asking for a little help from the doctors

[carambola]

My son is a pretty serious soccer player.

Big out of state tournament this weekend.

Horsing around in between games the boys were chicken fighting in the pool.

Littleman is in an abnormal amount and intensity of pain, unable to move his head up or down.

It finally comes out that he bounced his head off the bottom of the pool.

Went to John Hopkins affiliate and the CT scan was negative, discharge papers say CERVICAL STRAIN, ACUTE.

I know the difference between a sprain and a strain, not much more.

What should my next step be?

[Crowbob]

I'd immobilize his neck and definitely get a second opinion.

Friend of mine face-planted while mountain-biking. Second opinion revealed cervical spine fracture calling for immediate cervical spine immobilization. First opinion was cervical sprain.

My friend was actually trying to get the kink out of his neck by twisting his head around.

[pavulon]

Having been through this myself a couple times, naprosyn (Aleve) worked better than anything else I tried. The other component is time. The disclaimer here is that if he starts to develop radicular symptoms (arm, shoulder pain, numbness or weakness or anything else wierd), he needs to tell you and you need to depart for the nearest ED pronto.

[jyl]

Is he any better now?

[carambola]

Pain is down to a four. He move his head back and also to the right without added pain. Moving down or the to the left is painful. We alternated moist heat and ice last night.

[john70t]

I'd go back in for a scan. Head injuries are nothing to mess around with.
Swelling of the brain takes place later and silently.
It's 'I'm fine, I'm fine' until they fall over.

[DanielDudley]

If your insurance is good, make it work for you now.

He looks good over the internet doesn't cut it.

[timchar]

If he has no neurological deficits or brain injury symptoms, Since CT scan is negative things should be ok. I would monitor closely for next few weeks.
I had a patient who was 2 weeks out from a serious car accident, he Initially went to ER, they said he was fine, his neck muscles were in the most severe spasm I've ever seen, before doing anything I took a C spine X-ray, he had a type 2 odontoid fracture, put him in rigid collar and sent by ambulance to UC Davis med center. He had surgery and did great.
Point is, pay very close attention to his symptoms, if he seems to be worsening, get another opinion.
Good luck, Tim