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Original poster

Dd1 hurt her arm, can't decide if it might be broken or not

30 replies

nutcracker · 04/08/2007 09:21

She fell on it yesterday evening, well infact yesterday afternoon too.

I was upstairs so didn't see exactly what she did, but she was on her wheelies in the hall and I heard the thud of her falling over. By the time I got downstairs she was crying and screaming at Dd2 not to touch her.

Anyway, I got her up and got an ice pack to put on her arm. It didn't swell up at all and still isn't now.

If I run my finger down her arm from elbow to wrist, she complains of pain, just before you get to her wrist. She is moving it ok, and can use it to pick stuff up, open the door etc and she has been writing this morning, although she said it hurt when she pressed down to do a full stop.

She did complain about it as soon as she woke this morning, but only in a 'oh it still hurts' kind of way, not a 'i am in agony' way.

I don't know what to do. If I had to say one way or another, i'd say it's not broken.

Is it worth sitting in a&e all afternoon to get ti checked ?? I would really feel like we were wasting their time.

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CharleeWeasley · 04/08/2007 09:24

When i broke my arm i couldn't move it and couldn't bare to have it touched at all! And it was swollen badly.
From what you have said i wouldn't say it was broken just bruised.

Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 09:30

Yeah thats what I think too, just keep remembering my neighbour who insisted her sons leg wsn't broken and made him walk on it for days until she eventually took, him and it was broken.

I am pretty usre dd's isn't though....i think lol.

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Miaou · 04/08/2007 09:33

Sounds exactly like dd2 when she broke her arm - it was a greenstick fracture though - hence no swelling and the pain wasn't too bad.

What is her pain threshold like? Dd2 broke her thumb a few months back and we never realised because she didn't make a fuss (she got whacked with a shinty stick) - just said it hurt. But it has healed funny with a big lump left on her thumb - and this is her writing hand!). She has a very high pain threshold.

The fact that it is hurting in the middle of her arm and (I guess) there is no bruising apparent, she could well have just cracked the bone. Dd2 could use hers normally.

CharleeWeasley · 04/08/2007 09:33

Lol my mum actually did that t me when i shattered my thumb bones, she said 'go to bed dear it's just bruised' after a night of me screaming and it getting bigger and bigger she took me to a&e to find it was completley shatterted! oops!

Lol, i hope your dd is ok though.

NAB3 · 04/08/2007 09:34

I would get her checked.

Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 09:35

Oh no really Miaou

If i press the bit she says hurts, she does pull her arm back in pain, but isn't in tears or anything.

So, do I need it seeing too, do you think ?

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Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 09:40

Sorry, crossposted.

She said it does hurt even when I don't press it.

So, if it is a greenstick fracture, do they put them in plaster ?

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Miaou · 04/08/2007 09:41

Nutty, I'm afraid my answer would be that you need to get it checked. Dd2 was put in a cast for 6 weeks when she broke hers; they did feel it was necessary I'm afraid.

If you are going to go though, go now; you might just avoid all the Saturday night drunks then

Miaou · 04/08/2007 09:42

x-posts but I think I answered your question!!

Dd2 was only 2.5 when she broke hers though - might be slightly different in your dd1 (she is 10?) - it was because of the bendy nature of such young bones that they felt she was better off in plaster.

Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 09:43

I can't go now, no one to have the other kids, and I have an asda shop arriving between 11-1.

Will have to ring my brother and see if he can come over after lunch and watch the other kids.

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alibobins · 04/08/2007 09:44

DD hurt her arm falling off a little chair there was no bruising or swelling she could use it but not too much. Took her to a&e the next day and it turned out to be broken She was in plaster for four weeks

The hospital said if you give it a good wiggle when they are asleep and it makes them wince or wake up then you need it looking at.

LIZS · 04/08/2007 09:44

Think I'd get it checked today , sorry . Took dd down the other day having crushed her fingers in a door .

Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 09:45

I was going to wiggle her arm last night but I didn't, wish i had now.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 09:45

Ok, will ring my dad now and get him to ask my brother to come over when he gets in from work.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 09:47

Argh there is no answer, will keep trying.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 10:23

Still trying to get hold of my dad or brother.

I just made her shut her eyes so she didn't know where I was going to prod her, and she did still shout out and pull away when I touched the same spot, so she defo isn't faking that bit.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 10:59

My brother is coming over about 1 to take us.

Dd now reckons it doesn't hurt, I reckon she doesn't want to go to hospital thats why.

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Miaou · 04/08/2007 11:08

Still think you are doing the right thing getting it looked at nutty. At the end of the day, if nothing is wrong wth it then it's just taken some time.

Make the most of the opportunity of some one-to-one time with her - take pens and paper and play hangman or noghts and crosses, or take a magazine to share

purpleflower · 04/08/2007 11:15

DP took his little brother to the hospital after he fell badly on his arm. DP's DB insisted it wasn't broken, even punched DP quite hard with the arm.

It was broken and he spent 6 weeks in plaster. I think its always best to check it out.

Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 16:00

We're back, and it's sprained not broken, thankfully.

Didn't take long either, registered in a%e at 2:19 and was back out waiting for bus at 3:15.

Thanks for the advice

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madmumof5 · 04/08/2007 16:02

hi glad its not broken my dd was jumpin on the bed last week and broke her wrist what a great way to spend the summer in a cast kids hey lol

NotADragonOfSoup · 04/08/2007 16:04

Still thinking of getting a trampoline, Nutty?

Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 16:05

LOL, I would you know

The play assistant in there said that wheelies or heelies and trampolines have been the casue of most of fractures in kids since they broke up.

Dd1 wasn't bothered, came straight home and put them straight back on.

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tiredemma · 04/08/2007 16:10

Ds has heelies- Im convinced he is going to crack his head open or something one day.

Have to ask- when dd first had her heelies - did she look like bambi first learning to walk?

we bought ds's at a mall in orlando on holiday ( everyone had them out there ) and I almost wet myself walking behind him, hanging onto dp for dear life, legs all over the place- I honestly thought he would never get the hang of it.

Original poster
nutcracker · 04/08/2007 16:18

Dd1 has been fine on them pretty much from the word go. At first she just walked on them and now she can whizz round like anything.

Dd2 though can't use hers at all, she puts them on and then just walks round.

I think they might be slightly easier to use than heelies, although I haven't had a go myself

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