four year old limping - should we get an xray?

[Doodadsmom]

My son has been refusing to put weight on his right leg today. He says it hurts midcalf, in the back, when he does. No pain unless he's trying to walk. He hasn't injured himself that I know of, though something could've happened during the night, I suppose. I don't like to get xrays but am torn between going now or waiting until the morning...any advice?

[JessicaTX]

If the pain isn't killing him, I'd let it ride. Maybe have him take a bath in epsom salts. I usually wait three days to take a kid to the dr unless I really feel like it's something that NEEDS done now...that's bleeding that i can't stop, a bone sticking out...that type of thing :P

[Doodadsmom]

Thanks, Jessica. I guess I get a little paranoid ... DS had a hairline fracture in his foot a few months back so, on the one hand, I'd like to get him checked since maybe he's prone to that type of injury. On the other hand, he already had two sets of xrays for the foot, and one for croup...I hate to get him more if it's not needed. Maybe I'll wait until the morning and see how he is.

[CrunchyGranolaMom]

So what'd you do?

Personally, I would have gone to r/o a greenstick fracture, esp. since he had one already.

Hope he is feeling better!!!!

[KatWrangler]

Can I ask how he got the hairline fracture?