Fall on outstretched arm

[Kaylasmum49]

I'm on holiday in Turkey atm, about an hour ago I fell and landed on my arm. I have very severe pain from my wrist to my shoulder. I'm concerned that I might have broken it. Any medical people about with advice about what I should do?

[INeedNewShoes]

I am not medical but I know of two different people who have broken their shoulder falling over and putting their arm out to save themselves.

I think you'll have to get it x-rayed.

Have you got travel insurance?

[Kaylasmum49]

Yes we have travel insurance, I will have to wait until tomorrow though.

[lovelilies]

If you think you've damaged it it will need seeing by a dr/nurse.
Take some painkillers and sleep if you must wait until the morning (are the hospitals not 24h?)

[MadameJosephine]

Go to a hospital? Why would you not go if you think you’ve broken your arm?

[cheeseislife8]

Poor you, I've done that falling up the stairs (really!). Go get it checked out!

[Kaylasmum49]

Madame josephine, because I am in a foreign country and I have no clue where the hospital is. I also have two children one of which suffers from extreme anxiety and is autistic.

[Gingernaut]

Yes, it's possible you've broken something.

A Fall On Out Stretched Hand (FOOSH) break is very common.

How do you come to be in a country where you can't find your way around?

[Kaylasmum49]

I haven't been here before. Why would I know my way around?

[MadameJosephine]

But surely if you have internet signal you can google where the local hospital is? I appreciate your circumstances make it more difficult but if you genuinely think it might be broken you need to be seen by a medical professional

[stillmoving]

OP, use google.

[tryingtobebetterallthetime]

A fall on outstretched hand is a classic mechanism for a Colles fracture of the wrist. It is a fracture of the radius, one of the forearm bones. I'm not a doctor but have some training in this area, and what you describe could well be one of these fractures. What a nuisance and pain for you.

I would suggest you find a way to get it looked at. If it is a fracture the pain will ease quite a bit once it is immobilized. Good luck with it.

[runoutofnamechanges]

It's very likely that you have broken it - as Gingernaut says, FOOSH injuries are very common. You really ought to go to A&E now, however difficult that is. You can make it a whole lot worse by leaving it untreated.

In particular, if you get pins and needles or any signs of shock - clamminess, rapid pulse or breathing, dizziness/fainting, nausea, vomiting, weakness, enlarged pupils - you should go immediately.

[bananaskin123]

My DH did this and he had a fractured humerus. Hope you have found an A&E and you aren't in too much pain now.