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Original poster

Hurt my ankle on holiday wwyd

129 replies

Ankleidiot · 12/03/2025 19:44

I am in a very big EU city with my DC and I tripped over and have badly sprained my ankle. I am not letting my DC know quite how bad it is, but I heard a loud pop when I did it, it’s incredibly swollen and painful so I am prepared it’s a bad sprain that will take a while to heal.

I’ve been to a pharmacy and am treating it myself (RICE method) as best I can in a hotel. I don’t have long of my trip left so I can sort the longer term ankle situation out when I get home so I am trying to suck it up as unfortunate. I am insured but I do not want to ruin my DC’s trip by spending all day in a medical facility sorting out an ankle sprain, or not being able to get out and about anywhere on our last day. However I can’t walk very far. I don’t think going to get medical help will change that either, they are just going to tell me to rest it. Rock and hard place.

I have a metro card to get about. Any suggestions of how to enjoy a city break without being able to walk very much? 😞 Put it this way, until I hurt it we could easily walk more than 10 miles a day sightseeing, and we do not have the money left to get taxis everywhere. We have 8 hours between checking out of our hotel and our flight!

OP posts:
NCIRL · 12/03/2025 19:54

How old are your DC that you think they won't care you're hurt?
Tell them it hurts, surely they'll notice you're in pain when you're walking?
How are you planning to get to the airport? You'll need to allow a lot of extra time to hobble on the metro and through the airport. Go straight there after checking out, sit down and put it up. Bribe the kids - screens, sweets, games, whatever.

SeaToSki · 12/03/2025 19:55

How old are the dc?

Can you find somewhere to buy a walking stick

If the dc are old enough I would get to a cafe in a central place and send dc off to walk loops to see things and then report back to me

Are you SURE its not broken as any walking on that is a bad idea

BuddhaAtSea · 12/03/2025 19:57

How do you know it’s sprained and not broken?

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General health
Pineapplewaves · 12/03/2025 20:01

Take your GHIC/EHIC card and go to the nearest medical centre for tourists/visitors. Or call your travel insurance emergency helpline and ask them where you can go for medical treatment. Medical care in some EU can be very good and quick especially if your travel insurance agrees to you seeing a private doctor. If it was one of your children you would get help, so get help for yourself.

LIZS · 12/03/2025 20:02

How old is dc? Any museums or galleries with appropriate activities where you can sit and supervise, trams or boats you can ride around on

Original poster
Ankleidiot · 12/03/2025 20:03

I don’t know it’s not broken but I can weight bear on it to some degree. It was an ankle twist and I heard a pop and it seems quite ligament related from what I have read online about breaks and sprains. They don’t even put breaks into casts a lot of the time now. I have a compression garment from the pharmacy and when I put this on it really helps stabilise the ankle for a little while and I can walk so I have been stop starting.

It swelled up immediately on the ankle bone area and kind of across the top, the swelling is all around my ankle like a bracelet! and bruising is spreading up my outer calf. I can bend and move it to some degree, the bend I can’t do is pointing my toes down when I am sitting with my leg out straight.

its just me and one DC so we are each others company

OP posts:
Original poster
Ankleidiot · 12/03/2025 20:05

Pineapplewaves · 12/03/2025 20:01

Take your GHIC/EHIC card and go to the nearest medical centre for tourists/visitors. Or call your travel insurance emergency helpline and ask them where you can go for medical treatment. Medical care in some EU can be very good and quick especially if your travel insurance agrees to you seeing a private doctor. If it was one of your children you would get help, so get help for yourself.

I left the EHIC card at home! I have insurance. Can you get your EHIC number from anywhere else? I really don’t want to go to a medical facility I feel like this is ruining my DC’s trip 😞

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 12/03/2025 20:06

OP, gently, kindly, you're being a bit silly!

How old is the DC? I know that mine would treat the getting medical treatment as a bit of an adventure! It seems pretty bad and like you should be seen to...

Original poster
Ankleidiot · 12/03/2025 20:07

My partner at home does tend to think I am a drama queen. I am also worried about if the insurance messes me about and doesn’t pay, and I very stupidly forgot my EHIC

OP posts:
TheOverstuffedWalrus · 12/03/2025 20:09

How old is the DC? Child or adult?

Look, whether you get it seen or not before you're home is up to you. Weigh up the risk of unwittingly doing further damage over doing it if it turns out you actually have really damaged or broken it, and the impact that will have in the weeks to come. But, you are not going to be able to suck it up and continue as you were. Brave face, yes, extra treats in cafes etc, yes. Give yourself loads of time to travel. The rest really does depend on the age of your child, have they realised how much you've hurt yourself?

MinecraftnotMeinCraft · 12/03/2025 20:10

You can apply for a PRC

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad/get-temporary-cover-emergency-treatment-abroad-provisional-replacement-certificate

I also was allowed to just show a photo of the card in Spain when I forgot it.

TheOverstuffedWalrus · 12/03/2025 20:10

As for insurance messing you around - yes they can be bastards I know that. But the only time I've had to use it abroad I handed over the policy details at the medical centre and it was easily sorted there and then no drama.

Do you actually have an EHIC or insurance?

possumtea · 12/03/2025 20:11

Can you fly if it's broken? Isn't that dangerous?
I think you need to get it seen to while you're there. Sounds painful and frustrating, I feel for you.

whirlyhead · 12/03/2025 20:11

A few years ago I broke my foot on my first day of a two week holiday. I didn’t want to wreck the trip so I just limped around for the rest of the time wearing flip flops as nothing else would go over my black and blue foot, then went to hospital when back home.

so you’re not the only silly sod who doesn’t want to waste their time abroad going to the doctor!

just watch out for the flight - I was in agony when I got home and got no sleep which is what made me go to the hospital the next day. The doctor who saw couldn’t quite believe I’d been walking around for two weeks on it...

BobbyBiscuits · 12/03/2025 20:13

Could you rent a mobility scooter? I think you can have a passenger on the back of some of them too so your daughter might find it a bit novel and fun, rather than upsetting?

Mrsgreen100 · 12/03/2025 20:16

If you have medical insurance, it would be much better to get it x-rayed and looked at while you were abroad. You have to wait for months in the UK.

LooeLooe · 12/03/2025 20:16

Could you have ruptured your achilles? That makes a sound when it goes (and is v painful).

MolluscMonday · 12/03/2025 20:16

Yeah, I think you’ve broken your ankle!

If you really won’t go get medical attention, is there anywhere you can buy a stick/boot/crutches?! Maybe there’s a MNer near you who could advise if you say where you are?

Ilovemyshed · 12/03/2025 20:18

In answer to your original question, do a sightseeing bus or boat trip.

Original poster
Ankleidiot · 12/03/2025 20:19

If they fitted me with a cast, no I don’t know if I would be able to fly I have no idea?

I am flying home tomorrow night. I don’t have a cast on now so assume I can fly? I really just want to go home and sort it out at home because I am going home in less than 24 hours. I was planning on going straight to get it looked at when I get back.

Adult DC and yes they know it hurts they are not blind but I am not being as honest as I am on this post

I have insurance. I also do have an EHIC but it’s at home and I can’t find a photo of it. I have seen there is a link to get a temporary one.

I will get some sleep and see how it is tomorrow? I really don’t want a massive over reaction about a swollen ankle it could just be a sprain

OP posts:
Original poster
Ankleidiot · 12/03/2025 20:21

Mrsgreen100 · 12/03/2025 20:16

If you have medical insurance, it would be much better to get it x-rayed and looked at while you were abroad. You have to wait for months in the UK.

We have a minor injuries unit near where we live so it’s all done at the same time the xray and examination.

OP posts:
Ritzybitzy · 12/03/2025 20:22

Mrsgreen100 · 12/03/2025 20:16

If you have medical insurance, it would be much better to get it x-rayed and looked at while you were abroad. You have to wait for months in the UK.

You absolutely do not wait months for a possible break!

RedRiverShore5 · 12/03/2025 20:23

Have you got some comfortable shoes to wear which accommodate the swelling, I found Crocs were the best when I badly sprained my foot. At least it is at the end of the holiday

Muchtoomuchtodo · 12/03/2025 20:23

Lots of pharmacies abroad sell crutches. I’d get a pair to minimise any further damage until you get checked back in the UK

RedRiverShore5 · 12/03/2025 20:24

I also think a stick or crutch will help a lot if you can get one