Don't swing your kids by their arms

[Vishenka69]

After today's scary trip to the orthopedic office, I wanted to warn others not to swing or pick up their toddlers by their arms. I had no idea what a nursemaid's elbow was until today and really wish my ped's office provided information on this at some point.

I was playing with DD in the backyard when she suddenly started crying and wouldn't use her right arm. I completely freaked and called DH (who was at Target) but he told me not to freak out and that everything was fine. Half an hour later, she was still crying and I knew something was wrong and called our ped's office. They told me that it was her elbow but they don't fix that at the office and I need to take her to the ER. Of course hearing that didn't make me feel any better. DH called the orthopedic office and asked if we can be seen today. After 20 minutes of being transfered around he finally said that he knows the peds surgeon and to go ask him if he'll see us. Luckily it was the end of the day and we got squeezed in as his last appt. The procedure took may be 10 seconds and she felt better immediately but the previous two hours were the longest time in my life.

Now I'm freaking out a bit over what other kind of stuff I shouldn't be doing to her.

[ladymoreta]

Thanks for the warning - I had no idea! My parents did that with us all the time. I would have with DS sooner or later...

[spotty_dog]

Oh, my. >.< I only knew because my brother got nursemaid's elbow when he was young. The good news is I've heard DH say that it's an amazingly simple fix with kids immediately feeling 100% better, and that they don't become more prone to dislocations or anything -- it's as if it never happened.

[v-girl]

DH had to deal with those a lot during residency.

[HouseofWool]

Sophie had it back in September, when I grabbed her arm to prevent her from running into on-coming traffic. It was super easy to fix at the ER. We were told that kids who dislocate the elbow like that as toddlers, tend to be more prone to it until they are around 4 or 5, because their ligaments are just a bit looser than normal. I actually think it happened with Sophie once before that date and it moving her arm to verify if something was broken, I re-inserted it.

[peggyfromwastate]

Don't worry too much... My nephew has had it a few times and he's now almost 11 with no lasting problems.



Its hard because kids LOVE being swung around.

My brother and I both had elbow joints that were particularly susceptible to dislocation. My parents were careful, but our elbows popped out super easily, even just playing with friends. The fix was simple, but unfortunately we racked up enough ER visits to win a mandatory visit from social services, which was quite mortifying for my parents. No lasting effects here, except that we still can't joke about it without upsetting my momma.

[DCJenn]

Nikolai's had it twice. The guilt is worse than the injury. (I was so traumatized for a while I would have to remind myself that the first one was because he was about to be simultaneously beheaded by the dog leash and run over by a car! But I still felt awful)

It's one of those fun injuries of childhood that no one warns you about BEFORE you have a child.

J.

[Thirteen]

My childhood friend experienced this JUST YESTERDAY with her 18 month old. She was mortified and called me, very upset. I explained what you guys have said here.

[GrayMatterWife]

Thanks for the warning - I had no idea! My parents did that with us all the time. I would have with DS sooner or later...

Ditto! Thanks so much for sharing!

I am sorry that you went through this. I am glad she is feeling better!

[Vishenka69]

I doubt she remembers anything but it was pretty traumatic for us. Of course DH will never let me forget I was the one to cause it. A number of other docs at the hospital said it happened to their kids too so now he's compiling a list of those who know how to fix the elbow, so that we can yet again bypass the ER next time.

[DCJenn]

That is NOT fair.

Actually, according to our friend Mike the ER doc, any Xray tech worth their salt can reset it in 10 seconds- better than any pediatrician or ER doc in the bunch. He says the Xray techs can spot it at 100 yards.

J.

[peggyfromwastate]

No guilt allowed!!! This was an accident! You were playing!!! This won't be the only time she gets hurt, but honestly... Not fair to imply you did anything wrong!! Good grief.

[HouseofWool]

Firing up the bus as I type. That is seriously shitty of him to say. It could have just as easily happened if you grabbed her to prevent her from falling or running out into traffic.