Looking for advice - DH injured himself and in pain

[Fucket]

Please if anyone is awake I’m looking for advice for my DH who is in agony. He fell over yesterday, hurt is hand, forehead, shoulder and he has an awful wound below the knee. He went to local MI unit and had X-ray, no broken bones but his leg has ballooned to twice the size it was before he went in. It has a dressing
Over the wound but looks like a very serious bruise has started to developed. Thankfully his head is not too bad his glasses took the brunt of the force and snapped in two but he’s had a nasty shock.

We have nothing for the pain except ibuprofen and paracetamol. He’s had both but he’s beside himself in agony. I’ve got some tramadol I was prescribed once (pleurisy) but got too scared to take them. Is there anyway to get proper medical advice now to see if he can take them? Is that what 111 is for?

Poor DH is in more pain now than 12 hours ago when he went to MI so never asked about painkillers as was coping on ibuprofen.

Also do you think this pain is right or should he be going back down there? It’s just the long wait on uncomfortable chairs not being able to rest his leg up will not help him either.

I was thinking of going to chemist in the morning and getting advice on tramadol because he takes other medication and don’t want to give it him if it could interact with his medication (statins and blood pressure meds - he has a genetic heart condition linked to cholesterol and has just been told about the blood pressure recently another family trait). But poor DH is really suffering now with his leg.

We have 3 small kids and one has Covid so I can’t go in with him to Hospital/ MI unit .

Thanks to anyone awake who can help offer advice.

I'm sorry OP. That sounds like it needs to be checked as it could be an infection but if you're not sure could you call 111?

Sorry to read what you have said about your DH. You need to call 111. They will ask a doctor to call him and speak to him if necessary. I wouldn't wait until later on in the morning, he's clearly in pain.

He needs to go back

Ok thanks guys I will get him to call 111 now.

The leg swelling could be a DBT/blood clot on the leg brought on by the trauma, definitely phone for advice

DVT *

i would buy some cocodymol

You would not be allowed in MIU with him, btw, since he's not a vulnerable person. I'm amazed I was allowed to stay with young teen DS when he broke his hand recently.

Please update us.

Just how swollen I'm struggling to believe twice the size if true, he needs to get advice ASAP.

which bit is hurting -- the leg?
Can he walk on it?

Soft tissue injuries (like tendons & ligaments) are often worse than breaks, and can't be detected on xrays.

If in any doubt, go back.

Any better, fucket?

He definitely needs to be seen again if he’s in that much pain. Could be infected or a blood clot. Don’t give him the Tramadol as it hasn’t been prescribed for him.

Agree that he needs/needed to go back. Hopefully you've been able to get some progress on this since you posted.

If it's swollen, try to get him to lie down and elevate the leg so that his leg is higher than his heart is, so prop it up on pillows. Also if you have an ice pack (or if you don't a bag of frozen peas/veg) apply that to the swollen area to bring down the swelling.

Remember, if you have a sprain - RICE
R = rest (don't use the limb if you can help it)
I = ice (apply an ice pack to the sprain)
C = compression (so long as you're able to withstand the pressure, apply compression)
E = Elevate (raise the limb to a comfortable height, usually on cushions or a pillow when the patient is lying down)