What does a broken nose look like?
My youngest threw one on my point shoes square in the nose of my middle guys eyes on Saturday. It bruised right away. It is now a cool of blue and purple I have never seen before. I asked him if it still hurts and he said no. When a ran my finger over it, there was a huge lump in the middle of the bruise. I doubt it is something to rush off to the ER over..I am considering taking him to the doctor tomorrow??
Does it sound like a broken nose or just a bad bruise?
I'd take him in just to be safe. It sounds like it could be broken, and if it's not set right then it could grow differently as he gets older. I broke my nose in 5th grade and developed a large bump as a result and it bothered me so much that in high school I got a nose job! (There's nothing like being called Blossom - that gal from the 90's tv show - by the kids you babysit :( )
My brother got a broken nose when he was around 7-8 years old... both eyes turned black, and it swelled up a bit, but there was no 'obvious' break. Unless it's gushing blood, or causing him tons of pain, (sounds like it's not) then I wouldn't worry about the ER. When my brother's happened, he didn't make it in to the doctors until a week later, when my dad came to check in on us. (we were at my mom's house for the summer) All they did was take some X-rays, say 'Yep, it's broken!' and that was it. (oh, they handed him a nice bill too. Can't forget that... lol) Take a lot of pics!!! LOL! My little brother's broken nose pics are awesome, and some of his favorites. :)
When i was little i broke my nose. It was gushing blood. Every child could be different though. I would absolutely take him to the dr tomorrow. At least to ease your mind.
When my daughter was 2 she got knocked into the corner of our wall (thank you my big giant dog) and absolutely broke her nose...purple and black bruises on both eyes and a lump...we took her to the ER and were told they do absolutely NOTHING about it unless it impairs her breathing, which thankfully it didn't, but we had a $600 bill just for them to tell us there is nothing they do about it, no x-rays, no nothing.
Is he having trouble breathing? If not, you will probably be told the same as us...which basically was 'If it's crooked when she is older she can have plastic surgery'!
Poor kid!
Unless the nose is crooked or he's having trouble breathing through it, the doctor would, at most, put some tape over it. Even if it is broken, it'll heal by itself.
Meanwhile, he'll enjoy showing off his fabulous bruise. The eye area is well-known for bruising and swelling, even from a nearby wound. If you want the bruise to resolve faster, you can get one or two herbal oils from the health food store, and apply one or both every few hours:
Arnica Montana oil and St. John's Wort (also called Hypericum) oil. They work best if applied immediately after the injury, but they will probably still help the bruise clear out a few days faster.
I'd say if it's not hurting him, it's probably a bruise. I'd still take him to the doctor to double check, though. I'm no doctor, though :-)
I don't know much about a broken nose but I do know what I would do in that situation. I would definitely take him in to the doctor. Even if it isn't a broken nose you will have that assurance. If it is broken you want to make sure it heals properly so he doesn't have a crooked nose later in life.
I've also heard that here is nothing that can be done for a broken nose if the nasal passages are still open. So I wouldn't take him to the doctor. I would call the doctor's office just to be sure that it's OK to wait for it to heal.
I know of several adults who broke their nose as kids playing ball and they said that the doctor didn't do anything. A couple have crooked noses now and it's alright with them. They could have them corrected now but not when the break was fresh.
