Swollen Head-how long does that last?

[T_Anna]

A few weeks ago DS admitted to hitting his head against the wall, while fighting rituals in the bathroom (about three weeks ago). It has been a few weeks and his head is still swollen (less, but still much bigger than normal). Anyone ever have something similar? I don't think he has done it again, but he may do it when he is stuck in the bathroom every week. He never lost consciousness, had signs of concussion, or a goose egg. It's more like an overall crown swelling and is soft to the touch although maybe not as soft as a few weeks ago. How long would it take for something like that to go back to normal? It creeps me out when I touch it (doesn't seem to hurt him when I touch it).

 

The doctor said it was from self harm, but does it take so long to heal?

 

Thanks,

T.Anna

DS15

[4Nikki]

Two weeks is about the longest I've seen a non-joint swelling last. Have you tried the sport injury trick of altering ice and hot every 30 mins always ending with ice. Coaches would say the ice is for the swelling and heat to promote healing by increasing blood circulation.

[cobygurl]

My little one ran into a friend of his and was sent flying. He hit his head on the corner of a wall and had a huge goose egg, swollen crown etc...

 

The doctors and the nurses told me that it would take at least 2-3 weeks for the swelling and pain to go away.

 

I would have it checked to make sure there isn't any fractures but it does take quite awhile for all the swelling to subside. My little guys head was so swollen that I thought he had actually dented his skull from the impact.

 

True to what they said, it took about that length of time to resolve.

[T_Anna]

4Nikki, he wont do any ice/heat compresses : (

 

Cobygurl, Thanks! I think that he might be reinjuring himself each time he fights rituals in the bathroom. The bathroom (BM) has consistently been a challange, hopefully the new treatment will help all these things.

 

Noticed that he started trichtollomania again too.

 

Maybe it's a herx, but he's fighting me on taking probiotics. How do you reason with a 15 year old who has stopped believing things will get better with a couple of pills.

 

Are there any probiotics that are more "pill-like" then capsules?

 

Thanks as always,

T.Anna

DS15

[JoyBop]

This really concerns me. I would be wondering about internal swelling or some sort of cyst or some other growth. If the forehead were swlen from harm you would imagine yellow and green if not black and blue around the area. If it were from rubbing it would be red and hot. Something does not add up here. I could understand a joint being swollen but not the forehead.

 

I would recommend getting a second opinion and perhaps some imaging to rule out something g else going in. I think if it were an infection ( bone can get infected too) it would be hot to the touch and painful. My hunch is that something in there is holding fluid or growing and I would get it checked out. What kind of dr did you see? If it were self harm it wouldn't be going on this long either. Sorry to worry you but it doesn't sit right with me.

[tpotter]

This really concerns me. I would be wondering about internal swelling or some sort of cyst or some other growth. If the forehead were swlen from harm you would imagine yellow and green if not black and blue around the area. If it were from rubbing it would be red and hot. Something does not add up here. I could understand a joint being swollen but not the forehead.

 

I would recommend getting a second opinion and perhaps some imaging to rule out something g else going in. I think if it were an infection ( bone can get infected too) it would be hot to the touch and painful. My hunch is that something in there is holding fluid or growing and I would get it checked out. What kind of dr did you see? If it were self harm it wouldn't be going on this long either. Sorry to worry you but it doesn't sit right with me.

I would agree with this. And, if there is something there, that could explain why there was head banging. It might be hurting, feel awful, etc.

[T_Anna]

It is less swollen and a bit discolored, but it looks a lot better than before.

 

I will ask the other doctor about it this week.

 

Thanks guys,

T.Anna

[JoyBop]

What color is it? Evident of bruising or redness from rubbing, allergy or contact dermatitis or sunburn? There could be so may causes but you want to rule out anything significant. This has been going in for a while now. One would thi I if it were from hitting himself repeatedly that it would be Terribly bruised by now. I hope you are able to find the cause soon!

[T_Anna]

Thanks.

 

We will see the doctor this week, I think, so I'll ask to check it.

 

Last night it looked a lot better to me.

 

I think her cut his bangs (hasn't cut his hair since October), and I don't think he hit his head this past bathroom time, so that's good too.

 

It had been a green/black/blue, now it looks pretty normal.

 

T.Anna

[JoyBop]

Well that's a different story! If it us bruised then you know its am injury. I have seen bruising last as long as 3-4 weeks but usually by that time it looks far worse than it is. Glad it's doing better!!!