Don't know whether to get get this checked out need advice? RE joint swelling

[beggingbehind]

Im sorry i just need advice, I know not an AIBU, but need the traffics. Only have DC at home, so if you can read thank you. So last night my wrist started to swell, i know nothing mager, but woken up today it was a bit hot couldn't really move it, throught the day its swollen move, it agony even on painkillers, and its quite hot. I realise i might need to get it checked but unless its really necessary i really don't want to, I am just (kind of) recovering from quite bad MH issues and for a good few months presented at A&E about 50 times for stitches, suicide attempts and some fairly odd SH and SA that involved surgery. So when ether i go with something truly physical to hospital/GP they often think ive done it myself. And it so feels they don't want to treat me and don't care. So it terrifies me especially as ive also sometimes been in A&E with the police and stuff. Its awful. Im trying to stay on the straight and narrow and stay strong for my amazing DCs. I guess its more being woried of medical professional but i also dont want to detriment my physical problems as well. Im at a loss.
Thanks for taking the time to read.

[WouldHave]

Sorry, no idea what could be causing this, but is there a minor injuries drop-in anywhere near you? It might be the simplest way of getting it checked and sorted out. If it's something like, say, arthritis, they couldn't possibly think you had done it to yourself.

[yellowfrog]

I think it sounds like it needs to be seen - sorry. You could post one here while you're waiting to see them and we can hand-hold

[beggingbehind]

You never know, i had an op on arm two months ago (most recent) they thought id done it myself ( i guess based on previous history wont go nto but still) No minor injurys near by, walk in but its closed now and only deals with REALLY minor things.

[yellowfrog]

Maybe phone 111 and see if they think you should go to A&E now or if it can wait until tomorrow to get an emergency GP appointment.

[yellowfrog]

In the mean time though, maybe try a bag of frozen peas on it to reduce the pain a bit

[Roodolf]

Red, hot joints need seeing pretty urgently, especially if you feel unwell in yourself. I can empathise with the "they'll think it's self injury" but it needs checking. Tonight, really. (Medic - in a different field tho).

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

I agree with pp, phone 111 for advice. I think you definitely need it looking at, and if I were you I would get it looked at fairly sharpish.

[yellowfrog]

Also bear in mind, they can think what they like, and be as grinchy at you as they like, but you know you didn't do this to yourself, and ultimately they will treat it for you. And once it's done, you can come back here for very unmumsnetty congratulatory hugs :)

[Rockclimbingtigger]

Hi,

HCP here. You need seeing - hot swollen joints can be serious and you may need treatment.

We see a lot of patients with MH issues in their past and I would hope that they would treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve and with which I hope they'd see all patients. I certainly would :)

Please go see someone, especially if you're feeling unwell in yourself. It could be easily remedied but you also may have an infection that requires IV antibiotics.

Good luck. X

[beggingbehind]

111 nearly always say A&E though especially in my area the a&e and ambulance service hate it! Plus its still the whole medical profesional thing. I will if i feel up to it. I think ill leave it till morning, im feeling fairy fragile (not good describing word) tonight. Have done ice pack and heat pack, heat helped more. I just needed to get it out. Thanks

[DustyMaiden]

You need to call them. Heat means infection could be cellulitis or sepsis .

[yellowfrog]

Can you treat yourself to something nice tonight (sofa, TV, biccies etc) as an advance reward for taking it to see someone tomorrow. I know it's easy to say, but you will cope with this and you will be ok. If you can get through the bad place you were in to the better place you're clearly in now,l then you can get through anything!

[yellowfrog]

Or better yet, take it to see someone tonight and get it over with then go all out on the sofa/TV/biccies tomorrow

[beggingbehind]

I might call GP tommrow see if i can have emergnency appotment, but i have to get care for DCs. oh its just very difficuilt

[yellowfrog]

Take the DCs with you if you must, but other posters are right, you need to get it seen. If you really can't face going now, then at least promise yourself you will go immediately if anything changes with it before tomorrow morning. I've had cellulitis and it's no picnic.

I can't state enough though that you are much stronger than you feel right now. Self-harm is really insidious and hard to stop - you've done that, and that's awesome.

[PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon]

Could it be arthritis? Swollen wrist was the first sign for me.
Do you know if you have somehow managed to hurt it? Or any cuts that could have become infected?
Although this is the issue with the internet (especially as no photos given) is we are not there so cannot diagnose.
I think you should call 111 just to be safe

[beggingbehind]

I ment to say elbow goddnes shows how tired i am! I have tried to attach to photos if that helps. 1 shows swelling 2. shows redness abit more. I think GP tommrow is how ill go. But i dont want to seem like im overacting either

[beggingbehind]

first picture

[yellowfrog]

That really does look like something that you need to get seen ASAP - tomorrow at the latest I would say. It's hard to tell in the pictures, and I am not a doctor or any form of medic, but it looks like the cellulitis I had, which is treatable but you do not want to mess about with it AT ALL.

Hopefully it's some insect bite/boring rash/other minor thing, but it has too much potential to be something more serious, so you really must get it seen. We'll be here for support though

[PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon]

If you're not going to get it checked then at the very least please draw around the current swelling so you can accurately monitor it (and write the time of the drawing next to the line incase of multiple lines)

[helpimitchy]

If this is infection then it can become very serious, very quickly. You need to be seen tonight

[beggingbehind]

I know, i think ill prepare t go tommrow

[beggingbehind]

going to ring for appotment at 8;00. Though if its not a good time i dont know if ill go. or if ill have courage to, its quite hard underneath and swelling has got more

[Imnotaslimjim]

I'm glad you're getting it looked at. If it is cellulitis it can get nasty quickly but they should be able to fix it with anti-biotics

[Thinkingblonde]

Please get it looked at, you deserve medical treatment the same as anyone else. It does look really sore.