My son broke his arm falling off of his pony last sunday. does anyone have any advice on helping him through this experience. I have him taking calcium and drinking an extra glass of milk. He seems a little grumpy. He is 8 years old. Thanks.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), October 04, 2001

Answers

Ouch!! A couple of years ago, one of my sons actually broke both bones throught the skin, on his left forearm, falling from a swing set (imagine me trying to convince the er personnel on that one). We were in the process of putting up the swing set, only the frame was up, and two of the boys were swinging like monkeys from the top bar, one fell back onto a straight arm:( From personal experience(broke my arm more than once, too;), after the first couple of days it should start feeling better. If he is still crying with it after that, check back with the doctor. I one time had a doctor put a half cast on so tight, it was cutting down my circulation(and there were still pebbles stuck to my arm when he took it off to rewrap it, what a jerk!)

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), October 04, 2001.

As a member of his gender I can tell you this with absolute certainty, we are grumpy when we're hurt or sick. That's just the way it is. He won't be any better about something like this in forty years. We're guys. It's part of our charm. ;o)

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 04, 2001.

Gary, it's a known fact that men are babies when they're sick. We women might be too, if we had time, LOL.

Melissa, make sure he's eating his green leafies to help absorb the calcium more efficiently. And if he's got a plaster cast, he'll soon be banging his sisters with it. Point out the benefits of being "laid up"--fewer chores.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 05, 2001.

Believe me he is milking the chore thing for all it's worth. He was quick to point out that he couldn't do dishes with a cast on. The sad part is that he just recently took over doing them 2 times a week completely on his own.!! Truly the bad part is he is left-handed, and that is the arm he has broke. So he is having a little difficulty with school work. He is a very neat writer, every letter has to be perfect so it is frustrating for him when they don't look so great.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 05, 2001.

My daughter broke her arm 8 weeks ago and is now in a brace. Darn those monkey bars! Her arm did not heal correctly and now she must have it re-done with pins this time. For a 7 year old this is the end of the world! No playing at school and nothing fun at home! I suggest that when something does not look right in the beginning, FIGHT it! I didn't and now she has a bowed arm and is considered deformed. As a mother, do what you need to and get things taken care of right away!

-- Kelly (kellyboo3@yahoo.com), November 02, 2001.

Melissa and Kelly, I am so sorry your children have to go through broken bones.

The nutritional plan I've read for broken bones is more broccoli, kale, type veggies, more yogurt, easier to digest, and make sure the children get plenty of sunshine.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), November 02, 2001.

Thanks Laura, my son does eat these things, plus he takes a vitamin with calcium, and drinks a good bit of milk as well.

In our case the fall he took, and then trying to catch himself with that hand, it was just almost totally predictable that it would be broken. He is in good shape otherwise according to the doctor!

I think when you fall it is just second nature to put your hand out to catch yourself, and those bones just don't take the impact well.

He has however been practicing falling!!! (believe me only a boy woyuld do this) When you feel like you are going to fall, if you kind of roll yourself into a ball, take the brunt on your shoulders and upper arm and ROLL with it, the chance of injury is much less.

This advice is from my little brother (all 6 ft 6 of him) who has been breaking horses since he was 16 and has ridden on the rodeo circuit for several years. I hope this can help someone prevent a broken bone in their arms, as it is no fun. Especially sitting in the doctor's office for hours on end!!!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 03, 2001.

Melissa, a GIRL, albeit a tomboy, taught me how to fall when I was in the 6th grade. We practiced by jumping off a ten-foot brick wall!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), November 03, 2001.