Here's the story. My dd (7) has leg pain quite often because her legs turn in a little and it strains the muscles. We have been to the dr. over this. Nothing can be done for it.

Anyhow. Two weeks ago, May 20, my dd went to the park with her class for a field trip. While there, a little boy tripped over her leg and fell. She was sitting on playground equipment with her legs outstretched. It hurt her and she had the teacher come over and she used an ice pack for a little while. But then she got up and started playing again.

After she came home that day, she told me about it, and complained of some pain, but it never bruised or swelled any so I didn't think much of it. I figured she just stretched a muscle or bruised soft tissue a little and it was sore. After all, she continued running around, riding her bike, climbing trees, etc. But she would still complain of it being sore and hurting.

Well, the past week, she started falling more often and crying when she did because of the pain. On sunday she fell while playing and screamed in pain, so I said, enough is enough and took her to the dr. yesterday. Well, the dr. thought nothing of it, but wanted to do an x-ray just to be sure.

It's broken. OMG!!!!! I can't believe I let my little girl walk around with a broken leg for two weeks. I feel terrible. It's not the main bone in her leg (the bottom), but the one that runs alongside of it. So today, we went to an orthopedic dr. and she is now in a bright pink cast from her thigh down to her foot.

I feel terrible, but I never imagined it was that bad, with no swelling or bruising, and with her continuing to play on it, with just some limping.

So? any thoughts? Or any ideas on how to keep an active 7 year old from being bored to death while off her feet for 3-5 weeks? Poor thing loves to swim and has been looking so forward to this, plus we had a vacation planned for this weekend to go to Six Flags and the water park, but that's off for now. Think we are going to go to Knoxville to the zoo and to Chuck E. Cheese (none around our house) and maybe to Pigeon Forge for the night. Since they were looking forward to our trip...

Sorry so long but thanks for listening! I feel horrible!

By Emily7 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 05:40 pm:

Don't feel bad. It sounds like something that happened when I was younger. She could have broken it on Sunday, not 2 weeks ago. I bet she loves the cast & the attention!

By Amecmom on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 05:55 pm:

It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong. I'm sure a doc would have just told you it was a strain with the lack of symptoms, as you describe. It might have been a hairline that broke fully through on Sunday, as Emily said.

I'm sorry this happened. Lots of videos, lots of time sitting outside with books. What about some kind of craft project you can do together?

Lots of the moms here are much more creative that I am. I'm sure they'll come up with stuff.
Ame

By Debbie on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 06:03 pm:

Don't feel bad. It happens to the best of us. I am sure we all have situations that we feel bad about, I know I do.

What a bummer to be in a cast at the beginning of summer.

By Mrse on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 06:48 pm:

I would have done the same thing! When I was twelve, my friend and I were playing in the barn, ( we had a dairy farm) and she slipped on the water in the barn, but got back up, and we ran down a long lane to the house and continued on with our day, the next day she was not at school, so I called her, and she said she broke her leg when she fell, I would not beilve it untill I seen it, so after school, went to her house and sure eneough it was broken. We all think that if you have a broken bone you would be screaming in pain, not just complaining once in a while, I would say this is not your fault, you are not an exray machine, it sounds like your doctor, was not even sure, he could have very well have said the leg would be fine and let you go out of the office. In the mean time, puzzles, tv, homework from school, visits from friends will really help.One thing that you could do also is get a small scrap book, get some glitter etc.. get her to make up a story about her leg, take a picture of her in the cast etc.. something to look back on when she is older. Hope she mends soon, and don't worry about it. I think it is a commen thing for a child to complain about something, and we dismiss it, thinking it is nothing, it could have happened to any of us parents, oxox to both of you hang in their.

By Carolk on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 08:06 pm:

Adena, don't feel bad. When my Little brother was 9, he was playing indoor soccer and he tripped and fell on his leg. Well he never complained about it until maybe a week later. Well by that time my mom and dad figured it was just shin splints. It kept hurting and finally after the 3rd week of complaining, she took him to the doctor and they did an xray. He had broken his tibia. It wasn't a major break though, because by the time they did the xray it had started to heal. Since it was healing fine they didn't have to worry about it. I think they just gave him a brace to wear on it but nothing major.

Sorry I don't have any suggestions. I would have said some of the same things as Mrse. I just wanted you to know that you're not alone. It could've happened to anyone.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 08:47 pm:

Yes it sure could happen to anyone. Things happen. That is the way life goes.. And I would have handled it the same way... Hope she heals quick and that you can keep her entertained...

By Coopaveryben on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 09:44 pm:

I would have done the same thing.

Magazines are good, new computer games, latch hook- I loved to do latch hook when I was that age, paper dolls- I used to like to design my own outfits for them on plain white paper, she can paint outside with water colors, can she horse back ride? Maybe there is a stable close by. Good luck, It's hard to keep a kid out of the water in the summer but it will be over before you know it.

Do you live close to Knoxville? We live about an hour a way.

By Children03 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 09:50 pm:

My three year old just got a cast off of her leg last week. She broke her leg while my husband was watching her one night and he had no idea either. It was a Wed. night and that Thurs. morning she tried to stand up out of bed and couldn't put pressure on it at all. She did that for two days and finally had a x-ray and it was broken. She was in it for 3 weeks and she walked and even ran a bit with the cast on. The doctor said of course you can't slow a 3 year down. I know your daughters is all of the way up to her thigh so it will be hard for her to move around. The bath thing is what was so hard for me. I guess maybe get her some books to read, movies to watch - have game night or something like that.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 10:51 pm:

Thanks everyone so, so much!!! It helps having you guys tell me that it isn't my fault. I've had my family tell me that, but you know, it's their job to! hehe!

Yes, she is liking the cast and the attention, but I'm sure it will be old news very soon! She's walking some with it, but she has to be very careful because it is difficult to balance with the full leg cast and the angle her knee and foot are in...

Thanks for some of the ideas...any extra ideas helps!

Chrissy: We live about three hours away, maybe just a little less. We're in SW VA. Just about 45 minutes from Kingsport. Not sure if you know where that is...it's one of the tri-cities, Johnson City, Bristol, and Kingsport. We just love going down to Pigeon Forge and spending a couple of days.

Thanks so much everyone for the well wishes and the nice thoughts!

By Marcia on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 11:22 pm:

Did you know you can get a water proof cast? Someone I know just chose one for her son, because of the swimming thing. I know it would be pretty tough to swim with such a long cast, but at least she could get wet.

By Mommmie on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 11:47 pm:

Don't feel bad! Right now my 9-year-old son is sitting in there with a swollen red little toe. Is it broken? Is it not? I don't know. If the swelling doesn't go down after a week (it's been 4 days), then I'll take him for an xray. I've had so many false alarms at doctors, that I don't run to the doctor for every little thing. It's embarrassing!

Can you rent a wheelchair and wheel her around the zoo? That might make it special to get to ride through the zoo.