Why Does My Sons Arm Hurt So Much?

take him to the doctor ASAP please... It is not normal for his arm to be swollen for no reason and the fever is certainly not normal. He could have a skin infection or an infection deeper in his arm. I am a doctor myself and a mom so I highly reccommend taking him in. Let me know what happens. - T.

Were his arms swollen when you took him to the doctor? It might be some kind of infection but if it has been a week I think it's time you take him back to the doctor and have her look him over and take bloodwork.

V., did the doctor xray his arms?
I would definitely go to another doctor and get another opinion!

Dear V. M: Not sure what to do about the arms hurting, but you can check on Parenting Magazine's website. They have a "sick child" checklist that you may find helpful. As for the fever, I would suggest trying children's Advil or Motrin, they are a bit better and stronger than Tylenol and they tend to last a bit longer.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Could be an infection, take him in to have it checked ASAP. FYI you can alternate Motrin and Tylenol - a lot sooner than using Tylenol alone. Ask your Pediatrician.

I don't mean to alarm you , but I would take him to the ER at the hospital. The Dr. doesn't seem to be doing enough, and the fact that his arms hurt could be a sign of a serious infection. My daughter had staph all throughout her body after having surgery, and her fever never got very high and there were no real outside signs that she had it except for pain. Luckily her surgeon let me make the call and he opened her back up and found infection all the way down her back. Follow your intuition, It's your child not the Dr's. If it turns out not to be serious well then you get peace of mind which is pretty valuable. I hope everything turns out well.

get a second opinion now!

Hi V.,
Did you tell your Pediatrician that your son's arms are swollen and he cannot raise them? I seems he should have been a little more motivated to look into your son's symptoms further. Things to think about are:

-with a fever, kids often feel it in their joints. My daughter had that problem in her leg when she had a fever. I worked for a group of Ortho pedic surgeons at the time. One of the doctors said this was not uncommon. As the fever subsides, so should the joint pain. Can you passively raise his arms? How are his other joints? How does he move his arms when you oberve him playing? This information may be helpful for your doctor to know.

-what is causing the fever? If your child's fever has persisted a week, the doctor should see him again and spend a little more effort to determine what is causing it and help your son.

-Think about taking your son to an Orthopedic Surgeon. Contrary to popular belief, their first preference is NOT to do surgery. They are a little more knowledgable in this area than a general practitioner (they are called generalists for a reason!). If they don't find an answer, they can refer you to the appropriate specialist (rheumatology comes to mind, you want to rule out things like juvenille arthritis).

Most of all be persistent!! Don't let the doctor send you off without an action plan. Obviously Tylenol is not the solution. Best Wishes.

About Me: I am the proud mother of a wonderful little "Angel Girl". By profession I am a Physical Therapist. In life, I am "Mommy". I cherish this responsibility and feel blessed with the opportunity. My goal is to be the best mother I can be to make my daughter feel secure, confident, beautiful and know she is unconditionally loved.

I don't know why your sons arm hurts but i would get a second opinion right away. Don't wait for a General Practitioner to figure it out. Good luck.

I was a nurse and am the mother of ten. I never used to give my children asprin unless they really needed it (temperature around 103. - a fever is how the child's body is fighting the disease.) It makes me sick when doctors are always "treating" everything with asprin, Tylenol etc. I have read a few articles about the adverse things these drugs can create.
I would seek the advice of another doctor immediately. A fever has a reason - I hope you find that reason. Then how does he sleep? With his arms stretched above his head? Is there anything restricting his circulation? e.g. tight sleeves. God bless you.

You may have a wonderful doctor but for this I would skip the doctor all together and go straight to the ER. Better to be safe and overreact then be sorry. Good luck!

Fever and sweeling can be a signs of infection. I would go back to the doctor and get answers that satisfy all of your concerns. If your current doctor isn't helping, find another that will.

You need to either take him back to the doctor and insist that more tests be done immediately, including blood tests, or you need to take him to a different doctor. Do not delay.

You need to see another doctor; the doctor you are seeing should be running a blood test to see if there is anything systemically wrong with your son.

I am not sure why your sons arms hurt, somethings not quite right here, I would not hesitate, call his doctor or take him into urgent care, it could be growing pains, although I never heard of the arms swelling. Better safe than sorry, he should see a doctor, as soon as you can.

V. go onto the American Medical Doctors sight and look up his systems. That may give you more of an answer! I am sorry but I wonder about your pediatrician.

Mine would not be so dismissive and didn't she tell you to keep your eyes open for other symptoms? Usually my doctor says a fever or viral infection needs to run its course in aobut 4-5 days and then get better. But the fact he has now new symptoms concerns me.

I go to North Oaks Pediatricians, Dr. Spadaro. Anyways, in reading your syptoms, I am concerned and I am not even a doctor. Ask for a second opinion or just call your doctor's office and tell them what is happening now. What if it is some other form of viral infection!

Good luck and if you just want to talk some more about it my email is ____@____.com

I would take him back to the doctors if possible. Anytime there is swelling, redness, and pain...it's usually a sign of some kind of infection or reaction to something.

Go to the ER immediately. Mommy, you know when there's is something not right with your kid. Follow your instinct, the arm thing is a new development that is corncerning.

Have they done blood work? If not, I'd get a second opinion today.

Is his twin brother experiencing the same thing, or is it isolated to just this one child?

I do medical transcription at home. A few things that come to mind are osteomyelitis (bone infection), an insect bite and/or as someone already mentioned, cellulitis. Is it both arms or just one? Are his legs and/or feet swollen too? It could be edema. Regardless, it doesn't sound "normal" so I would seek medical attention. Please let us know what you find out.

Hi V.,

First I was going to respond to the fever question. When my oldest was little and had a febrile seizure they had me alternate between Tylenol and Advil to regulate the fever. I would talk to your pharmacist about that.

Secondly the swollen pain in the arms, that does not sound right. What did your doctor say to explain that? That is what would concern me, a fever is the bodies way of fighting off an issue and is actually good for the body unless the child is uncomfortable, but the arm sympton/pain is bothersome. Unless the doctor gives you an explanation that makes sense and you feel comfortable with request a second opinion or take the child to urgent care if a doctor is not available.

Hope that he is better soon.

T.

Not to scare you, but sincerely these other mothers are correct. Our regular physicians try to just shove us out the door nad tell us we are over-reacting. I did this with my youngest son. Within 24 hours after leaving the dr's office being made to feel stupid, my son was gone. Go to the urgent care or ER. It may be more expensive - but you won't have to wonder anymore. God Bless You and good luck.

With the fever coming and going and the swollen arm, sounds like it could be an infection.Either that or an allergic reaction to a bite or medication.

V.,

I have not experienced anything like this with my children, but this seems like a significant change of symptoms, and you should definitely take your son back to the doctor, or, at the very least, call the doctor's office and ask to have the doctor call you. Had he just continued to have a fever, I would have treated him as she instructed you, but this is a new development and she needs to provide you with further guidance. I'll be thinking of you and your son. C.

Take him back to the Doctor today. I have 3 kids and that sounds like something more than just a fever.

Good luck

R.
Mom of Three (6,4, 11mo)

I don't have any suggestions on what might be causing this, however I don't think having an unexplained fever for that long should go undiagnosed. There's no reason for your son to continue to be uncomfortable, go with your instincts no matter what a doctor says. If the doctor is not responding the way you feel is best, get a second opinion with another doctor. Go to a different doctor until you get the answers you need. Ask for a referral to a specialist to confirm things. We sometimes accept what doctors say because we think they know best and it's not always the case. Moms know their babies more than anyone so don't hesitate to keep looking into this until you feel comfortable that your son is being treated properly. Hopefully it's nothing serious but you want to know for peace of mind. And if it is something that requires more treatment than Tylenol, then the earlier you find out the better. Please let us know what you find out.

p.s. Motrin might help more than Tylenol with the swelling because it's an anti-inflammatory. You can actually take them together, alternating each time. And this only helps the symptoms, you still need to find out the underlying cause of the problem. Hang in there - be persistent and you'll find a doctor who will listen without their ego getting in the way when they don't know the answers, they will do the research to find out instead of settling with the best answer they can at the moment. Hope this makes sense and I'll keep you in my thoughts!

V., find another doctor immediately. Something else is going on here. I am no doctor but swelling usual means that fluid is being retained in the tissue and this can be from infection or blood clots or an allergetic reaction. If his fever is 102 or above, go to the ER NOW! Good luck and let me know. When a previously healthy child complains of pain, take it seriously. If any skin rashes or any other symptoms develop, take him to the ER. And fire your doctor.

Sounds like a bug/spider bite to me with the fever and the aches.

It could be possible that your son is going through a growth spurt or maybe even the way he sleeps. My 4 year old was complaining about his legs hurting (and does on occasion), then he comes down with a fever for 24-36 hours. Sometimes, there are connections and we don't relate the two. Another Mom brought this to my attention because her kids showed the same signs. As long as your sons fever doesn't get to 105, he should be fine. I have even let my sons fever go awhile without medicine (keeping a constant eye on him, of course), just so he could sweat it out. Hopefully, your boys are going to be fine.

I've never had this happen, but my sister's son had something similar with his leg...he was in terrible pain and no one could figure out why, I'm not sure about the fever, but he was a very sick little boy. Well, it turned out to be shingles! Hope your little boy feels better soon!

You should call your doctor and have his arm look at....something is going on....also ask about his fever....Lil

well you should defianattly get his arms checked because it could be something serios that should be checked very soon and even if its not that serios there could be a medicine that totally fixes it my old friend had a similer problem and she got it checked im sorry i dont but i cant quite remember what it was also check his eating habits is there anything he eats alot of or did you interduce anything knew to him around the time it started that may help

I haven't had this exact experience, but sounds at the least like something is going on in his arms--an infection, parasite, or something's broken. I'd insist the doctor examine your son's arms, and then do some further investigation if nothing turns up there.
Best to you and your son.

I wouldn't "wait and see" on this one. I'd see another Dr. or go to the ER.

Good luck,
M.

If you have a doubt....check it out! C.

hello,

I am a widowed mom of five I had six and lost the last to sids and then my husband to a heart attack 14mos later, i say go go back to the dr. get another opinion if you have to. But if you feel there is something wrong keep going have them run more test. and pls let me know , i will be praying for your family.

tammy

Hi there V., I am a pediatric ER RN and though there needs to be more information obtained I feel that this is a concern and you should seek further medical advice. I would suggest a Pediatric ER where they are equiped to handle something of this nature. I have seen things like this before and all for several different reasons so I won't scare you and give you "what ifs or examples" but in my professional opinion this is of concern and should be re-examined by a specialist. I am sincerely hoping you have a Pediatric ER at your disposal so that you can get to the right kind of help. Sometimes regular Pediatricians do not see ALL injuries, infections or disease processes so they can be unfimiliar with some things than the more experienced Doctors who work in Pediatric Emergency Rooms. Good luck to you and I hope you are able seek some great care for your son!

hi,have you taken your son for x-ray?if not i think you should,and also tell your doctor to do some blood tests.it may not be anything but it is better to check,

Hi V.,

I am sorry to hear that your son is not feeling well. It's no fun when your child is sick! I also have 2 boys, but they have never experienced the symptoms you described. I think you should take your son back to the doctor to see if his infection has gotten worse, the swelling is due to the medication and/or for peace of mind. I've learned that the best thing to do is be proactive with your kids, even if it means going back to the doctor! Good luck! Christine

If I were you I would take him to get a second opinion. It sounds like he might have some kind of infection in his arm.

Dear V.,

I would get him to the doctor right away. I don't want to scare you, but the swelling sounds unusual. Please let me know how he is; I will hold him in my prayers.

C.
About me:

I am a mother of four children ranging in ages from 23 to 36. I am self-educated in nutrition and currently represent a 28 year old health and wellness company that distributes pure, safe, and beneficial products internationally. Our focus is broad based and includes inner and outer health (skin care, hormone balancing, weight management, and supplementation with whole food vitamins – for children to mature individuals).

I am also the author of “Diamond Moms, A Mother’s Guide to Raising a Baseball Player” available on Amazon. While it educates mothers about the sport, it is also a book on parenting and the importance of being a strong, disciplined, and loving mother. Don’t ever leave yourself out of the picture!!

go to the er...
fever and swollen anything can be something very bad.
go now

I agree take him to the ER. Fever is often a sign of an infection-- along with the swollenness....it sounds even more so. Cellulitus (staph) and MRSA are very common and can cause you to lose a limb if not treated properly.

I'd take him back, and if they don't listen look for a childrens hospital in your area and call them and ask them if they would see him (which they should ) and they should be able to help you and make you feel more comfortable with the doctors diagnosis or let you know if they were wrong. Good luck

Hello V.,
Tell that doctor they are CRAZY ,there is more to this then sending you home to give your son Tylenol.Tell them you need another appt.immediately .If they are being wishy washy ,go to another doctor office.Doctors are NOT always right and as parents we know when something dose not look or sound right with our kids.Always ask question (even if you might think it sounds stupid) and tell them what is on your mind.god bless you and good luck.

it could be rheumatic fever, you need to see a dr asap! if your plan allows it, you need to see another dr. you can put cold wash cloths on his head every 20 min.

If I had to guess I would say he is either having an allergic reaction to something, or he has an infection. A fever usually indicates that the body is having a hard time fighting something off. Swelling is usually an indication of damage of some sort, whether it be from an injury, allergy, or an infection. The body rushes fluids to the area that is having the problems. If the doctor you are taking him to refuses to acknowledge the swelling, and continuous fever I would take him to urgent care. Not ER, but urgent care and see if they can help. Or even try going to a different pediatrician, if your insurance will allow that. I am not saying it's "life threatening" but it definitely isn't Normal either and it needs to be checked out. Good Luck.

Um, maybe a bug bite? I would seriously take him to a different doctor ASAP or even the emergency room or quick care.

Dear V.
I would take your son to the ER to have him checked out. I don't think the swelling is a normal thing. I have 3 boys and sometimes they get high fevers with aches and pains but there was never any swelling. Also the fever shouldn't come and go over and over again. If you feel comfortable waiting go get a second opinion or go back to your doctor and be persistent that your son be tested (blood test and x-rays).
M.

DEAR V.;
I am also a mother of twins boy and a girl but they are 26 now. god bless you. V. I think you should take your child to another doctor to me it is not normal that he has fever and also his arms hurt please dont stop until you get to the bottom of the cause for your child problem. You will be on my prayers. if you need to talk e-mail me at ____@____.com L

have you looked for any type of a bite?

If his arm is still painful AND swollen, I would take him back to the doctor or get a 2nd opinion. Growing pains might explain the pain, but not the swelling. I would ask for xrays and bloodwork just to be safe. I work at a children's hospital and we would rather see a pro-active mom like you...better safe than sorry :o). All the best...

V.,
I'm so glad you came to this site! It seems that you got a lot of great advice and all I wanted to say is that I'm thinking and praying for you and your little man (bless his heart).
Let us know how it all turns out.
S. Gonfiantini

I agree with PP. Take him to the ER. He needs to be looked at immediately!

Hi V.,

I have experienced something similar to this before, but when my daughter was 6 months. It is called 'nursemaid's elbow' Here is a website that shows basic information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000983.htm

My mother-in-law was playing with my daughter, teaching her how to sit up by herself. When you help your child up from the hands there is a possibility that the elbow may dislocate. This sounded so bizarre to me because I have never heard of it but it's true. She cried at first but then just acted like she didn't want to use that arm. She wasn't crying, but was fussy, and wouldn't lift her arm at all.

It was after hours so we took her to the ER. The doctor knew immediately what it was - the dislocation. Sometimes they do x-rays to see if it is the dislocation (bc it may be something else) and then they pop it back in place. She screamed for a minute when they put it back in place, but then had full movement 5 minutes later. When they do this the arm can get out of place very easily until the muscles can regain their strength, so it happened a second time. Now it is completely healed, but the doctor said it can happen from birth to 6 years of age. He said that a lot of parents swing their kids in circles around them holding their arms, and don't realize that their arms can become dislocated. I had never heard of anything like this.

He said it is very very common especially in households with two siblings because the siblings may be playing rough and accidently tug in the wrong direction on the others arm.

This sounds like what your son is experiencing, but I'm not sure. I would bring him to the ER so they can do the x-rays right there and see if it's a dislocation. Hope this help!

C.

Dear V. M. ;
Take that suffering dear child to another Doctor!!
Don't wait!! Even take him to the ER!! This sounds
serious to me! A potential life threating illness may have stricken your child, don't hesitate one more second!!
C. S.

Take him to the ER..........Go with your mother's instincts. What's the worst that can happen, they tell you that nothing is wrong and you go home with a few dollars less in your pocket. Or you find out that something is very wrong but because you went in, he is treated and better.
Just go to the ER. I don't know where you live, but the Torrance Memorial ER is fantastic. And no I don't work for them. I too am a mom and own my own business.
Please let us know what happens.
A.