To wonder if they could do more for my mothers "broken" foot.

[Lucyellensmum99]

My mum (75) has had pain and swelling in her foot, for nearly two weeks now - she is stubborn and i coudlnt get her to make appointment until Monday, when we took her to the local minor injuries. She was X-rayed and after initially the radiographer saying no fracture, the nurse practitioner said ther was a possible hairline fracture in her ankle (or that area, i cant remember if she specified). She said there was no mileage in putting it in a cast, offered my mum crutches (which the stubborn old bint refused - "too much to do" FFS!) advised her to rest it, elevate it when possible, put a packet of frozen peas on it.

My poor mum is really suffering, she is trying to put a brave face on, but i can see she is really struggling. She can only take paracetemol as she can't take anything else as she is on steriods (probably the reason for the break).

So, she has broken her foot, its bound to hurt, its not going to be better quicky, I don't honestly see what else they can do about it really, but im really worried - she is 75 and whilst normally very active, does have a long term medical condition that can lay her pretty flat, and could be life threatening if not managed. She looks ill, i think she is much more pain that she is letting on (she is VERY stubborn - wanted to walk to the minor injuries unit - err, only about three miles away!!) .

So not really saying that i don't feel enough has been done, because i dont see what else they can do, but WIBU to take her back to minor injuries and ask if there really isn't anything else to do?

It's up to her - all she has to do is be sensible and follow the advice. Maybe tell her That if she carries on the way she is she will become a burden and it's her responsibility to other people to look After herself and not wilfully wreck her health. It's the only argument that works with my mum.

I would settle her down with some tea and painkillers did they give you any , dd has a broken foot she was cast and is still in it weeks later If she doesnt need a cast she would be better without it , try and get her painkillers and maybe a heat pack so she can rest it with some heat it may not work but maybe make her feel better,

You can't drag her back and make her accept treatment though, she's a grown up. Just because she's infuriating you - it's her revenge for your teens I expect

I think heat is a no no mrsjay - i know it is bad for a sprain, having sprained both of my ankles at varying times (oh the pain!). No pain killers, i did ask, because she can't take NSAIDs so i was hoping they would give her something stronger but not nsaid based, but they said really it was just paracetemol. To be fair she would be a problem to get her to take them if they made her feel spaced at all.

purple - i'll let you come and tell her that shall i? my mum makes catherine tate's nana look like the head of the WI :) i'll just hide behind you! To be fair, she is following advice, in as much as she is resting it but that is only because i think it is hurting her too much to do more (or she would be walking ten miles a day!)

Will see how she goes over the weekend i think, but they did say to go back if she felt the need. Just don't see what else they can do.

Oh cant you put heat on a sprain cushion under her ankle and paracetamol it is then take their advice and if she is still in pain take her back they may strap it up for her,

Maybe they can strap her to the chair and make her rest it more like - "i would have thoguht it would be better by now" err, really???

I'm surprised they didn't strap it up. Maybe get one of those elastic bandages and do it yourself, and get her foot up on a cushion, paracetamol and teh cold pack on her ankle. She can't expect it to heal and feel better if she doesn't actually follow some advice and rest it with a cold pack on it. Tell her off for walking about

I cant see how they can do any more if she is refusing to do what they have already tried to advise..

The problem isnt them, it is your mum as you know, so I doubt anyone can offer much advice really.

I have a stubborn MIL who hates taking medical advice.

between your mum and no dishwasher lucy you are having a pretty rubbish week I find the older people get the more impatient they are,

oh the dishwashers been fooked for ages!

Take her to an A&E if not improving as "possible hairline fracture" covers rather a multitude of sins...was there a fall/other trauma to cause the problem?
Sometimes fractures are more obvious on repeated films.

so she phoned me, we were supposed to be taking her out today, "i can't go anywhere" "my foot is REALLY bad" Ok, i say, lets go to the Minor injuries again (i have NO chance of getting her to A&E!) No no, i dont want to go - "well its better at the weekend than DP having to take time out to take ou (self employed)" "I'll get a bus" FFS She wants to go to her GP because he will know what to do - her GP is USELESS and will send her away telling her to take ibruprofen, and then i'll say "oh but she cant take those" "oh yes, you're right" So now i have to go and take the dog out (i dont mind) and get her some dog biscuits (i dont mind, although i gave her a whole 7kg of dog food yesterday that my dogs wont eat - he doesn't like it) But she doent ask can i take the dog out "ive got to take the dog out yet AND walk up and get dog biscuits" NO mum, we will take the dog and then we will go and buy a bag of biscuits, and anything else you need, wont you please let us take you to the Minor injuries - its going to get worse if you don't. Puts phone down

GOD.GIVE.ME.STRENGTH!!!!!!

She doesn't need to go to minor injuries, they will just give her the same advice she has already been given.

If she won't take responsibility for herself then that's her own problem. The NHS can't help people who don't want to be helped and who are hell bent on making their injuries worse.

outraged is right let her just recover and try and not pander to her

I fail to see what else you want the staff to do.
They've done what they need to, told her to do what she needs to and she won't listen.

It is a waste of valuable NHS time for her to go back, only to be told the same thing again and it's not fair on other patients waiting who really do need the help.

She's old enough to live with the consequences of her actions, perhaps you should tell her that.

And I speak as somebody with a pedantic old father, to whom I often say the same!

I broke my foot when I was pg and treatment was much the same.
She has refused crutches, bit otherwise everything they can do is done (assuming she is icing and elevating it).
Its up to her to look after it really, and as an adult, its up to her to seek treatment if she sees fit, but there really is nothing to be done but rest and wait.

RICE

(rest, ice, compression, elevation)

And an NSAID if she can have them. The pharmacist can advise. There's nothing more the NHS can do! They're not her mother.

Er, that was unintentionally abrupt. Meant to say: It must be frustrating for you!

She also need to have REGULAR pain relief.
It's amazing how many grown adults think that 1 Paracetamol at bedtime will be enough to keep them pain free for the next 24 hours.
She should follow instructions on the pack but next time she complains of how painful it is, ask when she last took something for it.
As long as she doesn't have more than 8 Paracetamol in 24 hours she will be safe.
Injuries like this can take 6 - 8 weeks to heal so this will not get better overnight.
If she is aware of this time frame it may help to manage her expectations.
The crucial thing is - is it getting worse?
No better or just the same = continue as you are.
Worse = trip to minor injuries or GP.
(Lucy, you may think her GP's rubbish but she clearly has faith in him/her and that in itself can be helpful).

Winged, thankyou - that pretty much describes her, she thinks she can take the paracetemol and it lasts all day! I learnt when i had gallstones to take medication the MINUTE i was allowed to, you would think she would do the same. I guess it if was THAT painful she would go to A&E but like you all say, nothing really more to be done.

You can't force her to do anything but if it were my parent I would pay for a doctor rather than a nurse to check the x ray and decide.

Do doctors have better X-ray vision than nurses then?

The X-ray was checked by a nurse practioner , who are all but doctors within their speciality theodorakis. I take it you're not in the UK?

I pity you Op.
My late mother was equally stubborn, having an elderly parent is one of the hardest things imaginable, especially when they won't listen to a word you say.
No advice, just some sympathy here, all you can do is nag and even that doesn't always help.