Had to take dd to the emergency room today. Milk-made or nurse-made injury (can't remember what they called it)? It was a dislocated elbow and *I* did it. I was gonna change her diaper, she ran away from me like she always does and I caught her hand just like every other time except this time her elbow slipped out of socket and she started crying and grabbing her wrist (it dislocates at the elbow, but the pain is in the wrist), I didn't grab her any harder than I ever did before, but apparently this is a very common injury, they said they treated three of the same earlier that morning.

So the Dr. just popped it back into place :shock: , she cried and within a couple of minutes, all better.


That's the last time I grab her hand like that, from now on, I'm gonna catch her at her waist.

Just wanted to share this bad experience in case it can save someone else from a trip to the ER.

Oh no! Your poor dd! And poor you! I do the same thing with my kids when they run away...guess I should avoid it too. What an upsetting thing to have happen. I am glad she is feeling better.

thanks for the heads up.

Kim3 said

I do the same thing with my kids when they run away

That's exactly why I posted this, I made a very natural grabbing motion. I didn't twist, yank or anything that would knowingly dislocate it. I was actually shocked that she was crying so hard, I started to question myself and think maybe I was too rough, but I just couldn't see how.

Oh my goodness!! Well don't be so hard on yourself... you certainly didn't mean to do it. Thank you for passing this on to us so that we can be more careful as well. Glad you both are okay now. :)

Thanks for the heads up! Glad your dd is feeling better. :)

This happened to my little brother a few years back. My dad thought he was just being a sissy at first - then he realized that something was wrong and they took him to the ER and same thing.

:shock: wow I did not know that, I grab my little one like that all the time, I think I will be more carefull.

I'm glad that she's okay and it was an easy fix! I'll have to keep that in mind...I really appreciate you educating us all about this...

Yeah, that has happened with me and my dd too. She was walking up the stairs and fell and I grabbed her arm to stop her and I pulled it out of the socket. It makes you feel guilty but the ER doc said that it happens all the time.

Sara

That is so scary. I told my DH about it and we've resolved to be more careful... i never even thought something like that could happen so easily!! I mean you think a dislocated joint would mean like serious abuse, not just grabbing their hand to keep them from getting away...

this has happened to my dd 2 1/2 times. twice we took her to an er--clinics wouldn't let us in. once it started to dislocate but it went back in on its own.

BEWARE once it happens it can happen again very easily. the first time dd was playing with dad , he had her hands and she did that floppy kid thing. the second time was a year later while someone was taking her winter jacket off, the sleaves were a little tight. the last time she was sliding off the bed when it almost popped.

dd is 4 now but I still tell people to only pick her up by the upper arms. I even get nervous when she hangs from monkey bars. I'm hoping she'll have stregnthened her elbow by the time she's 5.

this has happened to my dd 2 1/2 times. twice we took her to an er--clinics wouldn't let us in. once it started to dislocate but it went back in on its own.

BEWARE once it happens it can happen again very easily. the first time dd was playing with dad , he had her hands and she did that floppy kid thing. the second time was a year later while someone was taking her winter jacket off, the sleaves were a little tight. the last time she was sliding off the bed when it almost popped.

dd is 4 now but I still tell people to only pick her up by the upper arms. I even get nervous when she hangs from monkey bars. I'm hoping she'll have stregnthened her elbow by the time she's 5.

Thanks for sharing this, though I am sorry you had to go through it. I will be more careful how I catch my ds when he's running too.

The same thing happened to my nephew and my friend's little girl. It can happen so easy. My friend doesn't even know how it happened! She also did the same thing. Dislocated the elbow, but held the wrist. I know you feel bad, but don't be hard on yourself. Oh, be careful about people picking her up by her wrists and swinging her around in circles (if she's old enough to play that game).