So my son jumped off the counter on sunday and he is still having foot pain. This has brought on discussions in my house.

How long with an injury do you wait to see the doc? There is no bruising, no swelling, he can walk on his toe, but isn't weight bearing on his heal. I really think he probably bruised his heal and nothing else. But was curious, what is the rule of thumb on this.

By Vicki on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 04:53 pm:

I would have called the Dr today about it most likely. I would give something a day or two, but no longer. I would have called the ped to day to ask about it. Not saying that you should have, but I am one to be over cautious sometimes.

By Cheerio on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 05:01 pm:

My 4 yr DD just hurt her foot Sunday at a birthday party at a gym. She jumped from a high spot and landed funny. Like your DS she has no swelling or bruising yet she favors that foot when walking. I had her 4 yr check up today and mentioned it to my ped who manipulated her ankle and squeezed up and down her feet and toes and she didn't balk once. He told me to watch it for a week and if she's still limping/favoring it to bring her back in for an Xray as she may have a hairline fracture in her foot somewhere. If there had been any swelling I definitely would have acted sooner. A phone call to a nurse can't hurt. They may just tell you to watch it.

By Sunny on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 05:03 pm:

I'm not sure what the rule of thumb is, but if after 24 hours my kids are still complaining about it, and especially if they aren't putting weight on it, I take them to the doctor.
I once waited three days to take one of my kids to the doctor after he kept complaining that his finger hurt. I thought for sure it was a sprain or a bruise. Surprise! He had fractured it! I don't wait as long anymore.

By Melanie on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 05:08 pm:

Like Sunny, I learned the hard way. Last year at his brother's football practice, ds came up to me holding his arm. He sat down and said he was never going on bleachers again. He said he fell, but wasn't very dramatic. The next day he said it still hurt, but again wasn't very vocal about it. I sent him to school and told him we would keep an eye on it. He was running at school and someone tagged him and he started to cry. I got a call from the school to pick him up and off to the doctor we went. He had a broken collar bone!

So I say, err on the side of caution and take him in if it's still bothering him in the morning. Especially if he tends to have a high tolerance for pain.

By Kaye on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 05:30 pm:

He says it feels much better after school today. My hubby laughs because I do tend to run to the doc pretty quick. His pain tolerance is odd, sometimes very high, sometimes non existent. My thought was I would take him tomorrow if he is still favoring it. However I am having gum surgery in the am, so hubby will have to make that call.

I am glad it isn't just me that would go to the doc..lol

By Annie2 on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 11:45 pm:

Years ago,my toddler dd jumped off a friend's couch. She complained for 24 hours that her leg hurt. No bruising, swelling, etc. I took her to the dr....not even a sprain, just a bruise.

A few months ago my 7 year old son fell at school on his arm playing at gym. He complained for two days, again no swelling, fever, bruising, only tenderness. I took him to the er: he had a "buckle" fracture in the long bone of his arm, near his wrist. He wa casted for three weeks.

It's a hard call when to go and when not to go. No help from me, obviously! I hope your ds feels better soon.

By Kernkate on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 07:45 am:

Glad he is better I tend to run to the doctor for anything with the kids.

By Kaye on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 04:03 pm:

He was all better this am, I am waiting for him to get home from school now (hubby went to meet them), I am sure he is fine. He starts swim team today, he is ready to be back in the pool!