Nursemaid's Elbow???

The things you learn. People assume when you have 3 children you have seen it all. Right after we moved to Winston-Salem, the pediatrician's office had an open house for prospective parents. (Around here, they have to court new patients, I guess!) I decided to go just to get the lay of the land. During the introductions, I mentioned I had 2 daughters and a 3rd on the way and the doctor responded "well, you've been through it all." I sassily answered "no, each one has something new to teach me." How right I was! Camdyn, being the first, everything was new. McKenna explored all the various viruses from Hand, Foot and Mouth to rotovirus which landed her in the ER to get an IV because she was dehydrated. Keeghan apparently has decided to find her own path through minor medical oddities as well.

Monday night, Camdyn and I returned home from Irish Dancing to hear Keeghan crying (not the pitiful whine but the I'm trully hurt cry) and holding her left arm in a "L" shape tightly against her stomach. She said "Sissy did it" and McKenna admitted to pulling on her arm just above the wrist.

Keeghan can work any drama to her advantage so I attempted the "buck up, you're fine" approach. She continued to hold her arm in this stable position and I sat down with her at dinner. Not once did she move her arm, not to pick up her cup (as she always does with 2 hands), not to reach for anything she wanted. Sports Trainer Daddy is getting more concerned -- having me turn her this way and that, insisting ice be placed on her fingers because there appears to be swelling and maybe some bruising.

Do we take her to the ER? Do we wait until the morning? We decide to call the after hours care line and see what they say. After 17 minutes of talking with a very sweet woman who can't remember what I've said -- no, I haven't given her anything and yes, it is her arm -- she announces that there advice is to see a doctor within 12 hours! Well, duh! I got that but I really want to know whether or not to take her to the ER. The woman doesn't know, she isn't from here so has no concept of the services available here.

We are very fortunate to have 2 hospitals here, one of which is a very good children's hospital. But I have heard the wait can be horrendous so if I am going to have to wait -- why not wait at home. Camdyn is bummed because she thinks a trip to the hospital sounds like an adventure and McKenna is upset because she just wants to do the opposite of what the family needs to do.

Keeghan is still hurting, we give her some motrin. She is fine if she is being held and her arm is not moved in any way. I decide not to change her shirt not wanting to cause her any more harm or another reason to cry. After trying the sleeping thing, about 11 p.m. we cave in and give her a pacifier (we took them away last week) and I try to rock her. Eventually she settles down some and manages to get some sleep. Fitful sleep but we get through it...

Next morning, she is still really cranky, not wanting to move her arm and wants to be held. Unfortunately, she gets to spend time crying in a chair because being part of a family means sometimes you don't get attention. Camdyn goes off to the bus. At this point, I decide Keeghan needs her clothes changed -- 24 hours in the same shirt does not portray the image I want the pediatrician's office to have -- so I very carefully move her arm and change her shirt. I quickly grab something for her to eat and take her down to the car so we can make it to the clinic at the pediatrician's office that starts at 8. I put her in her car seat, open her snack and notice she is moving her arm, grabbing her snack. I consult with Don who is trying to get McKenna settled in his car and we decide I should go ahead and take her to the doctor.

I take her to the doctor's office, telling the receptionist something is wrong with her arm as she is climbing on furniture, eating her snack, drinking with 2 hands her drink. I feel ridiculous sitting there -- they are going to think I am nuts!

We finally get into the back and I explain to the nurse what had happened, apologizing for wasting their time. The nurse says "sounds like Nursemaid's Elbow." Huh? She walks out and the doctor walks in. He explains that it is fairly common, what it is, how it got its name and that I probably popped the bone back under the tendon (EEEWWWWW!) when I changed her shirt earlier, she will likely have it happen again, bring her in anytime.

So there you go, you learn something new every day (and with every kid)!