Question
My 15 year old son was shot in his lower right back by another youth with a pellet rifle about 3 months ago.  I took my son to a clinic and he was X-rayed.  The doctor on duty took 3 X-ray views and determined that the pellet was located just behind the muscle behind the kidney.  The doctor did not feel that the pellet required removal, as this may cause further damage.  He gave him some anti-biotics and sent us on our way.  

My young teenager does a great deal of skateboarding and is very active, physically.  Lately he has voiced concern about the pellet in his back.  I too am concerned that the pellet may move or otherwise cause him discomfort or harm, especially since it is located near the kidney.  

Sam is usually a mild-mannered boy in a generally good mood most of the time.  However, when he brings up the pellet, he is unusally rather short or curt about the issue.  As if he's mad at me all of a sudden - as if has had a sudden mood swing.  I am wondering could the pellet be pressing on a nerve to cause him to react in that manner?  What is your advice?

Thanks so much!

Answer
Becky,

I hope that I can help with this dilemma.  

I really don't think that this can cause any problem at all and it definitely will not cause any problem with a nerve other than maybe some mild discomfort.  It sounds like it is just in the muscle which is not a concern.  Millions of people have worse than that pellet stuck in their bodies and do OK.

However, this may just be affecting him psychologically.  This is not to say that he is going nuts, but it obviously bothers him.  It is either bringing up the memory or for some reason he feels some guilt about the incident, or it may just be a fear of having the pellet in him.

I recommend talking to him about it and if he wants, get a second or even third opinion about removing it.  I would not think it would be that big of a procedure to take it out.  See another surgeon and ask what he thinks and then see a third.  Weigh your options and then you can decide together.  I have a 14 year old boy and I know that this is a very delicate age.  Hormones are starting to rage and sometimes they do and say things that they just don't mean.  

Talk to him about it and give him options.  He is becoming a young adult and that it itself is a scary thing to a boy.  

I hope this helps.

Dr. Boss