So, this happened (again) last night. Haley, while playing (or even while taking a nap) got herself another case of “nursemaid’s elbow”. It’s actually a partial dislocation of the elbow, usually the result of a sharp pull (like wrestling with brothers, or being picked up by the arms and not under the arms). It happens to a lot of kids, and is actually pretty common in toddlers because the ligaments are looser. As they get older and grow, those ligaments tighen up. We were told back when Haley first had this happen, when she was just a couple of months old, that once it happens, it can easily happen again. Yea, it did – once during a snow storm and then last night.
She was in good spirits, as you can see. See how her left arm is just lying there? That’s basically the position she keeps even when trying to play. That’s how you can tell something is up – they stop using the affected arm. She would reach for things, but only with the right arm (the good arm).
That first time is scary. They aren’t using an arm. That makes ANY parent freak out!
But now this third time? Dude, I didn’t want to spend the evening in the ER with all 3 kids and NO DINNER. Luckily I had a few bucks in my wallet and we got some crackers to hold us over.
The treatment is called a “reduction” and the doctor is usually pretty quick about performing it. It doesn’t even LOOK like they do anything, just a normal examination. After a few minutes, the child should regain use of the arm and be back to normal.
Unless you’re Haley and decide you don’t want to even wait for the doctor and you fix yourself. Yea.
We think she got so excited about that toy that her own energy and movements corrected the issue. By the time the doctor came in, she was fine. He confirmed that, said it happens, and said because she’s only two we’ll probably see this happen again.
I also have to share this. I told him I was going to. He knows I’m sharing it. This is what happens when you stick a family of five into an ER room to wait…
Making balloons from ER gloves definitely helps relieve the tension and bring a good laugh out of everyone!
If you’d like more information on “nursemaid’s elbow”, check out the links below:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/bones/nursemaid.html
http://www.webmd.com/children/nursemaid-elbow