What have I done to my foot- very painful (picture)

[Neverletmego27]

I tripped over thin air after having pins and needles...landed on the side of my foot and now it's swollen up like a golf ball on the side. What have I done to it? Anything I can do to help it heal? I've got a 40 minute walk to school in the morning.

[Haggisfish]

I'd be getting a taxi for the school run! Might have just sprained it or damaged ligaments. Elevate and ice and anti inflammatories.

[NoelHeadbands]

Err I think you've broken it

[Haggisfish]

Seriously how far are you from nearest a and e?

[NoelHeadbands]

Sorry, to expand, my daughter had a similar looking 'golf ball' on her foot after a stumble. It was a broken bone

[absolutelynotfabulous]

Get an x-ray. Could be a sprain, could be a broken bone.

[PotteringAlong]

I also reckon you've broken that! My DH's looked like that! That's an A and E job I think.

[Hassled]

Well you won't be walking anywhere tomorrow. That needs to be seen (non-medical but bloody hell, just look at the picture). Who else can take the kids to school? In the meantime, ice and ibuprofen.

[trixymalixy]

I think it's broken! I would head to a&e!!

[Neverletmego27]

I'm a single mum, dd is in bed now. I didn't think it was broken! A n e in the morning I guess. It's very painful

[Neverletmego27]

I've borrowed some cash from a friend to get dd to school and then me to a n e in the morning. Thanks for your help mumsnet. I would never have guessed it was broken but I can feel things moving about in there! I think I have broken a bone!

[Hassled]

I think it might be useful at this stage to come up with a worst-case-scenario plan - if it is broken, you're going to need a longer-term arrangement for school runs etc. Do any friends live close who could help?

[Haggisfish]

Bleurgh-yes to making contingency plans.

[Neverletmego27]

I go to uni, so have a childminder part-time. Sure we can work something out there. I have good friends so i think I'll be Ok if it's broken.

[EugenesAxe]

It's PAD all over - pain, abnormality, deformity - so I'd say you've broken it.

I hope you haven't though.

[Haggisfish]

God, what a way to describe it!! Hope your abnormal, painful deformed foot allows you some sleep!!

[Neverletmego27]

Ha ha ! :D My friend says she thinks it's a torn ligament but only an x-ray will tell won't it?

[acatcalledjohn]

Might it be a ganglion? In the wrong place they can press on nerves and be agony.

[Neverletmego27]

I did it after a fall...fell backwards and landed on the side of my foot and heard a crunch so I doubt its anything long term like that - though it does look like it, I agree!

[trixymalixy]

My sister broke her foot stepping off a kerb and going over on her foot. It looked like your foot.

[Neverletmego27]

Oh dear . I think the general consensus on here is that it is broken. I really hope it isn't, I've got lots of things I need to do!

[Neverletmego27]

Well, the swelling has gone down (but it's still there) and I can't put my foot down with unbearable pain. I'm hopping everywhere! Time to go a n e I think....

[Haggisfish]

You definitely need to go to a and e, sooner rather than later in case it takes a while.

[kronenborg]

i'm afraid it looks rather like an avulsion fracture of the 5th metatarsal (typical for a foot inversion injury of the type you describe), but that can only be confirmed by an x-ray.

usually treated non-surgically, with a rather fancy immobilizing boot, with limited weight-bearing for 6 weeks.

given that you've been in no great rush to get to A&E (which is not a criticism, by the way), you might want to ring around local A&E departments to establish current waiting times before rocking up there, as you will likely be in for a long wait...

[Haggisfish]

Oooh, the descriptions get worse! My husband shattered his knee cap once and his knee was described as feeling 'boggy'. Boak!! Hope you get some decent pain relief and a definite diagnosis today.