hurt ankle badly - have i broken it?

raq

Hi all,

Stupid clumsy me feel the last few steps on our stairs yesterday afternoon with washing in my hand. My right foot twisted in. I had converse trainers in. Pain, stream and shout and didn,t know whether to laugh or cry.

Sat on the sofa from 3.30pm onwards, took ibrofen and pain killers. I can hope on it, wiggle my toes but the swolling today is huge. You can see a bruise already around the bone of my ankle and the side of my foot. I got a walking stick as I definately need it.

So, is it a waste of doctors time to go to.a.e.? I can really do without this as I also have 3 kiddies and my hubby has to work.

Thanks

duchy

My friend did domething similar our first day in New York -and insisted it was just bruised and walked all round NYC on it. When she finally got home and went to A&E a week later it was confirmed as broken (she wasn't in severe pain til our last day there just what she thought was severe bruising pain and swelling) and it took ages to heal because she hadn't got treatment promptly.

Off to A&E I'm afraid - Odds are the doctor will send you up for an X-ray anyway so may as well go straight to the hospital.

Ettenna

Go to A&E or minor injuries to be sure. It may well be a sprain but better to be safe than sorry. I sprained my ankle last year and the bruising was amazing!!

sugarsugar_2

Sounds like a sprain but best get to the doctors to have it confirmed. When I sprained mine it was pretty bad and I was told by the doctor not to move for 2 weeks! Which with 2 little ones myself wasn't easy. But I think if you try to carry on as normal you will ultimately do more damage. I was given a prescription for ibroprufen gel to rub on it and told to wrap it up with a support as well. Hope you feel better soon.

mumonashoestring

Yep, go and get X-rayed. Even if its not broken it needs to be checked by a medical professional in case you've done any serious muscle or ligament damage. I know it seems like a hassle but you can end up with long term or even permanent complications from ignoring injuries like this.

lee111s

An x-ray is the only way to tell really!

spacey2012

Soothsayer advice.
Broken lower leg bones can be fatal if the marrow enters your blood stream.
If in doubt, get it checked.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

That's what the hospital is for. Even a sprain can permanently disable you if not treated.

Go there.

McKneff

I tore some ligaments last year doing exactly the same thing. I was certain I had broken it but after an xray found that I hadn't. The nurse said that it could take longer to heal than an actual break, I was in agony with it. The first two days I had to slide around on my butt, thank god for wooden floors. Not able to even put my toe on the floor for two days. And not a bruise to be seen

rochja

Have you elevated, chilled and immobilised? Fat embolism caused by bone marrow is a rare condition. I cannot swear but would have thought a breakage severe enough to cause it would be visually obvious and there would be crepitus. [Great word, hope I have used it right]. Unless you like to gamble then your safest course is to go to a minor injuries unit by taxi or with a friend.

heartbreak_star

Go to the hospital. It's what it's for.

HBS x