How long should I leave a painful ankle?

[bradsmissus]

DS nearly 5 has just been picked up from a party with a bouncy castle. He apparently jumped off and his ankle started hurting. He cried alot which is unlike him, he doesn't often make a fuss when he is hurt. He sat for the last hour of the party and limped over to me when I arrived. Now he won't put his foot to the floor and says it hurts when he moves it.

It isn't swollen or discoloured and it looks the same as the other ankle.

I'm wondering how long I should leave it and when/if I should take him to A&E?

DH due home at 5 - can I leave it that long or is it always better to be safe and get it checked?

Am talking myself round on circles and don't know what to do!!!

[LilRedWG]

Hmm. If DS's reacion is unusual for him, ie, if he's not normally a drama queen, then I'd be tempted to take him to A&E now to get him checked out.

[LilRedWG]

Actually a Minor Injuries unit would probably be better and less stessful.

[bradsmissus]

Thanks LilRed. I have just phone the MI unit and they advise A&E because they have no xray equipment.

I will take him, just tried to get him to stand up and he cired as soon as his toes touched the floor.

Might pack a picnic incase of a long wait!!

[LilRedWG]

Good luck. I hope he is feeling better soon. Let me know how he gets on.

[Miggsie]

He could have a "green fracture". My niece had one for some days saying it hurt a bit without any external sign of injury!

An xray showed it up and she had to rest for a few days.

She was prone to them, some children are apparently, so may be worth getting checked out.

[bruxeur]

Greenstick, not green.

All children are.

What use is a MIU without XRay?

It sounds like a bad sprain or a fracture, if he's not weightbearing then he ticks the Ottowa guidelines for an XR to confirm or rule out.

HTH!

[bradsmissus]

Hi all, we are back from A&E. They think he has torn the ligaments in his foot. It did improve during the hour we were waiting.

They didn't xray though. 3 people looked at it including a passing paediatric consultant.

Has to walk on it as much as he can but have been warned it will be more painful in the mornings.

Glad I went - thanks for the advice.

[LilRedWG]

Ouch. Hope it gets better quickly.