16 Month Old Sprained Leg

Updated on October 13, 2010
M.U. asks from Tampa, FL
7 answers

Hi mamas,
I took my 16 month old down a slide in my lap and his foot snagged on the side and got pulled. It didn't seem too bad and he didn't cry or seem hurt at the moment, but when I put him down on his feet, he was having trouble bearing weight on that leg. I let him try to walk a few times to see if he is really hurt and while he could walk, if he turned a certain way or tried to kneel down, he struggled to keep the weight on that leg. He wasn't crying, but I am really freaked out that he sprained the leg or worse. Also, I am feeling awefully guilty for letting this happen to him, and terrified that he won't be able to walk tomorrow :( Has anyone else had this experience?
Thanks,
M.

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So What Happened?

Thanks to all your responses and words of encouragement. We took our son to the pedi this morning to get checked. Although he was walking ok, we noticed a few times that he had a little trouble get up from a kneeling position. The pedi rotated his legs in all different directions and he didn't seem to be in any discomfort. She thinks it's a mild muscle spasm that should resolve withing a few days. We will keep a close eye on him and try to prevent any other injuries for a while (it seems he gets something minor almost daily:(

More Answers

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J.M.

answers from Boston on

My son broke his ankle at 12 months. No idea how (how's that for a terrible mother!). Only knew something was wrong because he wouldn't put any weight on it and cried when we changed his diaper (all that yanking on the ankle to lift his leg. Did I mention it made me feel like a terrible mother?). Bring your son to the doctor tomorrow morning. If they're worried they'll do x-rays.

The upside is that my son, while in a cast for 3 weeks, was completely unhindered, picked up walking again right after the cast came off, and now can run a lot faster than me (bummer). I'm sure your son will be fine, but get him checked just in case.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Take him to the Doctor. Guessing will not help nor make it better....
It could be anything... a sprain, a torn muscle/ligament/tendon etc.
Lots of people here can guess at it too... it doesn't mean you will KNOW about your son's injury. You need a Doctor to evaluate it.

Don't wait... you want to get any injury, looked at promptly, especially if the child cannot walk or put weight on it.

Whether or not a child 'cries' about it... does not indicate what is wrong. Some kids, don't cry... and have a higher pain threshold. My daughter, can be like that.... she is real 'stoic' sometimes when she is hurt... even when she had a hairline fracture once, on her foot.

all the best,
Susan

1 mom found this helpful
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L.S.

answers from Spokane on

First of all, try not to feel guilty. It was an accident and (as you'll learn) children are accident-prone. Kids fall; they get hurt; they survive :)

If he can walk on it, didn't cry and didn't throw up then it's probably not broken. Just to be safe, take him to the doctor tomorrow to have him checked out if he's having any trouble walking. Odds are that he'll be fine and running around like usual tomorrow though. Kids are ridiculously resilient and recover SO much more quickly than adults!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Take him to the Dr for an x-ray because it could be a green-stick fracture. Even if it's just a sprain he still might need a brace or something.

You didn't do anything wrong so please don't feel guilty. You were outside playing with your kid giving him time and attention. You are a great mom; accidents happen.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Tulsa on

could be a fracture i would take him to doc and be sure 16 month olds cant tell you whats wrong.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M.! The exact same thing happened to my daughter and I when she was about 18 months and I felt horrible! She also seemed fine until I put her down to walk or put any weight on that leg / foot. She was pretty miserable the rest of that day and the next morning so I took her in to see the pediatrican. Her pedi said that this happens pretty often (us parents taking our little ones down a slide on our laps and their foot getting caught) but just to be on the safe side she sent us to the hospital for a few x-rays (which I had to hold her down during - which made me feel even worse). My daughter ended up having a sprain but it could have been alot worse. It was a few years ago so I don't remember how long it bothered her but I do remember we took motrin for the pain / discomfort.

Try not to feel guilty about what happened - it wasn't your fault! I bet most parents don't think twice about going down a slide with their little ones on their lap - I know I didn't!

I hope your little one feels better tomorrow :)

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K.M.

answers from Tampa on

Check for a local Webster chiropractor and get him checked out-
best, k

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