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Original poster

When to go to A&E for ankle?

26 replies

MyMagicStars · 23/03/2019 23:05

I fell on my ankle yesterday when it completely gave way, as it has done before- but it has been agony since. I'm hypermobile so it tends to collapse once or twice a month very suddenly. I've never had this looked at. I can just about walk on it, and about an hour ago, I iced again it when sat next to DH on the sofa, and it's turned purple/black- but I can walk with it flat now, although it's still very sore. Would you ride it out or go to A&E in the morning? (Our minor injuries has no xray). I don't want to waste NHS resources if I can just about cope!

OP posts:
Yutes · 23/03/2019 23:06

Its not a waste of resources considering you only fell yesterday. A&e now

Hollowvictory · 23/03/2019 23:09

Go it may be broken. I've had busted ankles lots of times and they've never looked that bad I'm afraid to say.

Palominoo · 23/03/2019 23:10

That looks horrendous and is definitely worthy of a trip to hospital!

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LittleCandle · 23/03/2019 23:14

That could well be broken and should be x-rayed. Even if it is just a bad sprain, it'll do better with you on crutches and some decent support. I agree with PP - A&E now!

FaithInfinity · 23/03/2019 23:18

I’m a nurse and I think you should get seen. That’s a pretty intense bruise. A&E is appropriate since it was an accident and it probably warrants an X-ray so your minor injuries can’t help.

spugzbunny · 23/03/2019 23:21

That second bruise is pretty bad. I'd get it seen to. Wait till the morning though as A&E on a Saturday night will be horrible!

ProfessionalBarren · 23/03/2019 23:26

Have seen very similar before and it was broken OP. Please go to A and E when you can. I hope it feels better soon.

mcjx · 23/03/2019 23:27

Get it seen to, that is really badly bruised

FrankiesKnuckle · 23/03/2019 23:37

I had bruising like that - not a fracture but quite severe ligament damage.

A physio will not touch it until it has been x-rayed. I needed extensive physio on mine.

Go in the morning, as early as possible.

gamerchick · 23/03/2019 23:43

It needs an x-ray, go early tomorrow though. You may as well be more comfortable at home than sitting all night in a&e on a Saturday night.

dartitus · 23/03/2019 23:47

Bad sprain or not I’d definitely go a&e, always worth getting it looked at - if it’s broken and you don’t go it might not heal the same! Hope it’s not broken xx

Original poster
MyMagicStars · 24/03/2019 00:11

IN A and E now, X-ray department- thank you all! Not too bad for drunks so far, just praying it’s crutches and sent home.

OP posts:
QuaintDuck · 24/03/2019 00:14

Good luck! Hope you're out soon

PickAChew · 24/03/2019 00:32

That looks awful. Had similar and diagnosed with ligament tear. Took me so long to heal, and stop limping, i suspect it was more, so never to soon to visit, IMO.

SleepWarrior · 24/03/2019 00:35

Good luck, hope it's nothing serious.

SurgeHopper · 24/03/2019 00:48

Best of British ❤️🍷

Haggisfish · 24/03/2019 00:53

Hope it’s not as bad as it looks!😱

Original poster
MyMagicStars · 24/03/2019 01:25

We’re waiting after the X-ray- feeling very swollen indeed. Hoping that we’ll be seen soon. At least I’m getting a chance to read in sort of peace! Thanks for the kind wishes.

OP posts:
lilabet2 · 24/03/2019 01:35

If you can put weight on it then it's less likely to be broken but you'll know soon anyway!

YesQueen · 24/03/2019 01:42

I walked on a broken ankle for a week. Turned out to have a broken foot as well Blush
The x Ray came back just as I was saying I was going to get a drink and one of the staff "you're going nowhere until you've got a cast on!" Blush

Original poster
MyMagicStars · 24/03/2019 09:26

Now wearing a huge black boot until fracture clinic on Tuesday- they don’t know if what’s showing up on the X-ray is a new fracture or something old, so currently treating it like it’s broken, worse luck.

OP posts:
Original poster
MyMagicStars · 24/03/2019 13:31

Does anyone have any advice for getting up the stairs with the boot?

OP posts:
YahBasic · 24/03/2019 13:34

If it’s stairs at home, bum shuffle up backwards!

Whitelisbon · 24/03/2019 13:34

That looks sore, hope they've given you some good painkillers!
Easiest way to get upstairs is probably backwards on your bum, bad foot held out in front of you, and push up with your good foot and hands. Not very dignified, but easier than trying to hobble!

MitziK · 24/03/2019 14:00

I crawled up the stairs and went down them on my backside.

The boots are brilliant - if you can get along with it in preference to a hard cast (ie, the doctor is happy with that), stick with it. You might need to make sure your other shoe is relatively high to get your legs/hips level, as the uneveness of a shoe + boot can make your knees or hips hurt after a few weeks walking a bit wonky.

Ask for physio and go to every appointment without fail. Obviously, do all the exercises they tell you to do, even if they're uncomfortable. And look into getting more supportive footwear (possibly with orthotics) from now on, as you're a bit more prone to damaging them with 'normal' shoes than somebody who isn't hypermobile and doesn't have a history of injury.