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AIBU?

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Original poster

how do i get to A&E?

318 replies

hurtmyankle · 09/03/2018 16:08

not AIBU but posting for traffic

I've fallen over about half an hour ago and heard my ankle crunch, can't put weight on it and in a lot of pain, taken paracetamol and got it raised but really am in unbelievable pain and think I need to go to A&E, my DP says i've just fallen over and i'm being silly but i'm not so He's gone to work.

I can't get a taxi and have no family here to call to drive me so how do I get to A&E? If I ring 111 can they arrange transport? The hospital is only a 2 minute drive from me but I can't walk Confused what is the best thing to do?
Sorry for asking here but my DP is useless and my family are all away

OP posts:
JustDanceAddict · 09/03/2018 16:55

I’d ask a neighbour - I don’t know mine that well but I’d either ask for the lift or borrow a fiver.

GnotherGnu · 09/03/2018 16:55

It seriously worries me the amount of dangerous advice that gets dished out on MN by people who think you cannot either call an ambulance or go to A&E unless you are completely helpless and at death's door. As people have pointed out, the time will come when this sort of advice leads to someone dying or becoming seriously disabled.

The fact that OP can't weight-bear is certainly suggestive of a broken ankle: when I broke mine, the sheer pain when I put my foot down fir a second made it clear that it had to be something serious. You can't assume that a taxi driver is going to be able to help you out to the taxi and into the hospital at the other end, and it's potentially dangerous to try to hobble on a broken leg. This really is precisely the sort of thing that ambulances are for.

MagneticMan · 09/03/2018 16:56

What is it with people breaking their ankles today?

I posted on a thread earlier where the OP had seriously fucked up her ankle judging by the picture she posted. The swelling was like someone had transplanted another head onto her ankle! (not that it's a competition of course).

Hope they get you sorted out OP, glad to hear your friend is able to help you out.

FoofFighter · 09/03/2018 16:56

Some people are very lucky to have spare cash instantly accessible, lots of people at their beck and call to drop everything if you need it.

I don't.

Lots of people don't.

OP I hope you get it sorted Flowers (and yes what a twat your DP is!! I hope it's broken just to piss him off!!)

MrsMozart · 09/03/2018 16:57

I broke my back at L2. Took me two says to go to the hospital and that was only at the insistence of a friend. Took a consultant and two doctors to find the break. I rode my horse, drove my car, etc etc during those two days. Wrist breaks were quicker to spot. A lower leg/ankle break took a week, as did a crack in an elbow.

cestlavielife · 09/03/2018 16:57

Call 111. Let them decide.
Hobble to neighbour and borrow money if is is two.minutes away then you may still wait four hours for.ambulance so taxi or car best option

GnotherGnu · 09/03/2018 16:58

blastomama, the important word in your post is "misuse". Using an ambulance for a potentially fractured leg when there is no alternative means of getting treatment is not misuse.

Quatia · 09/03/2018 17:00

Gnother she had alternatives though, hence she’s getting taken by a colleague. Also the other alternatives people suggested before an ambulance, ambulance should be last call in a situation like this where it’s not life and death and other options are available.

mikeyssister · 09/03/2018 17:00

Some of you guys would hate me. I rang 999 when I was in labour and the contractions were 5 minutes apart. They said under no circumstances was my husband to drive me in and they sent an ambulance to collect me.

SoupDragon · 09/03/2018 17:00

user14977etc I’m amazed at your X-ray vision and ability to determine whether a bone was broken or not by looking at a photo. You could save the NHS a fortune by screening everyone before they come through the door

I thought exactly that! They could save the NHS loads of money by screening them via descriptions and photos on the Internet.

MadMags · 09/03/2018 17:01

userwhatever do you realise how fucking stupid and irresponsible it is to try and diagnose someone from a picture on the Internet????

Ginkypig · 09/03/2018 17:02

As someone who has had several lots of broken bones, from nose, fingers,toes,ankle,foot and eye socket to name but a few I can confirm none of them would have stopped me typing even though they have all been varying degrees of painful.

Good luck at the hospital!

blastomama · 09/03/2018 17:02

the important word in your post is "misuse". Using an ambulance for a potentially fractured leg when there is no alternative means of getting treatment is not misuse

I don't think any of us can say either way, which is why OP should speak to dispatch or 111.

SpicyTomatos · 09/03/2018 17:02

Advice from NHS

It can be hard to tell the difference between a minor break and a sprain. It's best to assume it's a fracture until it has been checked by a doctor or nurse.
What to do if your ankle is broken

If you think you or someone else has a broken ankle:

go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department or call 999 for an ambulance if it's a bad break – minor fractures can often be treated at a local minor injuries unit

avoid moving or putting weight on the affected leg – try to keep it raised and supported (for example, on a cushion)

italiancortado · 09/03/2018 17:03

rang 999 when I was in labour and the contractions were 5 minutes apart. They said under no circumstances was my husband to drive me in and they sent an ambulance to collect me.

Why did you ring?

blastomama · 09/03/2018 17:04

I rang 999 when I was in labour and the contractions were 5 minutes apart. They said under no circumstances was my husband to drive me in and they sent an ambulance to collect me

Why was he not to drive you?
I remember being told over and over again that the ambulance was not a taxi service for maternity, and that we were not to call them unless it was an actual emergency. Which would not cover 5 min contractions!

JustVent · 09/03/2018 17:05

Under no circumstances was your husband to drive you in when they were 5 minutes apart?
Presumably you didn’t have a healthy straight forward pregnancy then?

TimbuktuTimbuktu · 09/03/2018 17:06

I walked on my broken foot/heel for two days and I probably wouldn't have gone to a&e at all if I hadn't met my mum for lunch and she made me go.

It was very painful when I did it but after a couple of ibuprofen it improved and o could weight near with a limp so I assumed a sprain.

My mum also waited overnight with a broken ankle thinking it was a sprain. Both times not wanting to bother a&e on a Friday/ Saturday night was a factor in waiting.

FrancisCrawford · 09/03/2018 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Coyoacan · 09/03/2018 17:07

It seriously worries me the amount of dangerous advice that gets dished out on MN by people who think you cannot either call an ambulance or go to A&E unless you are completely helpless and at death's door. As people have pointed out, the time will come when this sort of advice leads to someone dying or becoming seriously disabled.

I don't live in the UK, but I am astonished at the number of people telling the OP to take a taxi rather than call an ambulance. And I have only ever called an ambulance for one of my family once in my very long life.

formerbabe · 09/03/2018 17:07

I rang 999 when I was in labour and the contractions were 5 minutes apart. They said under no circumstances was my husband to drive me in and they sent an ambulance to collect me

Why?

Graphista · 09/03/2018 17:08

Breaks are NOT always painful.

The appalling "medical" advice on here sometimes! "If you'd really done X y z you wouldn't be typing" bullshit! You could have a broken neck, spine, be having a heart attack or stroke and STILL be able to type. Plus RICE is now being debunked. And certainly shouldn't be undertaken with the injury not being seen at all.

Shock, the nature and placement of the break, different peoples adrenaline levels and responses vary.

But it could be a torn ligament from the sounds of things, can make a hell of a horrible noise and very painful AND needs seeing ASAP.

I'm actually more concerned given the partners response that this may be a DV incident. If it is op you can tell emergency services and a&e - they need to know honestly how the injury occurred.

I think 111 for advice a good call. Even if they send transport it won't necessarily be an emergency ambulance. There are ambulettes and transport ambos (though you may have to wait a while). Or they could send a paramedic on a motorbike to assess.

Glad friend on way, hope you're seen and sorted soon. (Why do these things always happen at weekends? Happens to me and dd too)

Snowmagedon · 09/03/2018 17:08

111 aren't notified going to send ambulance to just because someone asks.

They will not decide and its awful that people on here have behaved like school bulky teens when op has asked for advice.

She is not one of the thoughtless thousands calling ambulances willy nilly. Why be so cruel, has it made people feel better? Has it?

Op I'm so glad you got some help! I hope it's not broken.

Fairylea · 09/03/2018 17:12

Another one here that was walked home on a broken ankle - to all those saying the op couldn’t have one or she wouldn’t be typing here. I was 11 and thought I’d just twisted it and actually ran home worried I was late home! It swelled up like a balloon and mum took me to a and e where they said it was a bad break and I was in plaster up to my knee for 6-8 weeks.

Hope you feel better soon op.

IceBearRocks · 09/03/2018 17:12

mikeyssister my contractions were 5 minutes apart and my DH drive me the 25 miles to the hospital .... I was told to stay at home until they are 5 mins apart !!!
Materna-taxi are the worst !!!!

If you'd say at home with a child having a seizure and turning blue and gasping for breath despite rescue medications ... Waited 90 minutes for an ambulance.... you lot may not be flippant !!!! Giving life breathes to a child is not fun!!!!

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