Help from moms, nurses, docs, anyone....

[Beth76]

Quick backstory: my 2yo severed his pinky finger in the door Sunday night. They reattached it at the ER and it's healing nicely. He cried for about 10 minutes when it happened and was a complete trooper throughout the whole ER visit--not crying or fussing a bit. He was great about it all week-didn't seem to bother him at all. Well this morning when DH and I changed the bandage on it he was whining about it a little (he doesn't talk much). So I gave him some ibuprofen. That was four hours ago, so it could be time for more ibuprofen.

I just had to change the bandage again because he pulled it off and again I could tell it was bothering him. They gave us tylenol with codeine at the hospital but I have not used it because it truly was not bothering him until today. Would you give him another dose of ibuprofen or maybe try the codeine? I know the codeine is likely to make him loopy which is why I'm hesitant to give it to him.

 

[cheyita]

I'm a believer that so what if a med makes you loopy if it makes you feel better.

I'd try it once to see if there is better pain relief with it. If not, just switch back to the ibuprofen.

BTW - my kids have both taken codeine before with no problems.

 

[Melissa M]

Bless his little heart! I'm not a doctor or nurse and have no advice, but just wanted to give a

 

[Maleficent13]

Does it matter if he's loopy (I mean, is there somewhere you need to go tonight, etc)? I'd give it to him if I thought he was hurting.

 

[cheyita]

Oh, I forgot to tell you how brave your little one is for being so tough through such a traumatic event!

 

[JunieJay]

It probably won't make him loopy, but it will probably knock him out for a little while. I had to give the codeine to my oldest when he was little and it just made him go to sleep for a long time.

Poor baby. Hope he feels better soon. Thats a pretty traumatic thing to have happen to someone so little!

 

[Disneyland1084]

You're poor little boy. I'm sorry that happened.

 

[Frantasmic]

4 hours is the regular time between doses for ibuprofen, isn't it? Did it work the first time? I'd stick with that unless it really started bothering him.

Codeine tends to make a lot of people sick to their stomach. If he hasn't had it before, it may have the same effect on him. Stay with the ibuprofen until it is apparent it isn't doing any good. But, every 4 hours is okay as long as you are giving the measured dose per the instructions. At 2 years old, his weight isn't high enough to go to a higher dosage, so one tsp of children's ibuprofen is enough.


P.S. Not a health care professional, just an experienced father.

 

[CEDmom]

The poor thing I hope it heals soon . Has be ever had codeine before? My one concern is that he might not tolerate it well. I have trouble with it. It makes my very nausous and dizzy. Does he have a fever at all? Is it possible it's infected?

 

[princesspumpkin]

Nurse here - if he has been fine all week with just the Motrin, I'd say use it again. Sometimes in the healing process, things become even more painful (when we start to feel more comfortable with the injury, we start to make more use of it and thus, it becomes more painful). My c-sections always say that they hurt more the 2nd and 3rd day after, as opposed to the very first day. On those days, they are moving around a lot more than they did on the first. If it doesn't look infected, then Motrin should be good enough.

 

[mickeyboat]

I have trouble with the codeine, too (nausea). If it was me, I as long as the ibuprofen was working, I would not try anything stronger. If I felt the ibuprofen was not helping, I would not hesitate to try the codeine - just keep an eye on him.

Denae

 

[4greatboys]

Poor kid! I would give him whatever makes him feel better. I hope his finger is better soon.

 

[ChrizJen]

Awww, poor baby!

I would go with what the others said. Give him more Ibuprofen until it seems like that's no working, then try the Tylenol. But I do remember being told that Ibuprofen is not a pain reliever, it's more of an anti-inflamitory. Tylenol is a pain reliever, so it's possible that he needs that. But I would just stick with the Ibuprofen if it's been working, and then definitely try the Tylenol if it seems he's not comfortable.

Give your poor little guy lots of kisses for being so brave!

 

[ClaraBug]

I did the same thing to my pinkie finger tip when I was seven, I am now knocking on 30's door. In fact my finger tip is slightly deformed b/c of it. I did not get any pain reliever except for tylenol. You as the parent know deep down in your heart what you want to do. If you do not feel comfortable giving him the codine then don't. If you or your husband do okay with codine than more then likely your little trooper will do okay too.
It also never hurts to call your pedetrician's office and at least talk to the nurse. Good luck!

 

[Beth76]

Nurse here - if he has been fine all week with just the Motrin, I'd say use it again.

he's actually been on no pain meds this week. It was just today when it started bothering him, while we were dressing it. I think I'm going to try the codeine since it's just about nap time. I'll see how that affects him. Thanks everyone!

 

[cardaway]

It sounds like he should also have a stronger bandage he can't get off and maybe even something that offers more protection. After all he went through it would be terrible for him to lose it because of something that happens because he's getting the bandages off.

Hope he heals soon.

 

[Beth76]

It sounds like he should also have a stronger bandage he can't get off and maybe even something that offers more protection.

It was in a cast until Tuesday afternoon and has been bandaged since then. This morning was the first time he took it off, right after he woke up before we could get him out of his room. It came unraveled again a couple of hours ago and taped it up pretty tight and secure. He hasn't bothered it since. We (DH and I) just need to get used to doing this the right way. We're working on it, I swear.

 

[ducklite]

It's possible that it's become more painful as the endorphines are lessening, and as the swelling has gotten worse. Poor thing, I hope he feels better!

Anne

 

[Hillbeans]

Beth,

When I was 13 years old I had something similar happen while babysitting a few kids and it traumatized me to this day. I'm so sorry this happened to your son and I will say a prayer that he will be ok.

It sounds like you're handling the situation well - to this day I freak out on any kids playing with doors. I know accidents happen but this is one of my biggest worries.

 

[taximomfor4]

To the pp about ibuprofen, it IS indeed anti-inflammatory, but it is also a pain reliever.

To the OP, first and foremost control the pain. But be careful to do it safely. Keep a list of what you gave, how much, and the time you gave it.

Oh, and double-check your ibuprofen dosing -- it is generally every 6-8 hours.

Acetominophen (Tylenol) is every 4 hours, but you can only give 5 doses of it in 24 hours -- it is very dangerous, even potentially fatal, if overdosed.

Beth