anotherbrother Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 My nine year old son injured is neck while standing on his head. It's most likely a cumulative injury from practicing to much. I've taken him to the doctor (pediatric orthopedic) and the initial diagnosis was that he "tweeked" it. There were no x-rays done. Her opinion was that it would most likely heal by it self in a few weeks. She did not recommend that he stop dancing only that he shouldn't do the things that were hurting him. He sometimes complains about discomfort during the day, but is always uncomfortable after class. It doesn't seem to matter which class it is they all seem to bother him in some form. He take two ballet, 1 jazz, 1 lyrical, 1 tap, 1 break dance, 2 hip hop, and 1 team practice a week. At this point in the year I don't think it would be possible for him to take a couple of weeks off and still finish the year out. I feel that he would be too far behind. Unfortunately there are some issues that complicate the situation further. He isn't planning on continuing to dance next year, while there are many aspects that he enjoys there are many that he doesn't. The dance studio is almost an hour away from our home and we've been driving there 4 days a week. We go to this particular studio because my sister teaches there. If it weren't for my sister I would let him stop taking classes now, but I'm afraid that she will see this "injury" as a cop out. Most kids love their classes enough that they would probably want to continue to work through the pain. My husband feels that he needs to take a couple of weeks of (which I don't think is possible) Since he's not planning on dancing next year I'm even more torn. Our original position on dance was that he made a commitment to his team and class and that he should finish out the year. Now with the injury we're not sure this is the right decision. My thoughts about this are rather jumbled because there is family involved. I don't feel as though I can talk to my sister about this, as I don't think we'll agree. Please help me make the right decision for my son and family. I'm very burned out with being out of the house 4 afternoons a week for 5 hours at a stretch and I feel that is coloring my opinion. Pros for quitting: DS Neck could heal Save $ every month (Dance is a major expensive, our largest bill after rent) No more expensive gas Time at home with other kids Time with husband Cons: Could create huge strain with my sister He wouldn't be following through with his commitment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Have you taken him to a physical therapist? My dd injured her neck recently while dancing, and the PT worked miracles on her. She used ultrasound, massage, and exercises, and dd was back to normal in a couple days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherbrother Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 My husband and I have a difference of opinion on the physical therapist. He feels that with his neck injury they didn't help at all. He also thinks that DS is still young and time should heal this particular injury. I feel that it could help, but that the cost is very expensive when rest will probably do the trick. The doctor did give me a prescription for physical therapy, but didn't really feel that it was necessary. She also feels that this should heal over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Could he maybe cut back on classes? I know team etc probably relies on him for competitions but are there classes where he isn't as vital? Maybe try one week off. I would look to see what I could cut out but still finish out his commitment. I would probably also look into a second opinion because a neck injury is nothing to mess around with in my estimation. If the docs don't think dancing is a problem, I would be inclined to finish out the year as best I can. There is a commitment there not just to the school but also to the other kids. Of course, his health must come first and if you feel that is truly compromised, then you do what you have to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristinaBreece Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 A few things I would consider: What does DS want to do? Did you ask your doctor about the potential for further injury if he doesn't get adequate rest? Would talking to your sister about it help the situation? Maybe she doesn't expect him to push through an injury? (I know it likely wouldn't help with my siblings-- but in some cases...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherbrother Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 Could he maybe cut back on classes? I know team etc probably relies on him for competitions but are there classes where he isn't as vital? Maybe try one week off. I would look to see what I could cut out but still finish out his commitment. I would probably also look into a second opinion because a neck injury is nothing to mess around with in my estimation. If the docs don't think dancing is a problem, I would be inclined to finish out the year as best I can. There is a commitment there not just to the school but also to the other kids. Of course, his health must come first and if you feel that is truly compromised, then you do what you have to do. The team does rely on him for competitions, it's possible the dance could be re-choreographed. I don't really think he could take a week off at this point. He's already missed some classes due to winter illness and such. He could cut a few of the classes, but those of course would be the classes that he enjoys the most. He must continue to take ballet, jazz, and lyrical. I do think finishing out the year is the best thing to do, we have told him many times that he made a commitment and he must follow through. On the other hand I don't want him to be in pain or even discomfort on a daily basis until the end of June.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherbrother Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 A few things I would consider: What does DS want to do? Did you ask your doctor about the potential for further injury if he doesn't get adequate rest? Would talking to your sister about it help the situation? Maybe she doesn't expect him to push through an injury? (I know it likely wouldn't help with my siblings-- but in some cases...) DS is really DONE, but he does understand that he's made a commitment. On the other hand he has a tendency to not speak his mind about things that are bothering him, and I wonder how much he is really in. I didn't specifically ask about further injury, but she was aware of the volume of classes that he takes. I'm hesitant to bring this up with my sister, because she would push through the injury. She is aware of the problem. I don't really want to talk to her until I'm sure of a decision. Wishy washy isn't my best side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom23Boys Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 If it were me, I would pull him because he is more uncomfortable after class. I would be concerned something he was doing was aggravating the injury. 9 is young to have a neck injury and my concern would be long-term complications from failing to heal properly. I have pain in my shoulder from when I was 18 (in a wreck, surgery, best case scenario) and it really stinks to have to change what I am doing and how bc of an injury in the past. In my case, there was nothing better that could be done, but I would do anything I needed to try and avoid that for my dc. I think there is a difference in being injured and having to withdraw and just quitting because you don't want to do something anymore. My oldest went to 3 soccer practices and then broke his wrist. He can't play. I don't view that as "quitting". He has an injury. He does dress out and sit on the bench every game bc his brother is also on the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherbrother Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 If it were me, I would pull him because he is more uncomfortable after class. I would be concerned something he was doing was aggravating the injury. 9 is young to have a neck injury and my concern would be long-term complications from failing to heal properly. I have pain in my shoulder from when I was 18 (in a wreck, surgery, best case scenario) and it really stinks to have to change what I am doing and how bc of an injury in the past. In my case, there was nothing better that could be done, but I would do anything I needed to try and avoid that for my dc. I think there is a difference in being injured and having to withdraw and just quitting because you don't want to do something anymore. My oldest went to 3 soccer practices and then broke his wrist. He can't play. I don't view that as "quitting". He has an injury. He does dress out and sit on the bench every game bc his brother is also on the team. My husband also had a neck injury in high school. It still affects him to this day. His pain has a hand in almost everything that he does. This is also coloring my decision. I'm really trying to separate the whining from the "pain." It's not so easy to do with a 9 year old boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 The doctor said not to do the things that are hurting him. I would evaluate based on his medical needs alone. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom23Boys Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 My husband also had a neck injury in high school. It still affects him to this day. His pain has a hand in almost everything that he does. This is also coloring my decision. I'm really trying to separate the whining from the "pain." It's not so easy to do with a 9 year old boy. True. My 8 year old hides all pain, and my 7 year old treats a splinter the same as a broken bone. Which definitely makes it harder to make a medical decision. I admit, my dealing with daily pain does color my opinion and would be difficult for me to overcome when making decisions about my kids as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherbrother Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 I just spoke with the nurse at the doctors office. Her advice was to take the week off and then reevaluate. I feel that we definitely will be able to make a more level headed decision based solely on the pain after a break. Go figure, when I went downstairs to talk to DS and tell him he could take the week off he was upset. He wanted to go to class today. Unfortunately I know I made the right choice because this is the most pain I've seen him in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RanchGirl Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 If your son doesn't want to continue due to pain or boredom or lack of future in this activity or whatever, then I would say "sis, the doc says he needs to quit, and dh and I are particularly concerned about the injury and you know dh had that neck injury as a child that is still bothering him so we feel we must take it seriously and listen to the doctor. He had fun, you were a great teacher, thanks for the opportunity. Hey I found a new recipe for lemon bars, do you want a copy..." If he really wants to continue, then I would consider what is the safest way for him to participate in the program the rest of the year. I would not force him to work through an injury just to please the sister or finish the commitment. I don't think she should factor into the decision at all. The driving might factor in for me, but since it hasn't stopped you so far, I would try not to let it be the issue now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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