It started this past Thursday evening. We have a basketball goal that hangs on an inside door. Kyzer plays all the time, but since it's so high, he decided to get a little closer by standing on one of his kiddie chairs, which added all of an extra 10 inches. It went out from under him and he landed awkwardly on his arm. When I picked him up (he was crying hard, of course), his left arm was bent behind him at a weird angle. I thought he'd dislocated his shoulder. When we could both talk again, he said his wrist hurt. It wasn't swollen; he could move it in all directions, and he was able to squeeze my fingers, so I didn't think it was broken. It didn't even bruise, so I eliminated a sprain as well. I figured he had hyperextended his wrist and was going to be sore for a while, but kept a sharp eye on him.
He didn't eat supper, which is odd for him. He's a true boy, eating at every opportunity and then some. He held his arm, protecting it with his body. I called a friend, asking for her opinion. Our friend is a pediatric nurse and her husband is a doctor of some sort. (The exact kind of medicine he practices escapes me right now, but he knows bones. He is not an orthopedic doctor, though.) They came over and looked at Kyzer's wrist. They said there were no bones displaced, but, if it were a greenstick fracture, it wouldn't show on the x-ray for about 48 hours anyway.
The next morning (Friday), he seemed much better, still not using his arm much, but not protecting it, either. He fell off his scooter around lunch time, landing with some weight on his arm. He cried hard again, but ate and had a good nap. Then he fell over a stool that night, landing with his full weight on it. That really hurt. It still didn't swell, so I still wasn't sure if it were broken. I was still stuck on the hyperextended theory.
The weekend was fine. He didn't fall and I thought he would be fine. We kept him fairly tied down so he wouldn't fall again and make things worse. Well, it was too good to last. Monday right before lunch he was standing on a stool watching me cook and he fell off, again landing with full weight on his wrist. He didn't eat lunch ("I just don't feel very good, Momma.") and I noticed swelling just behind the wrist joint.
I was up early the next morning (Tuesday) with the twins (they decided it was time to start their day at 4:00 for some strange reason), and did some research on greenstick fractures. (I know, I know- should have done that a lot sooner, right?!?) In all my learning, I realized that his wrist was swollen where his growth plates are and I didn't want to compromise those. I also realized he still wasn't using his arm much and couldn't bear weight on it. It just wasn't getting better.
So, I took him to Children's Mercy last night where we spent 3 hours learning that he had a minor radial fracture. I explained to him that they were going to have to take pictures of his bones, but they wouldn't hurt. In all honesty, he asked, "Do I have to smile?" He has a wonderfully bright yellow splint on for the time being, and thinks he's pretty cool. In an hour, Daddy is taking him to get his cast. He will have to wear it for 3 to 6 weeks, depending on doctor's orders.
He's not in any pain, and I'm having a hard time keeping him from flying around acting goofy. I've been tempted to duct tape his bottom to the couch! Now that it's in a splint and he doesn't have to protect it, he's making up for lost time by acting crazier than normal. Ah, the joys of little boys!
In his splint- he loved the color! This was taken with my phone- pardon the quality (or lack thereof).
In his cast
Didn't take him long to get back on the scooter!
12 comments:
You hit that right on, Rachel, boys!! Just thought I would ask if you meant pieces to be spelt wrong for your blog name~just thought I'd ask?! Love ya
DB- Ha! Thanks for the correction! I didn't even notice, and neither did anyone else, including my mother who prides herself on her ability to detect things like that!
I am seeing into my future! :) glad he is OK
TM-Sigh... He's fine; I'm just not so sure about me!!
Dear Rach! Tis only by the grace and mercy of God that we have only had one broken elbow(well broke on the growth plate and needed surgery and three pins) in my ten years of having three boys! We have jumping from bed to bed and a brother tripping him while he jumped to thank for that!! Still...hoping for as much grace and mercy in the next ten!LOL! Boyz will be boyz!! Glad he is okay! Hope you are too! But they are soooo worth it!
LS- Thanks for the encouragement! He thinks it's all been really fun (except for the falling part) and is totally enjoying all the attention. It's me that falls apart at night when they aren't looking... And they really are so worth every second! I wouldn't trade one for anything.
Oh, boy! How well I remember the hours spent in the emerg of the children's hospital with Marcus. I got to know that place pretty well. Nails in feet, broken bones, stitches, twisted hoo haws, surgery for that, punches in the neck, hands mashed in car doors, STARS helicopter from falling down while rock climbin, oy yoi and that is just what I can remember at this late moment in the day. They DO grow up! Whew, eh?
MW- Phew! Thanks for the empathy! I'm really hoping they don't know my by name at the hospital. With 5 kids I guess I stand a pretty good chance, though!
Ah, Rachel. You must be completely worn out! If it's any consolation, it was my GIRL who broke her leg when she was four (and just from jumping off the couch onto the floor and landing the wrong way!).
It sounds like Kyzer will adjust just fine with his cast, as kids do. It's usually mama who needs a little more sympathy. And you certainly have it from me.
DH- Yup, worn out doesn't come close... I think it's more mental right now than physical. Just think- he's only three and a half, and Zander's only 3 months!!! I've got a long ways to go... And Kyzer was ready for the cast to come off after having it on all of 5 hours. No nap explains that though. He's got 4 weeks; he'll survive.
It's nice to know who your friends are- the ones with all the sympathy!!!!
Wow, sounds like you've been having fun! Nothin can make them feel better than a momma's love though eh?
Natalie
NR-How sad when Momma giving us hugs and kisses ceases to fix everything... I think that's what's wrong with the world- another soapbox I won't get on right now!!!
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