As a middle aged mother of 6, I've never been to A&E, dont know if I should go today?

[PeppasNanna]

More of a WWYD then AIBU, Sorry!
I think I've broken my finger. I hit it off a door frame last night. Instantly I had a searing pain in my hand.

Went to bed got up this morning to a swollen, blue & very sore finger.
Is it worth going to A&E?
I've strapped my fingers. Taken nurofen. Its still very painful.

What else should i do?

Typically crap timing. Half term & going to a wedding in a few days. Million things to do rather then sit in A&E!

Which bit do you think is broken?

For a finger, probably strap it up

For the metatarsal in the hand, more likely a cast.

Stop feeling silly - accidents happen. You are 'in credit' with the NHS too!

Go get it seen to. With 6 children you need your hands to work properly.

Hope you get seen, and feel better, soon.

Its the bottom joint of baby finger.
Literally around the crease, of the bottom joint, its turning purple. Weirdly my hand feels sort of numb but painful at the same time -iykwim!

It's broken, don't leave it, you might cause further damage
Btw if you can cope with 6 children running around, sitting in casualty won't stress you unless you see something that freaks you out

At least the drunks will be in short supply on a Tuesday morning.

But get it seen to asap

Please go to A&E. It sounds horribly painful. You won't get a medal for grinning and bearing it so get it seen to.

Also, can you get a taxi? Although if you strap it up and the journey is not too far, you might be OK to drive there.

Go to hospital, I have issues from a hand injury that I didn't get looked at straightaway

Ooh, thinking of you Peppas.
Yes, of course you need to get it seen to as soon as reasonably possible.
Who can you ask to come over and sit with your brood whilst you get yourself along to A&E?

FFS you have hurt yourself go to A&E and get it sorted.

Tingles, feeling sick, can't move it & very painful: You gotta go although they may do no more than splint it, but it may need something else, too. Early afternoon is usually quietest time, I'd aim for about 2pm to arrive.

Sometimes if you break a finger and it's a displaced fracture it needs wiring or plating. It's worth getting it x rated as if you don't get it fixed you can compromise the function of your finger. It's true most fractures will be strapped but some need more careful repair.

Ask a mate who's a first aider. Seriously. All they will do is strap it up (even if it is broken). Strap it up yourself. Make a GP appointment if needs be for some painkillers.

There is literally nothing they will do!

Also sounds like you could do with some help with pain management?
You shouldn't have to shoulder all the pain and worry on your own - that's what the NHS is for?

I think Geraldine's right, but I didn't want to say so because it's a total hassle. There is a tiny chance that wires or surgery will be required. They may also give you very nice painkillers.

There is literally nothing they will do!

The OP has numbness and red/purple swelling. It needs to be checked by someone whoactuallyknowswhat they are talking about and looking for. I might be that all it needs is strapping. It might not.

Walk in centre is probably best. I went to one when I fractured my finger. They xrayed it and then strapped it up and put it in along to minimise swelling. A&E not necessary.

Star I disagree too (and am a first aider) with the pain how it is it could have trapped a nerve, have bone floating about and the Drs will be able to strap it so it mends straight opposed to doing a DIY job by at home.

Cobblers to ' they will do nothing' - ignore this and you could end up with problems. Not life threatening ones but still problems. If there's no minor injuries you've no choice but a and e.

I have to disagree with Star as well. A friend broke her little finger and left it, it didn't heal properly and she ended up having to have it rebroken, realigned and wires attached which meant her hand being strapped up for approx 6 weeks.

I know how hard it is OP we have 5DC.I have to go to the hospital quite alot normally by ambulance(I'm disabled and ill)but like OP's have said you do need to go and I'd go asap as well.

I had to do extensive first aid because of my job(I worked with children from newborns up)and so did my DH because he's a Police officer in a specialist force.You really do need to go to A&E and you need to go now OP.Feeling sick,dizzy and the colour change of your finger are not good!

Re insurance - its complicated. At the moment, you're probably fine. It's quite possible that the doctors will write that you can't drive or do sports on your discharge notes though, and then you are no longer insured until a doctor classifies you as fit again.

Generally if you can move the finger and still have complete control of the hand, you are allowed to drive, but if the finger can't be moved at all, they'll advise not driving.

Star, sorry, but that is rubbish. I broke a finger last year. Unfortunately I delayed getting it seen to but they took it very seriously, because not only was the bone broken but a ligament was torn and, had it been ignored, I'd have largely lost the use of that finger.

They put it initially into a temporary splint and referred me to a specialist clinic which offered me an appointment with impressive speed. When I went there, they put on a specially moulded plastic splint and impressed on me that it was essential to keep the finger straight, otherwise it wouldn't heal. I kept that on for just over six weeks and was then given physiotherapy exercises to do. It's still slightly bent at the end joint but, I'm glad to say, is now fully functioning. I have to say that the whole episode was a massive credit to the NHS, not least because I was never once kept waiting for outpatient appointments (take a bow, West Middlesex Hospital).

OP, I was told that I would be able to drive but that I should inform my insurers.

Walk in centre is probably best

Except the Op has said that there isn't one.