Would you drive 22 miles to the minor injuries unit?

[Thecomfortador]

On Friday night I rolled my ankle coming down some caravan steps. Falling with style and grace does not cover it... Anyway, ankle is swollen and bruised, and mobility of the joint is limited, possibly due to the swelling but I'm not sure. I can't extend my foot in a ballet manner as I normally could but can wriggle toes etc.

It's not particularly painful and I can limp around on it. Aware that I need to rest and support it and a sprain could take a couple of weeks to heal. But I'm concerned that I heard something 'go' when I fell. Not sure I'd describe it as a crack as such, but it was something. Or was it one of the bags I was carrying? I don't know.

Nearest minor injuries is 22 miles away - would you make the journey, bearing in mind as it's still holidays I'd probably have to leave DS's with dad who is working from home? Doesn't feel fair on them for confirmation that I did indeed hurt myself / yes it's a sprain or yes you've cracked the bone? What would they do there? I can't decide!

Google Ottawa ankle rules. If that suggests you score an xray then I’d go to mi at opening time in the morning.

I did an almost identical thing a little while back and it turned out there was a deep fracture right above my instep.

They plastered my leg right up to the knee for a week, then I had to wear a moon boot for a few weeks after that.

I could also wiggle my toes and move my foot up and down, even though the fracture was right at the bit that moves.

I'd get it checked out OP.

Well you shouldn't drive yourself so on that alone no.

It's not life or death so just RICE it and ibuprofen for the swelling and see how it is tomorrow I wouldn't go now they are unlikely to have the facilities open a this time to treat you if you need an xray and will tell you to come back in the morning.

I would ring up tomorrow if I could find the number and see if they do have an x-ray machine and if not go to a A&E if I still can't weight bear properly.

Oh gosh, that's horrifying TheClawDecides. It begs the question how would I get home if they strap it up. DP doesn't drive so I have to get myself there, I suppose I could taxi (cries at the thought).

Thanks olderbutwiser, I'll test the pains in the morning according to Ottawa, hadn't heard of that before.

Ah yes, it wouldn't be open now anyway, I'm off Thursday so either tomorrow after work or Thurs. Trying to avoid A&E as I've had a couple of trips there this year and don't want to get a reputation. But yes I take the point about not being able to drive there. I'll bang some tablets and assess in the morning.

I wouldn't

I turned my ankle a few years ago. I opted for the typical “it’s just a sprain, get on with it” response, strapped it up and took painkillers.

When it was still a bit swolllen and discoloured 8 weeks later, and I still couldn’t comfortably walk on uneven surfaces, I saw a physio who said “yeah that’s not meant to look like that by this stage”.

So I went for an ultrasound and mri which showed I had broken a bone. I eventually had surgery to put my ankle back together again after 8 months of walking around quite gingerly on it and I have 5 scars of various sizes and shapes on my foot and ankle.

Upshot of this story is I’d say it’s probably best to get it checked out although I’m sure it’ll wait til tomorrow.

It might still be too early for an X-ray if you’re very swollen.

I had two X-rays, an ultrasound, weeks of physio, an MRI and eventually a CT scan to find out I’d broken my ankle. By that time I’d been hobbling about on crutches with my “sprain” for three months and the break had healed itself.

It was missed because I’d had two sets of X-rays while I still had a lot of swelling and they couldn’t see anything.

You won’t get a reputation if you go to A&E again, if there is an A&E significantly closer than 22 miles I would go there.

Even tho I think going 22 miles is a major pain in the arse, I would probably advise you to get it checked out, cos even if you can handle the pain and limp about for the foreseeable, if it is seriously injured it may not heal correctly without intervention, and you may find it causes issues for way longer than it should.
Sorry you’re going thru this, OP - I hope you can get it looked at and I hope it’s a simple fix and you’re back up on your feet in no time 😊🙏🏼

Ah I might give it a few days to see if the swelling reduces - happy to do that and see how it all is then. Might get dp booked for an emergency driving test and see if he can actually help out (joke). But thanks all for the stories and advice it's helpful.

😱 that sounds horrifying! I hope you’re better now! Jeeez, guess that’s what you get for being brave and trying to tough it out 😰

Personally no. I would rest, ice, get a compression bandage and elevate. And see how it goes.

@Taluulaah thanks - it’s mostly all sorted now.

As a child I was told off for wasting doctors time whenever I was ill and I think as women our pain is sometimes not taken seriously. So, I probably have a slightly warped view of how much pain I should be in before it justifies bothering a medical professional.

I would definitely go and get that checked.

RICE.
And keep the ice going.
I’ve done similar a few times over the years.
First, didn’t go to A&E for two weeks. Break. Plastered to my knee for another two weeks.
Second went to A&E, sprain.
Third used ice continuously for 12 hours and could then weight bear, sort of. Kept going with the ice and recovered within a few days.

Hey, OP - how’s the ankle? Hope you’re doing better. Fingers crossed for you things have eased and you’re be back up on your feet in no time! 💐