to take DS for an X-ray

[newrecruit]

DS1 is 8 and has been sporadically complaining of a bad ankle for quite some time. I'd say at least 6 weeks.

It comes and goes and, if I'm honest, does seem to be worse when there's something he wants to get out of.

However, I do think it genuinely hurts. When I ask where it hurts he points to 3 points around his ankle bone (like a tall triangle with his ankle bone in the middle)

My options are

• ignore it, hope it gets better
• take him to the GP (who will either send me home or for an xray)
• take him to the minor injuries unit.

I feel like I'm wasting everybody's time but I would hate there to be an actual injury.

Take him to the GP. I have had the same thing and it's agony. It's sprained.

thank you. I will do that. Would it really come and go for weeks though?

Does he need a tubigrip?

You REALLY have to come on here and ask.......after 6 weeks of pain. FFS take him to the bloody doctor and stop stringing it out!!

Yes it does come and go and the GP told me this is due to swelling (not always visible) which is actually more painful than the original injury. Don't put a tubigrip on him...wait to see what GP says.

I have a permanent weak ankle because a sprain/minor fracture was ignored by my Mother, she was generally very lax about my health.

It's worth having it checked out.

Last Tango - it was more whether GP or minor injuries.

My reluctance so far has been a tendency for him to use when he wants to. For example, it doesn't bother him when he's tearing around the place in the park or playing football, but he wants a note to excuse him from the school walk.

He said he couldn't do sports day today because he couldn't walk on it. I said to see how it felt when he got to school. He came second in the obstacle race.

GP and press for an appointment at the fracture clinic.

Our minor injuries only xray on Wednesdays and send stuff off to be looked at so you still have to wait for results.

Well, if he's playing football when he wants and says it hurts when he doesn't want to do something I'd have called his bluff weeks ago.

Does it really MATTER whether it is the GP or minor injuries? Just get it done.

Things generally tend to hurt or feel worse when you have to do something you don't want to, it doesn't mean he is faking it.

I mean many people might take a day off work with a heavy cold, bad back, etc, but at the same time could probably still force themselves to a mates wedding or similar....

I can't believe you haven't had it checked out after 6 weeks.

Trip to minor injuries and an X-ray. Sprain - been told to keep walking on it to strengthen it and it should get better by itself.

Phew

Can I suggest you Google ankle exercises and encourage him to do some of those as well as walking on it? I sprained my ankle badly a few years ago, badly enough that it took almost 3 months to recover.

Recently I went over on my ankle and broke it. I have since been told that, if you have a sprain, it weakens the ligaments and leaves you at higher risk of more serious injury if you go over on it again. The right exercises strengthen it and reduce that risk

Thanks scousadelic, I will do that.

I had intermittent pains in my knee when I was younger. My mum eventually took me to the GP who announced that it was growing pains(!).

The pain continued into adulthood so I saw a physio who promptly diagnosed me with a birth defect in my hip which could have been improved somewhat if it had been diagnosed when I was younger. It's now something that I'm going to have to live with it for the rest of my life unless I undergo major surgery.

So.. if this continues to be an ongoing issue - it might be asking to see a physio (no referral needed for a private consult). They know a lot more than a GP about this kind of thing!

Also, check out his walk - does his ankle lean/roll inwards or outwards when he walks? He may simply need an orthotic insole.

Good luck :)

my son complained of sore feet for months and his toes began to swell up we checked his shoes everything was normal had an x-ray again normal to this day we have no idea why his big toe would suddenly swell up for no reason!

My son has this a lot and he is flat footed the poor soul (geddit!!)

Yes to a physio referal if he makes a habit of sprained anckles. Exercises helped both DSIS and DD1.