Night Elf Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Dd tripped and fell yesterday. She hurt her arm. I'm trying to decide if I need to drive her to urgent care which is an hour away. She says she can only move it in certain ways. She can't straighten it, raise it up, or bend it tightly. Does she need an x-ray? Could it be a hairline fracture or something? If it's just sprained, can they do anything for her? She's not in tears. It doesn't hurt much if she just keeps it bent slightly and held against her stomach. Update: I went ahead and took her in because she didn't want to miss school tomorrow. It is a small break at the top of her radius and a buildup of fluid around her elbow. They splinted her arm and we'll follow up with the orthopedist. I took her to urgent care because it's Kaiser's advanced care center which is like a small hospital. The problem now is getting the right referral. The doctor was stressing the importance of making sure they refer her from the correct home medical facility, which sounds like a great place for them to mess up. In the 20 years I've had Kaiser though, I've only ever had one problem with them so hopefully this will work out okay. Thanks for the help!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Governess Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Sounds like it could be fractured. I'd take her in. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 If she's unable to move it I'd be inclined to get an X-ray. I'd consider if it's worse from yesterday or better, and swollen. Do regular pain meds (Tylenol plus Motrin) allow her to move her arm? If so I'd be less inclined to go to urgent care. Sprains sometimes get soft or semihard splints. Have you iced it for swelling? Any loss or change in feeling (pins/needles)? Eta just because of the distance to urgent care I'd consider ER instead if one is close. The cost difference may be worth the drive. :( 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Unless she can't sleep, or it looks obviously broken, I'd give her the maximum amount of ibuprofen and call an orthopedist in the morning. I've never had good results with injuries at an urgent care, and some small fractures actually take a few days to show on an X-ray. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 While I would wait on an arm injury, if it is an elbow injury that causes any tingling or pain, go to an ER today and ask for the orthopedist on call. (I am not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure we've financed our orthopedist's beach house. :) ) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 She did ice it last night. It's not swollen. She's moving it in circles but if she tries to go too far, it hurts but she can't describe the pain. She just says it hurts. But she's not wincing when she does it. She can make a fist but she can't squeeze it hard. DH was just checking her out and and he feels it's her elbow. She can lift her arm over her head as long as she keeps her arm slightly bent. We have Kaiser and they would probably want us to drive to the urgent care which is a mini-hospital, unless it's a true emergency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsunshine Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 I would take her in today if I were you. It sounds like it could be a fracture. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtomom Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Unless she can't sleep, or it looks obviously broken, I'd give her the maximum amount of ibuprofen and call an orthopedist in the morning. I've never had good results with injuries at an urgent care, and some small fractures actually take a few days to show on an X-ray. This has been my experience as well. In fact, urgent care missed the fracture. Radiology found it, but ortho did new x-rays anyway. A friend had a wrist break that didn't show up for several days. If there is any numbness or similar issues indicating nerve or blood flow changes, I would take her in immediately. Otherwise, I would probably wait and go directly to ortho. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 I think it can wait until tomorrow. When my son broke him arm on a Saturday we went to urgent care and got x-rays. They said it was broken and basically wrapped an ace bandage with a splint around it and told us to take him to an orthopedist on Monday morning. At the orthopedist, they x-rayed it again and casted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 This has been my experience as well. In fact, urgent care missed the fracture. Radiology found it, but ortho did new x-rays anyway. A friend had a wrist break that didn't show up for several days. If there is any numbness or similar issues indicating nerve or blood flow changes, I would take her in immediately. Otherwise, I would probably wait and go directly to ortho. This. Urgent care missed dh's fracture too. Dsil's brother (an er dr) insisted he go to an er when he fractured his knuckle. Of course even the children's hospital missed 1ds's fractured vertebra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Governess Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Adding: even if the fracture is missed or can't be seen on the x-ray yet, if there is a possibility it is fractured they will splint it. Immobilizing it will protect it and help with pain. Also, in my experience, good orthopedists don't always have same-day availability, so you may have to wait a bit to be seen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 Update in first post. I am bumping this to thank those who responded and gave advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Governess Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 So glad she was seen! I hope she heals quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Smart mama for taking her in! I hope she heals quickly! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 I hope she feels better and ortho can see her soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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