X-Ray Safety
X-Ray Safety became a major concern for me after my daughter broke her elbow two years ago at the playground.
It was relatively serious. The bone had to be manipulated back into place at the OR, under general anesthesia.
She’s fine now. But the injury was bad enough, that we were asked by the orthopedic surgeon to return for a follow-up X-ray every six months. He says that because of the trauma to the bone, it could stop growing at any time, and that would require immediate action.
Today, she had her fourth X-ray.
I trust her surgeon. He’s the very best. The hospital – Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford – is the very best. We discussed X-Ray safety, and the surgeon said the amount of radiation is minimal. It goes to her arm and not to internal organs. Her abdomen is protected. He says not to worry.
But my child is being exposed to radiation every six months.
Today he told me he wants to see her once a year from now on.
I asked, again, about X-ray safety. He reassured me, again.
“But what if I just don’t bring her in anymore? I mean, what would be more risky? Stopping the follow-ups or exposing her to radiation?”
He maintained that the X-Rays are safe.
My own research supports this: the radiation from an X-ray to the arms or legs exposes a person to a few days’ worth of natural radiation (from sources such as the sun). The additional risk of cancer per examination is considered negligible, at less than 1 in 1,000,000.
I marked the date in my calendar and thought: I wish she could make this decision for herself. I hate that I have to make this decision for her. I know that X-rays are considered safe. But there are so many things that doctors and scientists THINK they know, only to find out later they were very wrong. And what if these minimal, safe, recurring amounts of radiation join other factors and cause cancer, many years from now?
I may be paranoid and overprotective. The X-rays may be completely harmless. As parents, we are used to making everyday decisions that affect our children. We HAVE to make these decisions for them. But sometimes, the responsibility for another person’s well-being, for another person’s life, feels like too much.
What would you do?
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Linda Abbit responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 1:13 am →
You are 100% correct, Vered!
“But sometimes, the responsibility for another person’s well-being, for another person’s life, feels like too much.”
This applies to our children, and also to our parents as they age and we become their caregivers. It is a heavy load to live with, at either end of the spectrum.
J.D. Meier responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 2:39 am →
That’s tough and there’s always conflicting advice, or worse, it’s out of context.
Here’s some tips …
1. First find reference examples — who else in the world has broken their elbow as a kid and had their bone stop growing? You’ll want these people to learn from — what worked and what didn’t. I don’t know how to find them, but since this sounds like a long-term issue, I’d start to see what I can find.
2. Along those same lines, you can pose the question — who else in the world has had multiple X-Rays as a kid and later got cancer. X-Rays have been around a long time so there must be concrete examples either for or gainst. Maybe even ask your dentist since they give X-Rays a lot — they might know some insider info.
3. Bounce the question about having to check every year off another 3 doctors to sanity check. You might have doctor friends or friends who know doctors or forums.
4. Bounce the question about the X-Rays off another 3 doctors to sanity check. You might have doctor friends or friends who know doctors or forums.
5. Ask the question — “what can you eat, drink or do to counteract the exposure?”
You also might ask your doctor, how many other cases like yours have they handled. It helps to know whether you are case #1 … or case #500. In how many cases did they see the bones stop growing? In how many, what worked and what didn’t. Knowing the numbers also helps you with peace of mind.
You also might try pinging Dr. Furhman (http://drfuhrman.com/ ) … he’s one of those doctor’s doctors who seems to know a great deal and many have unique insights into counter-acting radiation.
Juliet - LifeMadeGreat responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 3:01 am →
Hi Vered
Interesting. I don’t have children, so I can only imagine. It must be very difficult.
What would you do if it were yourself? Would you go for the X-rays or not?
Juliet
veena responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 5:09 am →
i think the best thing to do for you is to trust your doctor and your own instinct.
Tara@Sticky Fingers responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 5:35 am →
A mother’s instinct is usually correct and if you feel in your heart that you are doing the right thing for your daughter then it’s the right decision to make.
You know that when you have a child you will be fully responsible for him/her until they reach such an age that they can make decisions for themselves.
You just have to do what you as a parent believes is the best course of action.
And you did what, I think, most of us would have done in your position: research, investigate and have all the facts to hand before deciding once and for all.
Betsy Wuebker responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 6:09 am →
Oh Vered, here is a big hug for you! These decisions are far more agonizing when they are about another than they would be for ourselves. I can relate – we had many decisions that held my son’s life in the balance and we were under time pressure, with little access to information. Not that it would have clarified… Most of what I remember from those days is struggling with the extreme stress and fear.
You must do the best you can with what you have. I think J.D.’s suggestions are great. You do have time before the next x-ray to gather more information, and you will continue to do so during the times between in the future.
Also, I’m not sure how old your daughter is. There is a “teachable moment” in this situation by bringing her into the process in an age-appropriate way. Not necessarily the decision itself, but the explanation of why you are researching, that there are unknowns, and how important it is to you that she receive the best. I think children can “own” themselves and their health to a great degree. We see it all the time at Children’s Minneapolis, especially in those with life-threatening conditions. There is great maturity in the little ones.
I know some of my swallowed panic with my son stemmed from the fear that I would inadvertently make the wrong decision, as you fear. To communicate that you are doing your best is not only a reassurance for your daughter and yourself, but also sets the stage for her to emulate your example in other situations.
My son decided never to wear his heavy leg brace again at a relatively young age. There were diminishing returns – it stabilized him to some degree, but it made him “different” and slow when he wanted to run faster and be more agile in sports. We looked at it from all angles, and in the end, it was he who made the decision. Your daughter will live with this decision, and I think she will come to appreciate being part of it even more as she grows.
Lance responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 6:23 am →
If you really trust the doctor and the medical center – then I say you go with what they are saying. True, you don’t “really” know what the long term effects are from x-rays. And, it’s not an easy decision when you’re talking about someone else’s life. And yet, as a parent, we do have to make these decisions sometimes. Never easy. Never.
The tough part about this decision, as I see it, is that her arms appears to be fine, two years later. So, is it worth the potential risk down the road, to watch for something happening now with the break? That is a question only you can answer… And speaking as a parent, I would respect your decision either way.
Maxo responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 6:34 am →
The weight of having such an impact on another person’s life was the first thing that hit me when I became a parent. I was like, “Wow, if I go and blow all of this money on something frivolous, it’s not just me who has to eat black beans for a week.” Not only that but you make all sorts of decisions on what values you are going to impose, and other decisions that will affect their outlook on life until they pass away. It’s a lot of responsibility that doesn’t always have a clear direction.
Mike Goad responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 7:34 am →
That’s an easy one.
As a long-time radiation worker, if I had a child or a dependent grandchild in the situation that your daughter is in, I wouldn’t hesitate to do what the doctor recommends.
I could write quite a bit about the hazards — or non-hazards — of radiation, but I don’t need to. You’ve done the research. What you described is correct.
You’ve already said you trust your doctor.
Trust your research.
Tabitha (From Single to Married) responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 7:35 am →
I would get the x-rays done. I’d hate to have a problem with the elbow occur a few years from now that would have been avoided by observation. And yes, it is a matter of looking at the lesser of two evils and no, we don’t know the true effects of radiation. But the problem is – there are so many things that could cause cancer and we just don’t know for sure but you can’t protect someone against all of them.
Vincent responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 8:19 am →
Hi Vered,
It must be tough to make that kind of decision. The doctor must have his reason to request the x ray and you knew that both you and the doctor are trying your best to help. Trust is very important this time round. I believe you will make the right decision.
Cheers
Vincent
Writer Dad responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 8:36 am →
What Betsy said. Take the teachable moment. I don’t know exactly how you feel, but I can certainly imagine. All my best, Vered.
Jannie responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 9:03 am →
Has the doctor ever suggested she may get to the point where once a year might suffice? Just wondering. (Hugs.)
Dot responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 9:16 am →
I’d go with the best information I could get. In future years, you can tell her is that you did your absolute best to find the right decision. Unfortunately, we can’t control everything in life that will impact our loved ones, but we can do all that we can.
I’ve read that immediately after an x-ray, all the vitamin C disappears from the body, so you might try supplementing her with some extra vitamin C before and after the x-ray. I hope hope HOPE that all will be well for her after these x-rays.
Squawkfox responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 9:18 am →
Years ago my sister broke her femur and had to endure numerous xrays to check the growth plate in her leg. She’s fine now. Both legs are the same length. She’s still a pain in the butt though.
HUGS
SpaceAgeSage -- Lori responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 9:38 am →
I don’t have kids or have that special decision-making you do, but I always balance my health information between my general practitioner and my healing arts contacts. I use both to ferret out and address health problems. If they disagree, I go with my gut.
Friar responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 9:44 am →
@vered
“Radiation” is a word that scares people, because a lot of us dont’ know too much about it. But I work in the nuclear industry, and know a little bit about the subject.
We’re constantly getting background radiation from our everyday life, from radon gas in our basements, the rock structure where we live, from the air, certain foods, from flying in planes, etc. The total an everage person gets is about 3 millisieverts a year, that’s just from everyday living. The international standards for Nuclear Workers is over 15 times higher than what the public is allowed to get, and that’s STILL considered safe.
The dose from an X-ray is a small fraction of your annual dose. For example, this link from the FDA shows that a chest X-ray is the equivalent dose you’d get in 2.4 days of normal background radiation.
Risks
That’s less than a 1% increase over what you’d get in the entire year, just from everyday living.
Barium enemas and CT scans are a bit higher. But I wouldn’t worry about it. I’d say whatever medical benefits there are would probably outweigh any risks of NOT having the proper diagnosis.
If you want to be reassured, just google “X-ray radiation doses”, and you’ll see how low they are. Here are a few more links:
Dose Chart
Radiology Info
Mark responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 10:33 am →
A very normal concern to have. We also prefer to keep the exposure at a minimum. A related article that I dug up….http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_doctor/xraysfrequency.shtml
MomGrind responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am →
@ Linda Abbit: “It is a heavy load to live with, at either end of the spectrum.” It is.
@ J.D. Meier: “Bounce the question about having to check every year off another 3 doctors to sanity check.” I really like this advice. I’m going to do it.
@ Juliet: “What would you do if it were yourself? Would you go for the X-rays or not?” This is an excellent question. If it were me, I would trust the doctor, since he really is top tier. Interestingly, when it comes to my daughter, it’s harder for me to trust him. But this helped me see things more clearly. Thank you.
@ veena: My problem is that my instincts are telling me two different things. There are issues where I know exactly how I feel about a decision, but in this case I am truly torn.
@ Tara: It IS important to research and have the facts prior to making a decision.
@ Betsy Wuebker: I haven’t thought about making my daughter a part of this decision. She is 9 years old. I will need to think about it some more, because she tends to worry. I don’t want to add unnecessary stress to her life.
@ Lance: “The tough part about this decision, as I see it, is that her arms appears to be fine, two years later. So, is it worth the potential risk down the road” – this is exactly my dilemma.
@ Maxo: “It’s a lot of responsibility that doesn’t always have a clear direction.” Very true. It’s scary sometimes. It does help to realize there’s “nature” and “nurture” and many experts believe “nature” is responsible for at least 80% of the equation.
@ Mike Goad: Thank you. I needed to hear that. I am definitely leaning towards following the doctor’s instructions. I just need to feel better about it.
@ Tabitha: “I’d hate to have a problem with the elbow occur a few years from now that would have been avoided by observation.” I agree.
@ Vincent: I do trust the doctor – but I worry.
@ Writer Dad: Thank you.
@ Jannie: We are moving to a once-a-year schedule now, but I still worry.
@ Dot: “I hope hope HOPE that all will be well for her after these x-rays.” Me too.
@ Squawkfox: Thank you.
@ Lori: It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion. My problem is, this doctor IS the best and the expert, so I trust him more than I would trust anyone else. But as J.D. Meier also suggested, bouncing this off another doctor isn’t a bad idea.
@ Friar: THANK YOU. Like Mike Goad, you really helped put my mind at ease.
@ Mark: Thank you for the link.
Chris responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 10:53 am →
I would trust my doctor because s/he knows more than I do. I could do research but at the end of the day, I know I will end up where I started.
I hope that all parents are emotionally and mentally stable to make serious decisions for their children but unfortunately this is not always the case.
In any case, as parents, we do our best for our children and this is pretty much all we can do. The rest is up to the other people, like your doctor, to help us make the sound choices for our children’s welfare.
Don Mills Diva responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 11:24 am →
Honestly?
I’d trust the doctor. It sounds like future potential problems with the elbow outweigh concerns over potential exposure to radiation…
Just my two cents.
Leslie responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 12:59 pm →
Oy vey. Woe are we! I’m sure tonight I’ll dream of immunizations.
Based on my most relevant experience, I’d probably listen to the doctor and hope that if the bone consistently looks good, that perhaps the continual x-rays will grow fewer and further between? The change from every six months to once a year seems promising.
Hunter Nuttall responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm →
I think you’re doing the right thing. Obviously I’m not your daughter, but if I were, I’d say that I’m much more concerned about making sure my arm grows properly than the chance of side effects from x-rays. We all do things that are much more dangerous than x-rays, such as driving, or eating an unhealthy diet. While we might not know the true risk of x-rays, that’s true of a lot of things. What about brain cancer from cell phones? You can’t protect her from everything, but in this case I think the x-rays protect her from a greater risk.
Marelisa responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 1:44 pm →
Hi Vered: I think all you can do is find the best doctor you can, which you did; ask lots of questions, which you did; and do your own research to see if it matches up with what you’re being told, which you did. Parents can’t be expected to have a magic glass ball and be able to foresee how each decision is going to turn out. All they can be expected to do is make a reasonable decision based on the information that’s available.
Kim Woodbridge responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 2:01 pm →
I agree with Hunter – we all do things that are much more dangerous. Driving to the doctor’s office is probably more dangerous than the x-ray but we consider driving to be something normal – something that has to be done.
I had to have emergency dental work done when I was 5 months pregnant and that involved x-rays. I was very worried but they put every shield on the office on top of me – I couldn’t even move. Apparently the risk of the infection affecting the baby was greater than the risk of the x-ray. There are trade-offs. It’s very hard to make decisions for our children’s well-being.
Mia responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm →
For us, with all of Alex’s issues, there comes a time when you have to make decisions yourself. You balance what the doctors say, what you want for your child and what your gut says.
For instance, every time Alex needs botox injections to relax the muscles in his legs, it’s followed up within 1 week with a cast. They want the cast on for 3 weeks. We never allow them to do that. The most we allow is 2 weeks, and once we had them take it off after 1 week and re-do it. We decided this because of how much discomfort he gets vs. the benefit of one more week. Also, his skin breaks down so horribly to a raw mess that it takes months of pain and discomfort for him to recover from that alone. SO, we don’t let them. We never have; you would think they would get it by now and stop asking for 3 weeks.
This is not the same as exposing your child to radiation every 6 months, but it’s the point. Make the decision with the info you have as something you’re comfortable with.
Personally, I would up it to every year prior to your seeing the doc. Unless you notice something different in the meantime, that should suffice. The doc probably wouldn’t expose his child every 6 months!
Carla responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 4:30 pm →
Though I’m not a big believer in the Western Medical system, I would trust the doctor on this one. I don’t think anyone really knows what long-term exposure x-rays does to the human body, but we know what the risk of not keep close tabs on her elbow. I would listen to the doctor.
Evelyn Lim responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 6:09 pm →
It’s tough to have to make a decision like that. At various times, I have been put in a situation that had conflicting interests with regards to my kids. The stress almost killed me!!
I used to be a skeptic in all things alternative. But through a series of events, I have learned to do things a lot differently now. If you are to ask me, I’d also do another check to validate any decision I intend to make. I’d make an intuitive check with her Higher Self. Sounds like mumbo jumbo? Hear me out a little. It is to check with her Higher Consciousness what is in her best interest. Muscle testing or with the aide of pendulum dowsing can help get a “yes” or “no” answer. However, I must be prepared that the answer may be different from what I have consciously chosen to decide. If it is, the same process of checking can also help me unearth the reasons why the decision I intend to take is not perhaps a very wise one. I’d then weigh all the findings together. In such a case, I’d have considered all conscious and subconscious factors, in relation to her. It’s not about my ego, my convenience, what I know consciously (which by the way, is very limited).
As a mom myself, I know how hard it is to be in your shoes. I wish you luck! May your daughter be well! You may consider writing to Frederic, a reader from my blog, whose interviews I have been featuring. He may be able to help with some useful suggestions for exercises.
MommyNamedApril responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 6:17 pm →
That’s a tough one. The way I’ve approached this type of thing is to find a doctor I REALLY trust, grill him, and then also read up on my own. Then, assuming I don’t discover something on my own, I go with what the good doctor says. Sounds like you’re doing pretty much the same thing.
My parents had a really tough call with one of my sisters several years ago. She has lupus and suffered a severe flair that put her in the hospital. She was essentially incoherent for several days and the doctors were worried that if they didn’t get her immune system in check quickly, she may not recover or, worse, she may continue to deteriorate.
It was recommended she undergo several rounds of chemo therapy. Problem is, they couldn’t guarantee the chemo would work and, also, it could make her sterile. In the end, they opted to go with the chemo because there were no other options and she wasn’t getting better on her own. It took about a month, but she did recover fully. We don’t know yet whether the chemo has affected her ability to have children. My dad told me recently, though, it haunts him almost daily that he may it away from her.
Sorry for the ramble…
Bamboo Forest responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 6:54 pm →
I think I would do what you’re doing. Plain and simple, if you know he’s a highly qualified doctor, you have no choice but to trust him.
Of course, you could always get a second opinion, see what another doctor may think.
Also, you may want to get, sorta an alternative view…. I like: drweil.com
“And what if these minimal, safe, recurring amounts of radiation join other factors and cause cancer, many years from now?”
There is one thing you could do. Make sure your daughter is getting plenty of fruits and vegetables. Maybe even start her on green tea, or something. There are ways to minimize the risk of cancer, and if she is in a higher risk bracket, all the more so to engage a lifestyle that is known to prevent cancer.
I wish your daughter an abundance of health and prosperity.
Nurit responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 7:04 pm →
A few months ago my mom was told she needs an operation (after being examined and tested etc). After being anxious about it for a few weeks, she went to another doctor. He ran some tests too and came to the conclusion that she doesn’t need an operation. Of course she relied on the second doctor and decided not go thru the operation. Who should she believe???
I think, like you do, that no one knows anything for sure. We try to rely on “truth”, an elusive truth, and THAT is the hard part. We are just totally lost. I don’t know what to tell you. I think I would stretch the time between check-ups to a little longer gaps of time between checkups but won’t give up on it altogether? It’s a harder life for the skeptics.
Good luck! Nurit
kathy responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 7:47 pm →
Vered
Trust your instincts. The mommy thing is much stronger that any of us really comprehend. When we have to give an account of our lives and decisions, the actions we take because of love and concern beyond ourselves weighs the most.
Barbara Swafford - Blogging Without A Blog responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 9:10 pm →
Hi Vered – You’re doing the right thing. You are questioning if you’re making the right decision and have begun to do research and are asking others. That, in itself, can bring out dozens of suggestions to think about and pursue. I like what J.D. shared and the resources he has provided. I think you’re on the right path.
Davina responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 10:10 pm →
Hi Vered. I can understand your concern; “…there are so many things that doctors and scientists THINK they know…” Like others here have said, trust your instincts. When your little girl comes to a certain age, she may put a stop to this all on her own. You just never know what a body can take. Some people don’t eat properly, smoke, drink, don’t exercise, and still live to a ripe old age.
RC - Rambling Along... responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 10:13 pm →
Believe it or not, I face a similar dilemma with my son.
Since he has a severe dairy-protein allergy, which we discovered at six months, when I decided to supplement his breastfeeding/my pumping for all of his feedings, we were placed in a difficult position.
Some experts recommend mom change her diet and continue breastfeeding. I had been fighting with my supply for two months at that point (taking the supplements, pumping additional times, etc.), and do to being a full-time, work-from-home mom, I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to keep enough in store for him – we had already been depleting the stores of frozen milk we had from my early days of overabundance.
Other experts recommend using the formula – Nutramigen. This works for some babies, but is very cost-prohibitive, and isn’t perfect for those with the most severe forms of dairy allergies (and my child was considered to have a pretty severe expert).
The other option was soy formula. Cost is similar to other formula prices, and many vegans choose to use this formula with their children if breastfeeding isn’t an option. One problem – some studies show various concerns linked to an large quantities of soy being given to very young children.
In the end, we chose to go with soy, on the advice of several physicians. But, if I read the concerns out there, I struggle with that decision, and at the same time know that our options were pretty limited. Am I creating future health issues for my child, by what I did to keep him healthy and fed?
If I was making the decision for me, I would do the soy. That being said, and like you replied back to someone else, the decision is much more difficult when you are making it for your child.
Lawyer Mom responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 11:02 pm →
If she has the full and normal use of her arm with no pain, I say no more x-rays. Period. For me the radiation studies, most of which were conducted on adults vs. children, are unpersuasive. But, admittedly I’m a bit of a weirdo.
When the dentist wanted to put sealants on my kid’s molars, I asked him if they contained BPA and the dentist went into meltdown. So I may have a different answer about x-rays, several years from now, though I doubt it.
Good luck.
Patricia responds:
Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 11:04 pm →
Oh these parenting decisions are so tough when they come to the nest – I think you are doing a wonderful job of researching and looking at all the options. I like Betsy’s suggestion of bringing your daughter into the decision process and it does not have to be a worry – an opportunity to teach problem-solving skills and emotions here presented.
Then of course after one has done all their homework, the next phase is to check with your parenting love meter for that will give you the best advise of all….
My youngest has had thousands of x rays and now brain scans and I would only use foods to heal and supplements until it became apparent that we would have to give her Adderall ( which is addicting and body chemistry changing) in order for her to have success at school and a future. We did all the evaluations and at 16 she made the decision that if we paid for the medications she would be able to control herself and get through school…but we lived with all the high risk and loud behaviors until she made the decision for medical control.
We do not know what her future will bring, but her present is pretty exciting.
I think she probably has a higher chance of diabetes from her horrible diet now but she is nearly 23, I have to let go and she has to start paying her own way…and be responsible.
You do the very best you can with the knowledge you have at the time and if that knowledge changes you remember that you did the very best you could with the knowledge you had at the time.
I always add with eyes heavenward and fingers crossed!
Oh these life lessons are so amazing…teachers every one.
Cath Lawson responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2008 at 3:08 am →
Hi Vered – that must have really hurt – it’s bad enough just banging your elbow on something. I know there is a small risk from exposure to X-rays. But once a year isn’t too bad. I think it’s worth the risk. If her elbow gives her problems in the future, she could wind up with a lot of pain and inconvenience.
Michelle @ What Does Your Body Good? responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2008 at 8:26 am →
That’s tough. I’ve had doctors want to give me an IV even though I was totally fine after a low blood pressure incident had passed. I said, can’t I just drink a lot of fluids instead? I agree with you that it’s worth questioning and figuring out alternate ways to handle a situation. Xrays are generally regarded as safe…but I’m wary as well.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2008 at 11:01 am →
@ Chris: “as parents, we do our best for our children and this is pretty much all we can do.” True. I can only do my best.
@ Don Mills Diva: Thank you, Kelly. I appreciate your input. I tend to agree with you.
@ Leslie: “The change from every six months to once a year seems promising.” Indeed. I felt relieved when he said we could do it once a year now. It also means that the likelihood of elbow problems is very low.
@ Hunter Nuttall: “I’d say that I’m much more concerned about making sure my arm grows properly than the chance of side effects from x-rays.” I tend to agree.
@ Marelisa: Thank you. You made me feel better – you made me see that I really am doing my best here.
@ Kim Woodbridge: “the risk of the infection affecting the baby was greater than the risk of the x-ray. There are trade-offs.” Exactly. There are trade-offs. In this case, I need to make sure that the risk from the x-rays is lower than the risk of the arm not developing properly.
@ Mia: It’s wonderful that you’re making the right decision for your child. “The doc probably wouldn’t expose his child every 6 months!” This is always a good question to ask doctors: what would you do if it were your child? I actually asked him that, and he said he would treat his child exactly the same way. He really does believe the risk from x-rays is basically non-existent while the risk of her arm stopping developing properly is very low, but very real.
@ Carla: Thank you, Carla. I tend to agree: there’s a theoretical risk here vs. a very real risk.
@ Evelyn Lim: Thank you so much for your support. I knew you’d understand.
@ MommyNamedApril: I feel for your parents. What a terrible decision to make. Yes, I pretty much did the best I could.
@ Bamboo Forest: “Plain and simple, if you know he’s a highly qualified doctor, you have no choice but to trust him.” I agree. I also agree it’s a good idea to make sure her diet is rich and fruit and veggies. We have been discussing the importance of getting at least 5 servings of fruit and veggies per day, and my kids are miraculously cooperating, so far.
@ Nurit: When a doctor tells someone they need surgery, they should definitely seek a qualified second opinion.
@ kathy: My instincts are not as strong on this one as they usually are. But I do tend to feel that since the doctor is highly qualified, I should trust him and follow his instructions.
@ Barbara Swafford: Thank you for your support. It means a lot.
@ Davina: “Like others here have said, trust your instincts.” I know. It’s the best I can do.
@ RC – Rambling Along: It is so difficult, isn’t it? We want to give them the very best – we would give our lives for them – and yet sometimes we have to choose between the lesser of two (or more) evils. That’s so hard.
@ Lawyer Mom: “I asked him if they contained BPA and the dentist went into meltdown.” Haha.
Her arm seems fine, but the doctor maintains that it could still stop growing properly, although the risk is lower with each passing year. I guess the real question is which is more likely – damage from the x-rays or her arm not growing properly.
@ Patricia: “she is nearly 23, I have to let go and she has to start paying her own way…and be responsible.” As difficult as it is to make decisions for my kids, I can’t say I’m looking forward to my kids making their own decisions. I know it’s necessary and inevitable, but it must be so hard to allow your child to make their own mistakes.
@ Cath Lawson: Yes, my poor baby was in a lot of pain.
@ Michelle: It’s important to ask questions, because doctors do tend to prescribe treatments when sometimes those treatments are not absolutely necessary.
Dr. J responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2008 at 3:08 pm →
So sorry to hear this, Vered! I would ask if once a year would be enough. Also remember, form follows function with growth. Make sure your daughter uses her arm with full range of motion and activity. I’m a facial surgeon, so I am a little limited with the long bones, but I think most of the same principles apply. Be careful about having too many operations. Scaring after surgeries can limit, not enhance growth. Sorry if I’m offering too much advice or information.
Robin responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2008 at 8:03 pm →
Hi Vered – maybe it’s a matter of trusting yourself to be aware of the best information available, and then trusting your intuition. All the best with it!
Al at 7P responds:
Posted: December 13th, 2008 at 10:24 am →
Hi Vered – I’m impressed that you followed up with the advice from the doctor with your own research. You made the right decision in my opinion to continue with the x-rays, but what I think is also very important was that you took the responsibility into your own hands.
Your daughter has a great role model with personal responsibility, particularly with regards to health.
Maya responds:
Posted: December 13th, 2008 at 11:11 am →
Hi Vered,
My 2 year old broke her arm too – when she was 20 months old – it seems fine but I have to take her back every so often – same thing – she could have issues with the growth since the broken bone was so close to the growth plate.
Until now I really never thought of X-Rays as being harmful. It has only been 6 months and I have just been going with “let us do what needs to be done” …. We have a number of docs in the family too and I know they would give me the same info about x rays that a number of people here did ….not as harmful as we think etc etc.
I am comfortable with my decision from another angle as well – which perhaps has more of an impact on how I make some decisions with my kids …..I myself had a broken arm when I was a child ….and I do have a growth defect as well …. the surgeon made a mistake on the first surgery after which my arm got repeatedly infected on subsequent surgeries. To say the least, it was not the best of times for my parents ….I really do not have too many memories … I think my parents remember the “pain” more that I do.
I know my parents did their best to make sure everything will be fine and things will be okay. Even if things did not turn out great I will never blame them cause they made the best decision for my well being. From that perspective, I think you should take in all the information that people/doctors will provide and do whatever is in your child’s best interest.
In my case, the doctors said they can only operate after the growth stops – to fix the defect. It is now in my hands – in India I chose against surgery since I would need a LOT of therapy to get my strength back and doctors were not sure my hands would ever “feel” normal, but in the US the docs are more optimistic – so I might actually opt for surgery when I can afford to take some time off – a few years later.
So well, even if the final outcome is not the best one (it will ALL be fine in your case believe me – my issue was caused my the doc’s mistake!) – your daughter will NEVER blame you. So I say – learn as much as there is to learn about X rays and then go with your gut. All the best, Vered.
And this whole thing is much harder on you than it is on your child – so be sure to not make it any harder. Talk to your daughter- my parents always did – about small and big things – I think I understood a LOT of what they were saying – very early on.
Have a wonderful weekend
– I did not mean to put a blog entry out here, but well, seems like I have 
MomGrind responds:
Posted: December 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pm →
Dr. J: Please don’t worry about giving too much info – I’m always happy to learn more. “Make sure your daughter uses her arm with full range of motion and activity” – she does and has no problems doing so. The prognosis really is very good, the x-rays are just a precaution.
@ Robin: Thank you.
@ Al: Thank you! I couldn’t live with myself unless I knew I were doing my absolute best.
@ Maya: Thank you for sharing your own experience with me. I think the most important thing to me here is to make sure I’m doing the very best that I can without being able to foresee the future. Your insight really helps. I agree that this is a lot harder on me than it is on her. I had a medical emergency when I was little and as you say, I don’t really remember much pain or worry, but my parents certainly do. Good luck with your own arm!
Dee Langdon - BloggerNewbie responds:
Posted: December 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am →
The whole time my children were growing up, on almost a daily basis, I worried that what I said or did to them or didn’t say or do to them was the right thing. After all everything would affect them for the rest of their life. You can only do the best you know how at the time, that’s all you can do. Yeah, I know, sounds simple. Most moms don’t listen to that advice or believe it. It must be a characteristic every mom has – guilt. I think it comes from the therapy world!
Jannie responds:
Posted: December 14th, 2008 at 1:37 pm →
Vered, sounds like you ARE doing your absolute best!
Stacey / Create a Balance responds:
Posted: December 14th, 2008 at 6:49 pm →
You have to make the best decision based on the information you have today. It sounds like you are doing that. One option is to get a second/third opinion.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: December 14th, 2008 at 9:39 pm →
@ Dee Langdon: Yeah, guilt seems to be part of being a mom.
@ Jannie: Thank you.
@ Stacey: I do plan on getting a second opinion, although I wonder if I could find a doctor who’s more qualified than the doctor we’re seeing.
Kelly@SHE-POWER responds:
Posted: December 15th, 2008 at 5:37 am →
I have nothing insightful to add to this Vered. I think the other commenters have said it all. But I did want to let you know I am there with you 100% in wishing that my child could make some of the big well-being decisions I have been faced with himself. With Bunny’s food allergies I have had a number of scary situations in the past where I just wanted someone else to be the mom. And even the little things can make me feel that way. Just recently Bunny was sick and I had to cancel a Christmas party we were both SO excited about. And even though in my heart I knew he had a fever and couldn’t go, I still wanted someone else to make the decision for me so that I wouldn’t be the one disappointing him. Silly, huh?
When it comes down to it, we just have to make the best decisions for our kids at the time. That’s life. We’re not all-seeing, all-knowing. Just human. And you’re doing a GREAT job.
Kelly
MomGrind responds:
Posted: December 15th, 2008 at 10:00 am →
@ Kelly: Thank you so much. I needed to hear that. Parenting is such a huge responsibility. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who sometimes wishes she didn’t have to make all those decisions.
Natural responds:
Posted: December 15th, 2008 at 1:17 pm →
I think moms sometimes know better than the doctors when it comes to their kids. Whatever your gut feeling tells you to do, do it. I’ve read several cases about what the doctors said about a baby, even unborn baby, and the mother decided not to take his advice and things turned out well. This is not always the case…so I would weigh all options and make the decision I feel comfortable with, even if it meant alternative procedures.
Shirley responds:
Posted: December 16th, 2008 at 3:52 pm →
Tough decision. I know that my mom is anti x-rays. I recently had to get some for the dentist and my mom freaked out… I am an adult. lol.
Perhaps you should get a second opinion.
Jelveh responds:
Posted: December 18th, 2008 at 6:30 pm →
Not sure what the answer is to the question, even if I had childern I think I would still not know the answer…there is no way to tell what happens to any of us in any situation or why some people get sick or from what and others dont…I think you are right to question the need for the x-ray vs it’s side effects…but you will not find the answer to it for sure, even with a lot of reaserch, you will only reach a reasonable answer…as we are all made differently and our bodies respond in different ways, one will never know the answer…
From reading your blog & seeing a bit of you, I would have to say you will do fine by your girl in the future as you have so far…personally I would let this go…
MomGrind responds:
Posted: December 18th, 2008 at 7:39 pm →
@ Natural: I agree that moms should trust their instincts.
@ Shirley: I dislike dentist x-rays too!
@ Jelveh: Thank you! I agree that I won’t be able to find the answer and that I just need to do my best.
20 Ways To Help Your Child Develop A Positive Self Image | responds:
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