Nursemaid's Elbow
November 23, 2025 — 7:41pm
Dear Reese,
It took seventeen months, but you finally had your first visit to urgent care.
The end of the story is that you had a pulled elbow (or nursemaid’s elbow or a subluxation of the elbow), and medical professionals do magic.
The beginning of the story is that while getting you ready for your nap today, you went down with your arm partially twisted behind you, and I heard something pop. You cried a lot, and it didn’t get better, though you did end up falling asleep in my arms. We let you sleep, waiting to see how you were when you woke up.
After an hour, you woke up hurting and obviously avoiding using that arm. MorMor came with us to urgent care in Sturgeon Bay, and it was quiet and quick.
The Nurse Practitioner told us Nursemaid’s Elbow was the most common injury like this for little kids, and could test if that was it. They could try a simple move, and they’d know right away if it worked by the ligament popping back into place. She turned your arm palm-up and bent it toward you and right away she said, “yep, that was it.” She said you should start feeling better right away and would come back in 10-15 minutes to check.
As soon as she was out of the room, you started flexing the hand on your hurt arm. And then clapping your hands together. Soon, you had jumped off my lap and started toddling like normal all through the doctor’s office. It was such a stark, sudden change from the crying little girl who was leaning into me and sucking on her binky, I could hardly believe it.
The Nurse Practitioner said it’s one of the most gratifying procedures they do because it takes the hurt away immediately.
I could cry with relief. I’m so thankful it wasn’t something more serious, like a break or even a sprain, that would be hurting for weeks.
Although now that this happened, apparently, you could be more prone to it, so we have to be careful not to swing you by your arms or other motions like that. At least we know it’s a quick visit and can be fixed if it does happen.
We are all exhausted for the rest of the evening. Except for you — Cappi thinks they must’ve given you a shot of caffeine at urgent care. But I think it’s just because the rest of us are melting. But we’re all so grateful to see you be yourself again after a worrying few hours.
Still, we go to bed early.
Love,
Mama