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

[OhShutUpThomas]

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?

If someone has a fall from 15ft at speed that would be classed as a category one emergency I think? Like if they fell out of a window or something. Due to the danger of internal damage/bleeding.

Having said that you aren't really acting like someone gravely injured. But it's better to be safe than sorry. You do hear of people with blood slowly filling their lungs or damage to internal organs that you wouldn't know about without a scan.

I think you should go. Wishing you very well x

How does someone who is badly injured act? Is there a standard response?

My former boss had a car accident, went home with a sore neck from whiplash, and woke up feeling worse - long story short she had broken her neck and was millimetres and one sharp head turn from being paralysed.

Please go to hospital. Don't make the mistake of thinking that anything else - elderly people included - is more important than your health. And definitely don't drive yourself; too much turning required.

Definitely A&E.

For those suggesting minor injuries, a family member has been before to get a head wound dressed after being knocked over by a horse. Once she described what happened, they strapped her to a neckboard and arranged an ambulance to drive her to A& E.

Get to A and E, preferably by ambulance although not sure what the wait time might be.

The shock and adrenaline probably carried you through yesterday.

Keep very still.

I am amazed how nonchalant you're being. All the best

Ex medic here, though not a&e…

Yes. That mechanism of injury coupled with your pain and especially your pins and needles warrants imagine. I’m glad you’re going.

Go straight away you never know what damage was done, had you a riding helmet on

I hope you do get there asap.

Hope you get seen soon, better blimmin safe than sorry.

Same thing happened my friend, she was in a car accident and was so drunk she went home to bed and didn’t get help until the following day, her mother was so furious with her regarding the car that she would not bring her and made her catch a bus to hospital. She said she was waiting ages for an xray and suddenly there was about 8 people around her, she had broken her neck.

she is fine now btw!

@3luckystars omg her mother must have felt like shit!

Go to A and e.
and don’t be stoical and brave. Exaggerate pain if needs be. Given what you’ve said

i have twice attended a and e as a middle age women, being stoical , and been sent on my way without x-Ray, and “ it’s a sprain”. Both injuries took weeks of pain for them to eventually be diagnosed as fractures. In one case the physio who saw me eventually, took one examamination and sent me with note to A and E that essentially said “bloody x Ray her this time “. The second time I had to go private to get a weight bearing mri that found two metatarsals broken. That was 10 weeks after the injury. I have bent toes and had huge pain walking for 2 years .

next time I know to cry and wail 🥴😳

a+e - mechanism of injury and pins and needles.

Speaking as a former stable hand, and related to an ex-paramedic, you absolutely do need to go to A&E. The pins & needles are particularly worrying.

And what part of A&E do you not understand?

Pins and needles is a huge red flag for spinal cord compression ( don’t ask how I know) get to a and e immediately

No, but I'd imagine they'd complain of things like severe pain somewhere, fatigue, difficulty breathing etc. Normal day to day things becoming difficult.

But as I said, she should go in simply because of the height of her fall. As you can't tell.

Pins and needles on BOTH sides is a real concern and suggests you need imaging as soon as possible. I would go to ED.

The A in A&E us for accident, which is what has happened.
Go.
Friend of mine broke their back in a similar scenario. It hurt but 'not badly'. If they'd managed to get the click out of it that they felt they needed (before reluctantly going to be checked) they'd have been paralysed.

Putting off a visitor is a small issue. Irreparable damage to your neck or back is not.

I was pacing up and down outside a&e, scrolling on here and having a vape
needed emergency spinal surgery

Hope you're ok OP.

My daughter was recently thrown off her horse and landed on her head! Thankfully she's ok now and nothing was broken and she's back riding 😂 (as horse people are crazy) but it was very scary! We were taken to hospital by ambulance and she was very sore for awhile afterwards, but all ok now 👍

Yeah, exactly. It's really difficult to tell with some things. So it's best to go in if you know you've had a big fall.

I hope you're alright now? X

Did you get seen @OhShutUpThomas?

Hope you're ok!

@OhShutUpThomas how are you?

Fellow horse rider here so I understand that we frequently just deal with this without seeking help ! The pain I’d personally ignore on day two ( not saying this is advisable) but the pins and needles is a worry. Call 111.