A&E

[Hotpinkangel19]

I have had an accident, I fell down the stairs and my ankle gave way, it's very swollen and I can't put pressure on it 🙈 I hate hospitals, and would rather avoid. I don't drive so would need a taxi there but I don't think I can get up to get myself ready. Our minor injury unit has no X-ray facilities. Any way I can bring the swelling down enough to try and walk. The swelling is quite bad I think.

You need to go to have an X-ray end of...I've broken my ankle before and you really don't want to just risk leaving it. It will literally bugger you're life up if you don't get it sorted. Get in a cab and get down there...is there no one you know who can give you a lift?

Also if you can't get ready for a taxi you definitely can't walk, that's just stupid.

Can you phone someone to help you?

I live in a village, my husband is miles away at work and my friend is at work until 1:30. I feel silly really, I only slipped and fell half way, but it's quite swollen. I could wait until she leaves work, I'll just have to not move until then. 😩

Get thee to A and E. It may be broken, in which case putting weight on it may make matters even worse, or you may have torn ligaments. Either way it needs x raying. Take a taxi or get someone to drive you there. You may hate hospitals, but I'm sure you'd hate even more being in pain or having a limp for the rest of your life because you didn't seek treatment. Can you use a brush or something as a makeshift crutch, to avoid walking on it? I really would avoid putting weight on it.

what do you need to do to gt ready?

what are you wearing now?

I am not sure what you are asking here? Whether yabu to go to a&e? Yet I think you are saying you cannot get there? Sorry I am seriously confused! Anyway, hope you feel better soon

Pic?

I managed to get onto the sofa, it looks a bit worse now actually 🙈 what an idiot!

Can you move your foot and toes? If not then this is a sign of a break.
If yes, did you feel/ hear a pop? If yes then this is a sign of a sprain.

If you think you have broken something you need to heas to your nearest A&E minor injuries.
If you think you have a sprain then you need to get yourself somewhere comfortable (like your sofa) and elevate it to let the fluid drain back down in the opposite direction, ibuprofen is anti inflammatory and also a covered ice pack should help.

phone a taxi and hop to the door, using wall for help.

A and E. X ray. End of.

I only slipped on gravel and nearly broke both, turned out one was broken and the other sprained. I left it a whole evening as I didn't want to make a fuss, stupidest thing I've ever done, I could of made it seriously worse. Get a cab now.

I'm elevating it now, just called my friend, she's sending her husband to give me a lift there, they have a pair of crutches his mum used last year. Wish me luck.

You need to call your husband back.

Thank you, I was just checking I WNBU to go to A&E without trying something first.

You need A&E here. Phone a taxi.

Glad to hear you're going to hospital, OP. Good luck.

If you're finding it hard to walk, wait until your friend or DH can take you.

Until then - RICE.

REST - Do not 'try' to walk on it. Soft tissue injuries do not improve with movement.

ICE - in a tea towel, not directly on the skin.

COMPRESSION - if you can/if you have a compression bandage.

ELEVATION - lie on the sofa with pillows under it, keeping it above the level of your heart.

Oh and you can still move your toes and foot with a break so don't go by that. Even if it's a sprain you need it looked at, my sprained ankle is worse than my broken one 2 yrs on as it wasn't treated properly.
If you're going to wait for your friend keep it elevated above your heart and try and keep it still and wrapped up with something.

Off to A&E with you.

That definitely needs an X-ray

If you can stay on the sofa with your foot elevated until your friend is back I'd do that and then ask her to take you to A&E in a taxi - it is really difficult to negotiate with a broken ankle on your own.

Btw please don't anyone think that if you can move a limb, toes etc. then it isn't broken. That isn't true.

I can move my toes, but it really is painful. I'm going to wait on the sofa until they come over, and head to hospital.

I must be honest...I disagree with the whole 'go now' mentality, unless it's so bad you're in actual agony constantly.

ICE is the best thing ATM...and IME the outcome is likely to be better if you rest and ice it for a couple of hours immediately after doing it, rather than rushing to A&E where you'll be sat for hours waiting (probably).

Personally in this scenario I would do RICE and go later this afternoon when the swelling is more under control.