Discussion
I am looking for some advice for my 5yr old daughter - sorry for the long post.
On monday she was at the school holiday club and we were informed when we picked her up that she had suffered a fall that morning. Apparently she fell backwards and banged her neck on the edge of a table. I examined her neck and it seemed like the muscle to the left of her spine was slightly inflammed, and she said it was painful to touch, but otherwise she was okay.
Yesterday she did not mention it at all and was fine all day. This morning when I woke her up the first thing she said was that her neck hurt (she pointed to the same place as monday). Had a look and it all looks and feels normal from what I can tell. I asked her to move her head side to side and forward and back, she said it hurts moving it far to the side and hurts alot when she tucks her chin down. When I asked her to sit down she then complained that it hurt her legs to sit crossed legged on the floor. Cue one worried mother.
Rang the GP to get an appt, put through to triage and spoke to a nurse. She said it sounds like it could be whiplash (makes sense due to the type of injury), but she should be examined to make sure. Just got back from seeing the GP. She thinks it is unrelated to her fall and that she has just slept wrong on it and the muscle has gone into spasm. Advised to give her pain relief if she needs it.
Now I am no doctor but this seems a bit too coincidental that she injures her neck, then 48hrs later complains of pain in the same place yet it is completely cause. I am not asking for a diagnosis from here as I know this isn't possible without a physical exam, but I would like some advise on what to do. Do I dose her up on pain killers for the next couple of days and see how she goes, or do I only give them to her if she complains of pain? How long should I leave her suffering neck pain before I go back to the doctors?
Any advice would be extremely appreciated, thanks.
On monday she was at the school holiday club and we were informed when we picked her up that she had suffered a fall that morning. Apparently she fell backwards and banged her neck on the edge of a table. I examined her neck and it seemed like the muscle to the left of her spine was slightly inflammed, and she said it was painful to touch, but otherwise she was okay.
Yesterday she did not mention it at all and was fine all day. This morning when I woke her up the first thing she said was that her neck hurt (she pointed to the same place as monday). Had a look and it all looks and feels normal from what I can tell. I asked her to move her head side to side and forward and back, she said it hurts moving it far to the side and hurts alot when she tucks her chin down. When I asked her to sit down she then complained that it hurt her legs to sit crossed legged on the floor. Cue one worried mother.
Rang the GP to get an appt, put through to triage and spoke to a nurse. She said it sounds like it could be whiplash (makes sense due to the type of injury), but she should be examined to make sure. Just got back from seeing the GP. She thinks it is unrelated to her fall and that she has just slept wrong on it and the muscle has gone into spasm. Advised to give her pain relief if she needs it.
Now I am no doctor but this seems a bit too coincidental that she injures her neck, then 48hrs later complains of pain in the same place yet it is completely cause. I am not asking for a diagnosis from here as I know this isn't possible without a physical exam, but I would like some advise on what to do. Do I dose her up on pain killers for the next couple of days and see how she goes, or do I only give them to her if she complains of pain? How long should I leave her suffering neck pain before I go back to the doctors?
Any advice would be extremely appreciated, thanks.
AMLK said:
Just got back from seeing the GP. She thinks it is unrelated to her fall and that she has just slept wrong on it..
Possible, hurts in one position so slept differently than normal. But, you do hear about broken necks and the like being missed by one doc and picked up by another.I broke my arm when I was about 7, both bones, clean in half. I knew it, my parents knew it. The doctor told my parents I'd just bruised it.
My Doctor said:
It's fine, just a bit of bruising. Nothing to worry about.
5 or 6 days later, pain was no better, bruising was horrific, my parents took me back.
Doc' then agreed it was broken and sent me off for an x-ray. 6 weeks in plaster..
My point, people can make 'mistakes', go for a second opinion.
You'll either waste someones time or save your kid a lot of unnecassary suffering.
Edited by UncleRic on Wednesday 4th August 11:07
UncleRic said:
But, you do hear about broken necks and the like being missed by one doc and picked up by another.
If I am honest this is what concerns me. I have just picked her up from the school and she seems okay. Her neck is still hurting her, but the pain is limited to her neck - she doesn't have any pain when she sits down like she did this morning. I am going to she how she fairs this ewvening, and she what she is like after another nights sleep.Other opinions still welcome, thanks.
Bill said:
Generally fractures give unremitting pain at rest - overnight is classic. If she's sleeping ok it's unlikely (but not impossible) to be a fracture.
Thank you very much, that certainly makes me feel more at ease. She still has some pain today when she moves her head to extension, but otherwise she seems fine. As for sleeping - she slept like a log last night, though we had given her pain relief (and I have no idea the last time she was given any). She hasn't had any pain relief today and I don't intend to give her any tonight, so I will see how she is in the morning.Thanks again.
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