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Injury to my 11 year old not getting better- help!
Hi everyone,
I am pretty desperate for any advice on an issue with my son. Here is what is going on with him:
He is 11 1/2 years old with Asperger's, ADHD and anxiety issues. He is on meds and we go for weekly therapy- these issues are mainly under control. 17 days ago he was getting down from his loft bed and "missed" the ladder. He got his left foot caught in the rung of the ladder and fell backward landing on the floor but really hurt his foot and knee from getting it caught. I am a nurse and although he was bruised and swollen was hoping it was just a "sprain". Two days later he was still crying from the pain- we iced, wrapped and elevated the entire time. We went to an Urgent Care for x-rays as it was a Sunday. No fracture and the only advice was to f/u with primary care that week.
We went to PC on the Wednesday as it wasn't getting any better at all! She saw that the foot and knee was bruised and swollen so she referred us to children's orthopedics. We saw them a week ago today. A very quick exam and more xrays of foot and knee showed no fracture so he diagnosed him with "a bone bruise of the foot, sprained ankle and knee". They put him in a cast boot, crutches and then an order for a wheelchair for school. They said it would "just get better with time and to come back in a month if not better".
With all that being said it is now 17 post injury and he cries every time he moves and says his knee and foot constantly throb. He can't go to the bathroom by himself, and is constantly asking for "pain medicine" and I can't even get the cast boot back on him because it requires his foot be at a 90 degree angle and he just CAN'T get it that way. He lays with the leg externally rotated and says he can't turn it in without extreme pain in his knee and foot. I think this sounds like a hip issue that may be the cause of the medial side of the knee to be so painful and swollen. He hasn't been to school because of the pain, the doctor keeps saying to just give him 600mg of Motrin (he is 125 pounds) and that it "should be better by now". The insurance we have has denied paying for the wheelchair saying that he should be able to use crutches! We are appealing that and as it stands he can't go do school with the amount of pain he is in anyway!
I have scheduled another appointment for tomorrow with a different orthopedic doctor since this just isn't getting better but I am at the end of my rope. He is in constant pain and cries. He normally has a HIGH pain tolerance because of his issues so I KNOW it hurts that BAD but I can't seem to get anyone to listen to me!
Has anyone ever gone through something like this? I am off work with an injury of my own and my husband works from home (owns his own computer business) so we are able to be with him all day but seriously can't take seeing him like this. HELP!
I am pretty desperate for any advice on an issue with my son. Here is what is going on with him:
He is 11 1/2 years old with Asperger's, ADHD and anxiety issues. He is on meds and we go for weekly therapy- these issues are mainly under control. 17 days ago he was getting down from his loft bed and "missed" the ladder. He got his left foot caught in the rung of the ladder and fell backward landing on the floor but really hurt his foot and knee from getting it caught. I am a nurse and although he was bruised and swollen was hoping it was just a "sprain". Two days later he was still crying from the pain- we iced, wrapped and elevated the entire time. We went to an Urgent Care for x-rays as it was a Sunday. No fracture and the only advice was to f/u with primary care that week.
We went to PC on the Wednesday as it wasn't getting any better at all! She saw that the foot and knee was bruised and swollen so she referred us to children's orthopedics. We saw them a week ago today. A very quick exam and more xrays of foot and knee showed no fracture so he diagnosed him with "a bone bruise of the foot, sprained ankle and knee". They put him in a cast boot, crutches and then an order for a wheelchair for school. They said it would "just get better with time and to come back in a month if not better".
With all that being said it is now 17 post injury and he cries every time he moves and says his knee and foot constantly throb. He can't go to the bathroom by himself, and is constantly asking for "pain medicine" and I can't even get the cast boot back on him because it requires his foot be at a 90 degree angle and he just CAN'T get it that way. He lays with the leg externally rotated and says he can't turn it in without extreme pain in his knee and foot. I think this sounds like a hip issue that may be the cause of the medial side of the knee to be so painful and swollen. He hasn't been to school because of the pain, the doctor keeps saying to just give him 600mg of Motrin (he is 125 pounds) and that it "should be better by now". The insurance we have has denied paying for the wheelchair saying that he should be able to use crutches! We are appealing that and as it stands he can't go do school with the amount of pain he is in anyway!
I have scheduled another appointment for tomorrow with a different orthopedic doctor since this just isn't getting better but I am at the end of my rope. He is in constant pain and cries. He normally has a HIGH pain tolerance because of his issues so I KNOW it hurts that BAD but I can't seem to get anyone to listen to me!
Has anyone ever gone through something like this? I am off work with an injury of my own and my husband works from home (owns his own computer business) so we are able to be with him all day but seriously can't take seeing him like this. HELP!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi!
I am sorry to hear about your son’s medical problems. Yes, RSD is a possibility. However, before we jump to that, he must have a clinical examination of the hip, knee and ankle on the injured leg. There may be a ligament tear which can be caught on a MRI. Hence, a MRI should be done on knee at least if that is swollen.
Please consult your doctor regarding this. Hope this helps. Take care!
The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.
I am sorry to hear about your son’s medical problems. Yes, RSD is a possibility. However, before we jump to that, he must have a clinical examination of the hip, knee and ankle on the injured leg. There may be a ligament tear which can be caught on a MRI. Hence, a MRI should be done on knee at least if that is swollen.
Please consult your doctor regarding this. Hope this helps. Take care!
The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.
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