fairly similar tbh.

Speaking as someone who chose not to go to a&e with broken ribs as 'they won't do anything anyway' and slightly regrets that decision now as 8 years later they still give me grief and i have a nagging suspician one of them healed crooked as it 'jabs' me occasionally if i move in certain ways... bring her to get checked out.

If you go now she'll be seen before a&e gets too busy (hopefully) and at least you'll have piece of mind one way or another.

SayIt... they gave me a chest x-ray when i tore muscles, and they x-rayed dp's chest when he tore muscles coughing (asthmatic + pneumonia = ouch)

SummerRain · 17/09/2010 11:43

My daughter had no swelling or bruising on her leg when she fell but it was snapped clean through so I'd be very wary of trusting that first aiders opinion tbh Hmm

Also, my torn muscles went months un diagnosed as the pain lessened and intensified randomly (same with the cracked ribs) and whenever they weren't hurting i continued as normal, thus worsening the injury. Once they were diagnosed and i rested intensively for a few weeks they healed fairly quickly. So just beware of assuming because the pain isn't as bad that she's fine.

SayItWithWine · 17/09/2010 21:18

Pinkbasket. If DD can have ibuprofen (not asthmatic) I would consider that as well as it has an anti inflammatory effect. Chilrens chest walls are more flexible than adults so fracture is less likely.

Summer I feel sure your husbands xray was because of the infection and risk of collapsed lung rather than the pulled muscles from coughing. I worked in A&E for 11 years. High impact injuries to the chest would get xrayed, but otherwise not, simply because the treatment is the same.

Its not even usual to keep people in hospital with simple fractures but they would be if a pulmonary (lung) contusion was suspected.

In the event of car accidents, falls of ladders etc they might because of other risk factors, but again anyone worried could go to a minor injuries unit and have their mind put at rest. As I said the pain goes on a ridiculously long time - not sure why??

Original poster
pinkbasket · 18/09/2010 14:41

DD is with my MIL at the moment but I just want to go and get the kids and bring them home. DH is in bed poorly and I want my kids home Sad.

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