Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
rainbowsandraspberrygin · 04/10/2025 20:40

How are you doing OP??

Acommonreader · 04/10/2025 20:46

DiscoBob · 04/10/2025 10:37

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

To other people, yes it would be treated like an emergency. To horse people, this is just something that happens. Most of the time we are thrown from horses nothing breaks. And you can’t go to hospital cos you’ve got horses to look after!
Obviously that is not always the case. I don’t go to hospital after a fall unless I’ve lost consciousness or have extreme continuous pain. I am definitely not advising anyone do the same and I know it sounds odd to the non horsey ! Please call 111 OP .

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 04/10/2025 21:06

@OhShutUpThomas I wouldnt be surprised if you are unable to walk at all by tomorrow morning!!!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Sunshine78910 · 04/10/2025 21:09

I had a very similar experience after a car crash. Had never been seriously injured before and didn’t know how much pain was too much pain (it didn’t feel too bad to me). Ended up going to A&E two days later after calling 111 and had a broken neck. I’d recommend going in and getting checked out- definitely better safe than sorry!

Sunshine78910 · 04/10/2025 21:13

Forgot to say but I also had pins and needles!

ninjahamster · 04/10/2025 21:22

Any update?

Pollypolls · 04/10/2025 21:25

Crikey. I do think you need to be seen. Hope you’re ok!

DiscoBob · 04/10/2025 22:56

Acommonreader · 04/10/2025 20:46

To other people, yes it would be treated like an emergency. To horse people, this is just something that happens. Most of the time we are thrown from horses nothing breaks. And you can’t go to hospital cos you’ve got horses to look after!
Obviously that is not always the case. I don’t go to hospital after a fall unless I’ve lost consciousness or have extreme continuous pain. I am definitely not advising anyone do the same and I know it sounds odd to the non horsey ! Please call 111 OP .

Show quote history

I'm not horsey at all. But I have experience of what happens when someone falls from a similar height. And they did end up with several breaks and two litres of blood in one of their lungs. The latter nearly went unnoticed even though they were in a major trauma ward via resus! I am pretty shocked that a horsey person wouldn't consider it a major accident.

I hope it's nothing serious! X

cordeliabuffy · 04/10/2025 23:55

DiscoBob · 04/10/2025 22:56

I'm not horsey at all. But I have experience of what happens when someone falls from a similar height. And they did end up with several breaks and two litres of blood in one of their lungs. The latter nearly went unnoticed even though they were in a major trauma ward via resus! I am pretty shocked that a horsey person wouldn't consider it a major accident.

I hope it's nothing serious! X

Show quote history

Horse people are a bit like farmers
if one turns up at a&e without having been forcibly dragged there, even more so if they’ve abandoned whatever job they were doing, you panic

it’s very much
“there’s a farmer here”
”did anyone make him come?”
”nope, and he was in the middle of lambing”
start running as it’s bad!

I took my own boot off a broken ankle and foot just so they wouldn’t cut it

Weightlo55 · 05/10/2025 00:55

@OhShutUpThomas I hope you're ok?

Acommonreader · 05/10/2025 08:39

cordeliabuffy · 04/10/2025 23:55

Horse people are a bit like farmers
if one turns up at a&e without having been forcibly dragged there, even more so if they’ve abandoned whatever job they were doing, you panic

it’s very much
“there’s a farmer here”
”did anyone make him come?”
”nope, and he was in the middle of lambing”
start running as it’s bad!

I took my own boot off a broken ankle and foot just so they wouldn’t cut it

Show quote history

I was just going to comment the same ‘wait til you hear about farmers! ‘ 😆

Acommonreader · 05/10/2025 08:43

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.

I agree the OP should seek help but try to understand that no one goes to A and E every time they fall off a horse.

DorothyStorm · 05/10/2025 08:48

Acommonreader · 05/10/2025 08:43

I agree the OP should seek help but try to understand that no one goes to A and E every time they fall off a horse.

Show quote history

But op has symptoms of a serious injury. A&e is the eight place.

DiscoBob · 05/10/2025 09:55

cordeliabuffy · 04/10/2025 23:55

Horse people are a bit like farmers
if one turns up at a&e without having been forcibly dragged there, even more so if they’ve abandoned whatever job they were doing, you panic

it’s very much
“there’s a farmer here”
”did anyone make him come?”
”nope, and he was in the middle of lambing”
start running as it’s bad!

I took my own boot off a broken ankle and foot just so they wouldn’t cut it

Show quote history

I'm definitely in the wrong profession! They sound like superheros! Haha.

elliesmummy19 · 05/10/2025 16:25

I hope you’re ok, OP!

TenNineEightSeven · 05/10/2025 19:03

@OhShutUpThomas I've been thinking of you all weekend. Hope you're patched up and back home with lots of lovely pain relief.

Kazzy5055 · 05/10/2025 19:07

Please go to a and e especially if you have pins and needles as well. That fall will have made quite impact on your skeleton and internal organs. I would think you need a CT scan just to rule out anything more serious.

Words · 05/10/2025 19:28

God I hope you're ok OP. I can totally understand A and e reluctance. I have it too, for different reasons, but this sounded really bad. Like others am thinking about you.

ThroughTheRedDoor · 05/10/2025 20:44

Oh, no update? Hope it means op is fine!

Original poster
OhShutUpThomas · 06/10/2025 06:27

Hello, sorry for the slow update.
By the time I got to A&E the pain was quite bad but the pins and needles were worse. I didn’t have to wait at all, straight through and had a CT and MRI.

REALLY luckily there’s no serious damage. They think the pins and needles (still happening) are due to swelling compressing a nerve, and I’ll just have to wait until it all goes down a bit.

Huge relief! They did say I was very right to go in though.

OP posts:
Gizlotsmum · 06/10/2025 06:30

OhShutUpThomas · 06/10/2025 06:27

Hello, sorry for the slow update.
By the time I got to A&E the pain was quite bad but the pins and needles were worse. I didn’t have to wait at all, straight through and had a CT and MRI.

REALLY luckily there’s no serious damage. They think the pins and needles (still happening) are due to swelling compressing a nerve, and I’ll just have to wait until it all goes down a bit.

Huge relief! They did say I was very right to go in though.

Really glad no serious damage. Hope it mends soon

TenNineEightSeven · 06/10/2025 06:34

Thanks for coming back OP. As you say, what a relief! Hope you're on the mend soon.

lifeisgoodrightnow · 06/10/2025 08:58

That is such a relief xx

LittleYellowQueen · 06/10/2025 09:11

Acommonreader · 05/10/2025 08:43

I agree the OP should seek help but try to understand that no one goes to A and E every time they fall off a horse.

Show quote history

I'm not saying anyone needs to go to a and e every time they fall off. The fact that they don't seek medical attention is more to do with the fact that horse people can be pretty silly when it comes to falls , rather than the fact that people aren't injured by high velocity falls from a height, such as this one.

I've been around horses most of my life and if only i had a £ for the amount of times I've heard people who are clearly hurt getting back on, or being ordered to get back on (usually by brusque riding instructors with shouty voices) before actually assessing themselves properly. I did it myself as a teenager after being yelled at by the instructor and a back injury that could have got better after a few days ended up lasting months and needing physio. Physiotherapist told me off for getting back on. She said confidence is easier to fix than spines. That mindset of "get up, dust yourself off, get back on regardless" has a lot to answer to.

In any event, I'm glad you're ok op. Fingers crossed for a smooth recovery.

Weightlo55 · 06/10/2025 10:12

Glad you're ok @OhShutUpThomas