Parents Post Injury Advice

[xxStumpyxx]

My daughter hurt her wrist by doing a front support mount on the beam just over 4 weeks ago, she heard a click/crack and felt no pain, she carried on and did floor as she though her joints just clicked (she has joint issues and clicky joints). My daughter felt some pain later that night after gymnastics and couldn't move her wrist and hand the next day, I took her to the doctors who the sent us to A&E the same evening, after 5 hours we got told there was no damage, received a letter a week later asking us to go to trauma clinic as they had reviewed my daughters X-Ray and found something, it turned out she had a tiny hairline fracture that showed up as a small white blob (it is on the bottom of the one of long bones near her wrist, they put a soft cast on for two weeks and then gave us an appointment for a follow up. My daughters cast has been removed and was told she should be fine now and to expect her arm to ache for a couple of weeks. I am not letting her go back to full gymnastics for another week, but she does trampolining (Rec) which at her level is just jumps and not flips. My daughter wants to go, but I am on the fence, I don't want her to injure her self again but as she has been out of gymnastics (competitive) for 4 1/2 weeks maybe it is a good idea to go in the gym and take part in her Rec class to do some warm ups and a little jumping, this is all depending on how she feels after school, she is 12 and is old enough not to do anything she shouldn't.

Has anyone got any experience of tiny hairline fractures and returning to gym after the cast is off, the head coach has said she can return tonight if I sign a form (standard procedure after an injury or if you want to train with an injury)

 

[Deleted member 17723]

2 weeks for a hairline fracture? That doesn't sound right to me. Maybe a finger, but not an arm/wrist. IMO. Has she done any strengthening? Or physical therapy?? That timeline just sounds like it is a bit short for the injury.... unless it was just a stress reaction? (well, not just, but it's less than the fracture)

 

[Iwannabemargo]

I think with your daughters particular medical issues you should maybe ask a specialist, is she under a consultant who might be able to offer some advice rather than a GP ?

 

[xrachx]

My DD fractured her finger last year just before voluntaries and still carried on going to gymnastics. She worked conditioning mainly so she didn't lose strength or flexibility. When splint/tape etc came off (after 6 weeks post injury), she gently went back into doing things on her hand, but it took her about 2 weeks to feel confident to use it, and another 4 weeks after that to be back to "normal".

Best thing to do is check with the doctors about impact sports, and discuss with the coach after that too.

 

[xxStumpyxx]

2 weeks for a hairline fracture? That doesn't sound right to me. Maybe a finger, but not an arm/wrist. IMO. Has she done any strengthening? Or physical therapy?? That timeline just sounds like it is a bit short for the injury.... unless it was just a stress reaction? (well, not just, but it's less than the fracture)

She had it for two weeks before they put a soft cast on it so it has been 4 1/2 weeks since she hurt it, they missed the fracture at A&E and is reviewed by a radiographer the next day, they tried to call but didn't have my right number do had to write to inform me, then we bank holiday's for Easter before her appointment, the cast was taken off earlier this week and she was examined by a doctor at the trauma clinic and was told it was fine and to gradually got back to normal activity (no more than a week) and it will feel tender for around two weeks, I think it is sensible not to go back to full gymnastics and just to a small rec class that doesn't put any possible stress on her wrist for a few more days just to be on the safe side. With regards to the fracture we was told it was a hairline fracture, I saw the X-ray and it was a tiny faint white mark on her long bone near the wrist.

 

[xxStumpyxx]

I think with your daughters particular medical issues you should maybe ask a specialist, is she under a consultant who might be able to offer some advice rather than a GP ?

Thank you, if she has another issue in the same area (she has had two in the past 9 weeks) then I will ask for further medical advice, I did mention it at her trauma clinic appointment, asking if there was a possible connection and they wouldn't listen to me. Last time she had a mystery pain in her right wrist and arm and they found a swelling on the bone that they thought was a bone infection, they thought they saw a faint crack back then but dismissed it, her final diagnosis for that time was post viral arthritis brought on by a past cold.

After the recent incidents in the same area, I will be keeping a close eye on her and any further injuries will be investigated (hopefully)

 

[profmom]

How difficult would it be to have her seen by a specialist? If this is a second issue, I think that would be wise. If there is some involvement with the growth plate, you may need to exercise a great deal more caution and take longer term proactive measures. The further they go in this sport, the more abuse the wrists are expected to withstand.

 

[munchkin3]

Stumpy- Wrists are very tricky ESPECIALLY in gymnastics......make sure you have your DD seen by a pediatric sports orthopedist and take this (or any) injury very seriously. A minor injury which could take 6-8 weeks to heal can can easily turn into nightmare.
My son had a wrist fracture which dragged out for 1 year.....could have been avoided if I received the correct diagnoses by a child sports ortho......he would have been fine in 2 months. The ER guy, the Trauma guy, the radiologist.....NO! Please take the advice of other gymnastics folks! What is an extra week going to do????

Find a Pediatric Sports Ortho, get her cleared and THEN let her ease back into things as long as she is pain free!

 

[catova]

I second prof mom's comment. 'Near the end of the long bone by the wrist' is the growth plate area, i.e. where the bone is already spongy because it's growing. My DD had a reinjury about 3 months after first fracture at the growth plate at the end of her radius (had cast for a month, then took it easy in gym for 4-6 weeks, plus PT, and still...reinjury at a slightly different spot on radius growth plate). Both injuries on beam.
When I went to a second ortho for another opinion as to how this happened again, he wasn't surprised. He thinks gymnasts need to really wait much longer to return to 'normal activity' than the typical period because their 'normal' practice is so wrist intensive. Just one doc's opinion, but he was right in DD's case, and he's treated many gymnasts. And apparently, near puberty, kids may be even more susceptible to re-injury based on more rapid bone growth.

If you have any way to ask a sports ortho or a PT who has treated gymnasts about your DD's specific injury, perhaps that would give you some peace of mind.

My DD attended practice regularly and did plenty of conditioning/ practiced skills that were non wrist-impact after both fractures, and that was great to keep her body strong and mentally focused...and the PT strengthening exercises really helped her regain and keep her wrist/arm strength until she was back to full impact. Best of luck to your DD.

 

[Deleted member 17723]

I agree with above posts.... see a specialist. She can still condition and do flexibility, but IMO it's a bit early for her to be back. I think it should be at least 6 weeks until shes cleared.... and even then a few weeks until she is 100%. Gymnastics isn't the typical sport... it's harder on the body.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

The OP is in the UK, I'm not so sure getting to a specialist happens as easily as it can in the US.

 

[munchkin3]

I'm sure there are pediatric sports orthos in the UK....a bit harder to find, maybe but absolutely necessary for this sport.

 

[Rapunzel]

I'd go back to your GP for a consultant referral. When you get your appt through, look up the docs at the clinics offered and pick the most relevant one.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

The OP is in the UK, I'm not so sure getting to a specialist happens as easily as it can in the US.

Oh yes we can get it very easily, if we pay. However we are used to not paying so we tend to wait and go via the fabulous NHS ( and no, no sarcasm here). Yes we have to wait a few weeks for a referral but it cost zip, nada, nothing at point of service so everyone can get the treatment they need.

If you have the cash you can "go private" and see a specialist very quickly, and I think the rates are very similar to what you pay in the US.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Oh yes we can get it very easily, if we pay. However we are used to not paying so we tend to wait and go via the fabulous NHS ( and no, no sarcasm here). Yes we have to wait a few weeks for a referral but it cost zip, nada, nothing at point of service so everyone can get the treatment they need.

If you have the cash you can "go private" and see a specialist very quickly, and I think the rates are very similar to what you pay in the US.

Thanks for clarifying, truly have no idea how the system works.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

interestingly this caused me to look up private medical costs ( we never use the private sector so don't know their prices)

MRI scan averages at £ 250- 400 ($354 - 567 )

Senior Consultant appointments £ 100-250 ($142 - 354)

is that roughly the same ?

 

[Deleted member 17723]

interestingly this caused me to look up private medical costs ( we never use the private sector so don't know their prices)

MRI scan averages at £ 250- 400 ($354 - 567 )

Senior Consultant appointments £ 100-250 ($142 - 354)

is that roughly the same ?

My MRI of my ankle was roughly $1200. Much cheaper in the UK I guess? I think the rate for MRI's in the US is anywhere from $800 to $3000 depending on the body part, contrast, etc.

 

[Midwestmommy]

Not giving medical advice. With that said, I agree with other posters, I've never heard of a fracture that was considered healed in 2 weeks, including hairline fractures. Some fractures don't show up in X-rays until a couple weeks into healing process (where show up as white lines). Bones tend to heal very well given appropriate time. Pain may be indication it's not healed. Worst case scenario is turning a minor fracture into a bad one.

 

[catova]

interestingly this caused me to look up private medical costs ( we never use the private sector so don't know their prices)

MRI scan averages at £ 250- 400 ($354 - 567 )

Senior Consultant appointments £ 100-250 ($142 - 354)

is that roughly the same ?

No, your costs are less. DD's wrist MRI was billed at $1,508. Insurance had a contracted rate (means that it had agreement with MRI provider that it would be a max amount for this type of MRI) and thus insurance paid $800; our our of pocket for that claim was $100, so 'cost' of $900. Billed $275 for the doc's review of MRI (again, insurance had contracted pay rate , in this case $175, and our co-pay was $20, so doc got $195). Our insurance is 'good' - not the best, but 'good' . Insurance itself costs almost $1,800/mo for a family of 5, and we are lucky that my spouse's employer pays $1,500 of it. Did I mention that claims/costs are not covered until each individual's 'deductible' of $750 is met, i.e. meaning you pay the first$750 of med costs for each family member? This is not a country for the sick and injured, but I digress...

 

[xxStumpyxx]

I second prof mom's comment. 'Near the end of the long bone by the wrist' is the growth plate area, i.e. where the bone is already spongy because it's growing. My DD had a reinjury about 3 months after first fracture at the growth plate at the end of her radius (had cast for a month, then took it easy in gym for 4-6 weeks, plus PT, and still...reinjury at a slightly different spot on radius growth plate). Both injuries on beam.
When I went to a second ortho for another opinion as to how this happened again, he wasn't surprised. He thinks gymnasts need to really wait much longer to return to 'normal activity' than the typical period because their 'normal' practice is so wrist intensive. Just one doc's opinion, but he was right in DD's case, and he's treated many gymnasts. And apparently, near puberty, kids may be even more susceptible to re-injury based on more rapid bone growth.

If you have any way to ask a sports ortho or a PT who has treated gymnasts about your DD's specific injury, perhaps that would give you some peace of mind.

My DD attended practice regularly and did plenty of conditioning/ practiced skills that were non wrist-impact after both fractures, and that was great to keep her body strong and mentally focused...and the PT strengthening exercises really helped her regain and keep her wrist/arm strength until she was back to full impact. Best of luck to your DD.

You make perfect sense, she is not in puberty yet, still very tiny for her age. She isn't going back to gymnastics until next week and that will be a slow gradual return taking things easy, she is doing well, opening doors with her right hand and writing, she did do rec trampolining and was fine and took it easy, very basics like tuck jumps, straight jumps and straddle jumps and a couple of seat drops and back drops on a mat.