One of the worst feelings is having your child scream and cry in pain and not know exactly how it happened or what exactly is hurting or how to help. Well Eric and I got to experience this feeling today. After church was over Eric took Abby with him to drop some material off at the library. When we met back up together Abby was crying and holding her arm. She kept telling me she wanted water so I took her to the water fountain and turned it on, instead of getting a drink she stuck her arm in it. (side note: when Abby gets hurt water on it comforts her, she thinks it helps) She refused to move her arm and was crying more and more. We went home and got her a wet wash cloth to put on it and she just wanted to watch a movie. So we decided to let her start watching her movie and see if she gets any better. She didn't. So off to the ER we went to see if something got broke or dislocated or bruised really bad. After describing what we knew happened- Eric was holding her hand while she was walking in a crowded hallway- the doctor said that it might be what they call a nursemaid's elbow which is when the radius is pulled out of joint. This is caused when the arm is pulled on and it happens to children in Abby's age range. We think she probably got bumped while walking in the hallway. He said he would try and pop it back in place and see if she'll use her arm in about 20 mins, if that doesn't seem to work they would take x-rays. Well he did pop it back into place and it turns out that is what was wrong. Abby did cry pretty good when the doctor popped it back, but the worst part of the whole thing for her was having the monitor hooked up to her toe which was held on by tape (Abby absolutely HATES all kinds of band aids) she wouldn't stop screaming until they took it off of her. After they took it off she calmed right down and started playing with her arm that was hurt, we didn't even have to wait 20 mins to know that we found the problem and got it fixed. Now she is more susceptible to having nursemaids elbow happen again so we are going to have to be super cautious about pulling her up by her arms. We are grateful that we found out what the problem was and that we were able to get it fixed and that she is doing good.
This is Abby holding her washcloth to her arm before we took her to see the doctor.
Here we are at the hospital, she had her arm fixed and was recovering from her foot having tape on it.
2 comments:
My little cousin has had this happen to her since she was about Abby's age. It still happens to her occasionally, as a kindergartner. It's kind of confusing when all you know is that her arm hurts. :(
wow that is crazy! who would have ever thunk it!
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