A+E?

[DMBoot]

I hurt my ankle a couple of weeks ago on holiday. I was blind drunk and have no idea what I did to it but I woke up the following morning and it was swollen and purple.

It was a bit painful but I assumed I'd just twisted it and since I could still walk, didn't bother to get it looked at.

I'm now home and it's still swollen although no longer bruised. It's tender to touch and painful if I walk for a long distance or position it in a certain way- for example I cannot sit with my legs crossed as the angle my ankle is at if I do this makes it painful.

I don't want to waste anyones time if it'll eventually get better on it's own- can you go to the GP for something like this? I figure since I've lived with it for nearly three weeks then it's not an A+E job either. There's no minor injuries unit near me.

GP

no, not A&E....gp!

Where I am gp can't do X-rays and send you to the go referred X-ray department at the local hospital but you would need to call 111 to find out if your local hospital has one and if you need to get referred from your doctor.

You may have strained or sprained it - would suggest RICE:

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

(Yes, have recently done a first-aid course!) But you should get checked out by GP in case you have done any long-term damage to ligaments etc.

Strapping it up may help with the pain too - get one of those stretchy tube bandages...

you might need an xray.
do you have a minor injuries near you?

See your GP first - they may send you on elsewhere if they feel it's necessary, but they should be the one to decide if a hospital visit is necessary.

Thanks everyone, I'll try and see my GP this week. I'd read that ankle injuries can take about six weeks to heal so wasn't sure whether just to leave it a bit longer or not.

Definitely go to your GP.

I fell on my ankle during netball 10 weeks ago. Was told it was a sprain and would heal in 6 weeks. I've been having regular Physio and doing everything I should have, but it's just not healing properly.

I went back to Orthopaedics today and am now waiting for an MRI and surgery as it was a complete ligament rupture. The fact it has been left for so long also means it may never be the same again and I may no longer be able to play.

Just to be on the safe I'd see the doctor about it.

Sorry GreenFingers your first aid course was out of date.

The new thinking is that icing an injury prevents healing so you ice say twice for 20 mins and that it.

It's now MCE - gentle movement, compression and elevation

Blimey mikeysister that changed fast - it was only a couple of weeks ago! ;-)