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Original poster

Would you go to A&E? A&E staff views particularly welcome!

126 replies

OhShutUpThomas · 04/10/2025 07:28

Yesterday I was thrown (literally!) from my horse. A spectacular leap and flick, meaning that I was launched from about 12-15’ in the air and landed on my lower back in sort of a half sit-up position.

After a while I managed to get back on and ride home, I was about a mile away, no signal and didn’t feel I could walk that far.

I managed to get through yesterday, make tea etc fold washing. It is obviously very sore but I can technically do stuff.

I’m aching from my lower back/pelvis, and also up through my neck and back of my head. I’ve had a few instances of mild pins and needles in arms/hands but nothing horrendous.

What’s worrying me is the tales you hear of missed fractures. I’d think I would be in agony then but I know people it’s happened to who weren’t. Also I have a high pain threshold and animals that need looking after.

WWYD?

OP posts:
PortSalutPlease · 04/10/2025 09:02

With that mechanism of injury you should definitely be seen, and you should have gone yesterday!

carpedaim · 04/10/2025 09:06

YelloDaisy · 04/10/2025 08:28

Go to A/e -you can always exaggerate how much more painful it is but I don’t think you’ll need to, but you need properly examined

Why would anyone exaggerate their pain?! Confused

Original poster
OhShutUpThomas · 04/10/2025 09:07

I’ve managed to get sorted with cover from lunchtime so I’ll stay as still as I can until then and then go. Literally the best I can do at the moment. I’ll update - thank you

OP posts:

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General health
AutieAdult · 04/10/2025 09:07

OhShutUpThomas · 04/10/2025 08:43

Thanks all. I have a lot on today which technical can’t be cancelled, but I’ll see what I can do/how helpful husband will be.
It’s much worse now I’m up ☹️

If you have a spinal injury not treated your DH will have to be very “helpful” to someone paralysed.
The technical bit you need is doctors and radiology/CT

Seen the update, will you actually be able to do the things that must be vital?

shitshow1976 · 04/10/2025 09:16

Morning! As a senior A+E Sister I would recommend you attend especially with the tingling in your hands! Mechanism of the fall is significant enough that we would CT scan you and we certainly would not be dismissive! Hope you get sorted

ConkersEverywhere · 04/10/2025 09:20

AutieAdult · 04/10/2025 09:07

If you have a spinal injury not treated your DH will have to be very “helpful” to someone paralysed.
The technical bit you need is doctors and radiology/CT

Seen the update, will you actually be able to do the things that must be vital?

Edited
Show quote history

This OP.

Don't be daft, nothing is more important than getting checked out today.

I'll expand on my experience - in a neck brace for months, then months of physio once I was out of the other side, xrays to check progress so frequently that the radiologist overruled the consultant and refused to do them after a certain point because I'd had so many.

None of that fitted in with my life plans or was terribly convenient, but it was required.

My accident was not long after Christopher Reeve broke his neck so the potential consquences of this sort of accident was not something people weren't aware of.

Appleseason · 04/10/2025 09:22

Definitely a&E. i did similar many years ago and I had fractured my L4 and 5.

Ladybugheart · 04/10/2025 09:22

wheresmymojo · 04/10/2025 07:30

Go to your local minor injuries walk in clinic instead? It’s not an emergency if it’s 24 hours later…

It's still an accident through, if you're being pedantic

Allthemissingsocks · 04/10/2025 09:25

Having had spinal fractures twice, I can confirm it’s definitely possible to function and you should go to A&E even if you feel okayish. I could walk with 50% cord compression and I felt like a total fraud in A&E as I felt largely fine after painkillers. I ended up in hospital for a week and in a brace for 3 months and my mechanism of injury wasn’t as dramatic as yours (bike not horse). Best of luck! I hope all is well.

Original poster
OhShutUpThomas · 04/10/2025 09:32

Thank you. The kids are doing the animals, I have an elderly visitor at 11 who will be very distressed and not understand change of plans now, I just literally need to be present for their short visit, and delegate jobs to the kids. My husband is coming home but can’t physically get here before 12 so I’ll go then and be very careful until then. Thanks all, v much!

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/10/2025 09:32

Being thrown and landing sort of sitting puts a massive impact in your spine , from your coccyx upwards .
You'd think "oh that was lucky , landing on my bum. soft landing ." but even if you're lucky enough not to fracture anything , the discs would be crushed between ( and you have what sounds like nerve entrapment or injury )

rainbowunicorn · 04/10/2025 09:41

wheresmymojo · 04/10/2025 07:30

Go to your local minor injuries walk in clinic instead? It’s not an emergency if it’s 24 hours later…

Rubbish. Of course it can be an emergency 24 hours later. She may well have broken her spine.

rainbowunicorn · 04/10/2025 09:46

Jellybunny56 · 04/10/2025 08:16

I’d seek medical advise but not A&E- over 24 hrs later this isn’t an emergency, it’s a “seek advice and if they think you need it you’ll be sent for an xray” situation

Nonesence. A&E is absolutely appropriate for this. She has had an accident. There is potentially a serious spinal injury. Her pain is worsening and she is getting pins and needles, pointing to nerve damage. There is a high likelihood she could have a spinal fracture.

Deanefan · 04/10/2025 09:50

Jellybunny56 · 04/10/2025 08:16

I’d seek medical advise but not A&E- over 24 hrs later this isn’t an emergency, it’s a “seek advice and if they think you need it you’ll be sent for an xray” situation

And the place where one gets “advice and if they think you need it …” With a mechanism of injury compatible with a potential spinal injury that place is in fact A&E/ED call it what you will. It would be a very brave doctor that did not image the spine,no matter what the examination findings, with that history/description of the events.

Appleseason · 04/10/2025 09:52

Dont do any bending or lifting of anything until you get seen. If it is a fracture you will want to stay as still as possible until it can be stabilised

Tiswa · 04/10/2025 09:53

Isitmybathtimeyet · 04/10/2025 08:29

The A of A&E isn’t just decorative.

Show quote history

Exactly

OP you had an accident so please go and get checked out as you have some symptoms that need to be checked and the sooner the better

Sillysaussicon · 04/10/2025 09:57

Nurse here, yes I would say A&E. You need to be checked out and I imagine only A&E is going to have the facilities and specialists to do that for you. urgent care would probably refer you there anyway because horse related falls can be unpredictable and serious and you know and would want to play it safe.

Allthemissingsocks · 04/10/2025 10:05

I would also say that that most MI units won’t deal with back/spinal injuries, so don’t waste the time.

Mmmcheese89 · 04/10/2025 10:06

Just wanted to say you were right in needing a full A&E, not minor injuries. Head/neck and spine wont be death with at MI/UTC.

I make these referrals all day as my job so I'm not misinforming. X

SullysBabyMama · 04/10/2025 10:07

I don’t work in A and E but I do work in a hospital with an A and E department, and I have close friends with horses.
You need to go to A and E.
It was an accident…. Which is in the name. It’s fine. You are fine. Please go.

LittleYellowQueen · 04/10/2025 10:09

You were pretty foolish not to seek help as soon as you got home, to be honest. You could have done all sorts of damage.

LunaTheCat · 04/10/2025 10:12

GP here .. the tingling arms are scary. I would call an ambulance. I would lay flat on the floor until arrives
It will probably be ok but the risk is not worth it.

ratinamustardhat · 04/10/2025 10:23

OP, I was you, last month. I thought it was muscle strain and carried on for 4 days. Nipped into the pharmacy, who immediately sent me to the GP, who called an ambulance.

A&E sent me straight to the front of the queue. Even then, I thought it was a fuss about nothing and I just needed some painkillers.

It was a fracture and they were really, really concerned about pins and needles. I had a barrage of tests, including seeing the surgical team, orthopaedics and x-ray. Then a CT scan.

It never occurred to me that it could be serious.

Please, please don't wait.

Nannyfannybanny · 04/10/2025 10:24

The A in A and E , isn't decorative,it hasn't been called that for 20 years, it's ED, Emergency dept with minor and majors. Worked there 5 years, also had spectacular horsey fall,in the middle of Exmoor, meant to be a gentle walking jack, I told the farm we'd only been riding 6 weeks. She asked if we wanted to canter, didn't even trot. DD horse threw her,I got my feet out of my stirrups to go to her, mine bolted , the farm dog was running round it's legs. We were a very long way from hospital. Went to a local GP, concussion, didn't even know my name. This was many years ago and was told this year,it could have an impact on my tinnitus and hearing issues now.

Nannyfannybanny · 04/10/2025 10:26

Walking trot,I didn't type jack.

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