Should I go to A&E? Possible fracture?

[Queenbee245]

Was involved in car accident yesterday, had my hands on the steering wheel and my wrist must've taken the force of my weight iyswim
It was a bit achy at first, kind of like when you sleep on it awkward and it takes a few hours to feel normal again
Anyway thought no more of it, put a tubigrip to support it
It's still hurting today though - if I bend my hand right forward or back it hurts, and if I pick something up or release my grip then there's a bit of pain near thumb joint pn the outside of my hand

Could I have possibly fractured something? Or does it sound like a sprain?
I'm a bit reluctant to go to A&E as I live in a city and it gets very busy so don't want to waste the drs time (id also have to catch a bus there and take DS with me)
If it was a fracture would they put it in a cast or just bandage it?

[Queenbee245]

Oh should say its hurting more today than yesterday but that could also be because I was a bit shocked yesterday

[TWinklyLittleStar]

That isn't a waste of a doctors time and I think you really should go get it xrayed, sorry.

[FarelyKnuts]

Yes get thee to A and E sorry. You could have fractured your scaphoid especially if you are having grip problems. Little bone at base of thumb/top of wrist.

[Imnotaslimjim]

Certainly soounds like a scaphoid fracture. It will be plastered if it is, holding your thumb still. I'd get it x-rayed. Is there no-one that can have DS while you go?

[RantyMcRantpants]

DH had that happen to him a couple of weeks ago and said exactly the same as you. I eventually managed to persuade him to go to the hospital and he had fractured his wrist. Go get it looked at asap.

[badguider]

if you've got a 'minor injuries clinic' in your city they would be better than A&E as a first point of contact. ours has barely any waiting time.

[Queenbee245]

Thank you for the replies
There's not anyone to have Ds unfortunately so he would have to come with me, I think I will go first thing so hopefully it won't be too busy and shouldn't be waiting
I'm not sure about a minor injuries clinic I will ring my drs now and check though

[FarelyKnuts]

How did you get on Queenbee?

[Queenbee245]

Had an X-ray but nothing showed up, they're given me a support to wear for now and I'm to have it re-x-rayed in 10 days time
It's on my dominant hand too so I'm just trying not to rest it but its very hard didn't realise how important thumbs are untill now!

[FarelyKnuts]

Yeah vital little digits aren't they?
Rest as much as you can. Hopefully nothing will show up after the next xray.

[Trudi3]

Amazing suggested misuse of A&E here, is it an 'emergency' NO, go to GP get xray card and go to xray dept. with it. No wonder our emergency rooms are overflowing with inappropriate patients.

[FarelyKnuts]

Think you will find it is Accident AND emergency Trudi. As Queenbee had been in a car ACCIDENT then it was hardly a misuse of the service!

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

Lots of people have massive problems getting appointments with a GP aswell, if you have a possible fracture then its best to go to AandE.

[badguider]

If i called my GP for an appointment with a suspected broken wrist they wouldn't see me - they'd send me to the minor injuries clinic or A&E.

[Queenbee245]

Trudi if you read my original post I think you'll find I was asking on here as I DIDN'T want to waste the drs time at A&E if it wasn't likely to be a fracture
And yes I did ring my GP and he advised me to go to A&E

[AwkwardPingu]

Trudi3. While I agree with you NHS services and A&E departments are stretched, your management of this patient is completely inappropriate. Believe me when I say, I more than most am frustrated by people who use the NHS services available inappropriately.

Most urban A&E departments are made up of at least minors and majors. Some larger city hospitals also have on-site GPs and also an Urgent Care centre. You are triaged and departmentalised as appropriate.

Some GP surgeries have a very long waiting period for appointments, if she waited, then saw the Dr who would undoubtedly send her to A&E but in the hypothetical scenario they did not. She would have an X-ray and provided nothing was wrong all would be fine. If there was a fracture then the patient has waited days and possibly weeks for something that could have been addressed within 4 hrs, the current target from see-to-discharge.

[AwkwardPingu]

Queenbee245 I am glad it worked out alright for you.