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Original poster

Pulled elbow, but still really really painful hours later

17 replies

Wallace · 25/04/2008 18:12

Ds2 (21m) hurt his elbow about 10am today (well I say he hurt it, but it was a bit of both us ) and he cried a lot and refused to move it.

I suspected pulled elbow as it used to happen to my dd, but noticed that he could move his elbow a bit, which my dd never would so I was worried that it wasn't IYSWIM. He went to sleep and I tried moving his arm and it was so sore he cried in his sleep Then he woke up screaming the second I put him down.

Went to Casualty and was seen at about 2pm. The doc said that it had been pulled out of place, but it was back in place.

However he is still in so much pain and is not using the arm. He went to sleep again later and again was crying if the arm was moved.

He is also really not himself, has just wanted to sit around - not like him at all!

The doc said to take him to the A&E at the big hosptal tomorrow if it is still sore.

Place your bets - will we be heading up the hospital tomorrow, or will he wake up tomorrow completely recovered?

OP posts:
avenanap · 25/04/2008 18:14

Did they X-ray it? Have you given him some pain relief?

Original poster
Wallace · 25/04/2008 18:32

Wasn't X-ray as they only have a radiographer on Wednesdays!

He is having Calpol for the pain, just about to dose hijm up and get him to bed.

OP posts:
avenanap · 25/04/2008 18:34

What happened exactly? Did he fall on his elbow? Is there any swelling?

Original poster
Wallace · 25/04/2008 18:42

I don't think he fell on his elbow. I was holding his hand, and holding the dog's lead in the other. He wanted to go in a different direction to me, and was very cross when I tried to pull (gently!) him the right way. He threw himself the the ground and I tried to stop him falling with a bit of a yank () on his arm.

I can't quite remember but I think at this point he might have slipped out of my grip and fallen, but not very hard. It did take me til we were a bit down the road to realise that he wasn't just crying because he was having a tantrum

OP posts:
Original poster
Wallace · 25/04/2008 18:46

Meant to say I can't see any swelling, but he is so chubby anyway that it is hard to tell!

OP posts:
avenanap · 25/04/2008 18:48

Ok. Don't worry. I think he needs an x-ray to be honest with you. If he's in pain, not moving it and guarding (holding it so you can't touch it)it he needs to be seen again and he needs an x-ray to make sure that there is not a fracture there. If he's still in pain after the calpol give him some childrens ibuprofen (don't do this if he has asthma). If he's crying when you move his arm when he's a sleep it must be very painful. I would not leave this to be honest with you. He may have just fell awkwardly.

avenanap · 25/04/2008 18:49

You won't always see swelling, the hospitals look for 2/3 signs of a fracture before they will do an x-ray.

Swelling
guarding
non-movement.

jalopy · 25/04/2008 19:09

My son had his 'pulled' elbow manipulated back into place. He didn't want to use his affected arm for a good 24 hours afterwards.
I think it can be a bit tender for a while. See how he is tomorrow.

Original poster
Wallace · 25/04/2008 19:22

Thanks both of you.

He must be in a lot of pain because he cried a lot when I was undressing/drssing him.

I will take him to A&E tomorrow if he is still bad. It is more than a 50 mile round trip, otherwise I would take him tonight, and dh is out with the car anyway!

OP posts:
avenanap · 25/04/2008 19:25

paracetamol first, then ibuprofen 2 hours later, then paracetamol 2 hours later...
It may not be broken, it might just be a pull like jalopy suggested. It's better to have an x-ray though if he is in alot of pain. Poor mite. I hope he's feeling better soon.

Original poster
Wallace · 25/04/2008 19:39

Thanks. i think I finished the last of the ibuprofen, but I will have a look see if there is a bit left.

It is times like this that I wish I didn't live in such a small place here you can't just pop out and buy medicine!

OP posts:
avenanap · 25/04/2008 19:42

Give the hubby a call and get him to pick some up???

Original poster
Wallace · 25/04/2008 19:44

He is in the middle of nowhere too

ds is fast asleep now, hopefully we have an okay night...

OP posts:
avenanap · 25/04/2008 19:46

It's not easy being a mum.

Original poster
Wallace · 25/04/2008 20:08

Thanks for your help. I will let you know how we get on tomorrow

OP posts:
emma1977 · 25/04/2008 20:15

It may be that it hasn't been relocated properly and is still dislocated. However, they can remain sore for 24hrs after successful reduction.

If still not using his arm tomorrow or appears in pain, take him to an A&E with Xray facilities.

Original poster
Wallace · 26/04/2008 09:35

Been up to A&E. The doc said that she is pretty sure it is just a pulled elbow and it is not broken. She didn't wan't to X-ray it.

He is still not using it, but seems in a bit less pain than he did earlier, so maybe it is getting better.

OP posts:
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