Broken Arm

[02AggieGirl]

My 4 yo daughter broke her arm this morning! For those of you who have gone thru this or have had a child break an arm, how long does the pain last? It is awful watching her being in pain. She does have pain meds and she is great about taking medicine, but just want her to feel better!! Any advise would help. Thanks!!

 

[CastleCreations]

If they set the arm, and cast it, the pain should ease up in a day or so. It's surprising how fast they begin to feel like their old selves again, and you will have trouble keeping her from doing all of the fun stuff she wants to do.

 

[Manymice]

No experience with the broken arm, but our son broke his foot last August. He was in pain for just a short time. I'm thinking about 3 days! If it were me it would have hurt for weeks Hope your little one heals quickly. That's no fun in the summer.

 

[tinkerbell3747]

Last summer my son broke his elbow getting out of an above the ground pool, and beceause of where the break was they could not cast it, for me med's like Childrens Motrin worked a lot better than Tylenol. He did have to wear a sling but his pain eased after the first 3 - 5 days.

And we were told it would take 6-8 wks generally to heal at his 4th wk check up and x - ray it was 100% healed. It did take some time for him to get full motion in the joint ( 2 - 3 weeks ), it seems really bad now and no doubt it will start to itch use a wire hanger pull it straight and help to get the "itches" when they come. Dont worry it will be over before you know it and each day will get a little easier

I wish you all the best and now I will step off my soap box

 

[dogodisney]

My DGD is recovering from a broken leg. (her femur to be exact). She was in pain for just a few days.

 

[clori]

When mydd8 was almost 6 she broke her arm - one simple, one compound fracture. She did fine with just motrin while we waited to see the pediatric orthopedic surgeon the day she broke it. She didn't have surgery but did have some drugs to keep her asleep/out of pain/not remember when the surgeon manually manipulated her bones and casted her arm. We got home after midnight.

The next day she was groggy all day and in a lot of pain. I called the peds and they finally phoned in tylenol with codeine. By then she was asleep so I wasn't about to wake her. She woke up the next morning and just needed motrin. She never took the tyl/codeine. I would say by 3-4 days after the break she didn't need anything. She also found it more comfortable not to use the sling.

 

[02AggieGirl]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I appreciate it. She said that her arm is not hurting as bad as yesterday, so that is encouraging. It's tough because I just feel so helpless when she tells me it's hurting and I've done everything I know to do. I know it will pass soon enough. Just have to hang in there.

 

[Erin13178]

Ugh I'm the queen of the broken arm. When I was little I broke my arm 3 different times. And yes every time it was my left arm, and every break was in a different spot.

I broke my arm at ages 3, 5, and 7. The 7 year break was by far the worst. I remember being in pain for just a few days though. But then cause when we went to the ER they made me wait for 6 hours before being seen, my arm started to set itself totally crooked. So after wearing the first cast for like 6 weeks, the docs did x-rays on me again, and since they didn't get to set it correctly the first time they had to knock me out, re-break it, and cast me again! After that I had to wear a stinkin split too! Grrrr!

So yes I've had my left arm broken 4 times!!!!!!!!

If you have anymore questions just ask since I've been there done that.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

DD9 broke her arm in kindergarten. One thing that helped her was a pillow to rest the cast on, especially when just sitting. it took some of the extra weight off. a bed pillow works great at home, and I let her pick out a smaller one at Target to take to school. Kindergarten had lots of "circle" time on the floor.

 

[02AggieGirl]

Ugh I'm the queen of the broken arm. When I was little I broke my arm 3 different times. And yes every time it was my left arm, and every break was in a different spot.

I broke my arm at ages 3, 5, and 7. The 7 year break was by far the worst. I remember being in pain for just a few days though. But then cause when we went to the ER they made me wait for 6 hours before being seen, my arm started to set itself totally crooked. So after wearing the first cast for like 6 weeks, the docs did x-rays on me again, and since they didn't get to set it correctly the first time they had to knock me out, re-break it, and cast me again! After that I had to wear a stinkin split too! Grrrr!

So yes I've had my left arm broken 4 times!!!!!!!!

If you have anymore questions just ask since I've been there done that.

UGH! Sorry to hear about your experience. Bless your heart!!

I am having to force her to go to the bathroom about every 8 hours. I carry her in there and she screams the entire time. I hate doing that but she can't hold it forever. We are going to get the cast on tomorrow. I am dreading that doctor visit. My ears (and my heart) are already hurting!!

On top of everything, the dishwasher line broke and flooded our kitchen and some of the living room carpet last night!! It took my husband and me several hours to clean up. I am having the carpets cleaned today, so hopefully that will help. Thanks for letting me vent!!

 

[kellig]

My DD7 broke her arm when she was 4 yrs old. The initial pain went away pretty quickly (a day or so). The worst part of the entire process was the end...removing the cast. She went ballistic when they started with the saw to remove it. That was the longest three minutes of my life! You would have thought they were about to cut her entire arm off! Good luck with the recovery!

 

[02AggieGirl]

My DD7 broke her arm when she was 4 yrs old. The initial pain went away pretty quickly (a day or so). The worst part of the entire process was the end...removing the cast. She went ballistic when they started with the saw to remove it. That was the longest three minutes of my life! You would have thought they were about to cut her entire arm off! Good luck with the recovery!

This made me laugh.

 

[kellig]

This made me laugh.

The entire thing was quite humerous (aside from the alligator tears streaming down her face). I'm glad I could bring a smile to your face during this yuck time! DD broke her arm right around this time of year and the summer recovery was not easy - wanting to swim, slip and slide, and not to mention how hot and sweaty it gets in there. Again, good luck with the summer activities and recovery!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Nothing helpful to add, but I hope your dd is feeling better soon!

 

[james'mommy]

DS broke his leg when he was 2. He pretty much was fine once the hard cast was put on. He was miserable when it was a soft cast. He healed fast in only 3 weeks but I think they said it was normal for kids.

 

[Erin13178]

At least the casts now are for the most part waterproof.

BTW I've been thinking about you. I hope it all goes well tomorrow.

I would like to 2nd the pillow suggestion, that did help me a lot.

Which arm is it? Is it the arm that she colors or writes with?

And here's a small tip, if by chance they don't put a waterproof cast on, save bread bags, those and a rubber band at the top of the arm work wonders for keeping casts dry.

Side note: I once went to WDW when I was 7 with a cast on. It kinda sucked cause I was limited to what I could ride.

And as far as the saw that takes off the casts, ummmm they say the saws won't cut us, umm yea they do. They cut me when I was 7 and you can imagine blood, white cast, Mom passes out, not a good situation, but I was a trooper and didn't cry cause I was worried about my passed out Mom.

 

[tinkerbell3747]

Just wanted to say good luck tommorrow, all the best and once you pass that the worst is over.

 

[nikandboys]

My son got his cast off last week wednesday. He is 6 and broke his arm falling off the monkey bars. He broke both bones just above the wrist. hey put him out to set it and put him in a full arm cast. He broke it on a Wednesday and was on the playground by saturday. We limited him but he was great. He had his cast on for 8 weeks as the Doc felt he would benefit from an extra two weeks due to his being an active child. he first 2 days SUCK. But it gets better. His arm was sore right after he got his cast off and for about 3 days afterwards. But now he is almost back to normal. Doc suggests not to hang or climb for a few weeks due to the type of break.