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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to take DS to hospital for a sprained ankle

290 replies

Paurie · 11/03/2020 10:47

He twisted it badly enough that it can’t weight bear. I’m confident it’s not broken. Strapped it up, iced, elevated - & picked up a crutch so he can be mobile without stepping on it while it heals.

School say the crutch can’t come to
school unless it’s signed off as necessary by a doctor and is fitted by a professional.

AIBU to refuse & just keep him home?

It seems really not sensible in this climate to burden doctors with signing off on a self-limiting problem that I’m confident I’ve treated correctly - and batshit crazy to take a healthy child to sit being sneezed on in minor injuries unit for however many hours it takes to be seen.

OP posts:
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7
Cuddling57 · 11/03/2020 11:13

Do you have a minor injuries unit near you!

crosspelican · 11/03/2020 11:14

My father sprained his ankle. We were both confident it was a sprain and not a fracture.

Took him in to A&E the next day just in case and it was broken. Full cast followed by boot for 6 weeks

You are being VERY unreasonable and blase about your child here.

LuckyLuckyWoman · 11/03/2020 11:14

Do you have the option of a minor injuries dept? They can xray

MiniMum97 · 11/03/2020 11:14

Go to the hospital. They will x ray it. Stop being crazy and take your son to A&E

Original poster
Paurie · 11/03/2020 11:15

I’d expect 111 to offer an appointment - surely it makes a lot more sense than sitting around in waiting rooms crammed full of panicky people coughing?

OP posts:
Abelino · 11/03/2020 11:15

If he can't put weight on it, he needs to go to A&E to rule out a break at least. I decided to try to soldier on with a sprain that turned out to be a break and it still gives me problems years later.

Unless the hospital has something on their website telling people not go to A&E there's no reason at all not to go - this is exactly what it's for.

CecilyP · 11/03/2020 11:15

He twisted it badly enough that it can’t weight bear. I’m confident it’s not broken. Strapped it up, iced, elevated - & picked up a crutch so he can be mobile without stepping on it while it heals.

How are you confident? Do you have Xray eyes. If he can't weight bear, please take him to A & E and get it Xrayed.

IME they wouldn’t Xray in the first 48 hours anyway - I expect it will settle after a day or two being rested - the swelling is already much less overnight.

You are wrong, they will Xray it when you take him. If broken, they may not have plastered it last night because of the swelling, so the swelling will have gone down overnight even if it is broken.

RiftGibbon · 11/03/2020 11:15

My friend sprained her ankle whilst out walking the dog. She limped home and spent three days hobbling around (couldn't stand on it). Her husband eventually managed to get her to go to hospital, where they discovered it was broken.

Yes, hospitals are under pressure, but you can't take a chance on leaving a break untreated.

Wolfiefan · 11/03/2020 11:15

I left a “sprain” many many years ago. It was actually broken and healed badly. He needs an x Ray.

Sirzy · 11/03/2020 11:15

An appointment where? Sounds like you just can’t be arsed with the hassle of waiting to get him seen

PuppyMonkey · 11/03/2020 11:16

Offer an appointment with who?

INeedNewShoes · 11/03/2020 11:16

111 are particularly busy because anyone with cold/flu symptoms is being told to phone them!

Busy 111 doesn't necessarily translate to busier A&E. If anything A&E may not be busy as usual for the end of winter as no one with cold/flu symptoms should be being seen there at the moment.

The ankle needs an x-ray.

mrsmuddlepies · 11/03/2020 11:17

There is bound to be a minor injuries/walk in unit near you.
Why did you post OP? You are very determined to do it your way at any cost.

User12879923378 · 11/03/2020 11:17

I went to A&E with a sore wrist - wasn't even reporting a sprain or a fracture, it just really hurt - and they X-rayed it on the spot. I don't understand why you think they wouldn't x-ray it. I probably would wait a day or so before I took myself to A&E but I don't think I would make a child wait that long in pain.

CecilyP · 11/03/2020 11:18

Also unless you are a qualified HCP, YABU really not to take him to A&E to double check in case it's fractured

A qualified HCP would have no way of knowing whether it was broken or not without an Xray.

FAQs · 11/03/2020 11:18

Pretty sure they can’t offer an appointment for this as it’ll need an X-Ray, presume it’ll be just following the usual process.

Although it might be different where you are of course.

Iggly · 11/03/2020 11:18

I’d expect 111 to offer an appointment - surely it makes a lot more sense than sitting around in waiting rooms crammed full of panicky people coughing?

That’s how it works.

Take your responsibility as a ostentatious seriously and take him.

I’m appalled

1forsorrow · 11/03/2020 11:18

I hurt my ankle, DH rolled his eyes when I said I wanted to go to hospital, so did doctor and nurse. Sent me off to walk to xray dept. Halfway back I was met by flustered nurse with a wheelchair, they had seen the xray and I had a broken ankle. Don't ask how I was walking around, it was painful but possible.

Iggly · 11/03/2020 11:19

parent not ostentatious

That’s how appalled I am. I can’t spell.

Wowzel · 11/03/2020 11:19

I work in the Emergency Department (A&E).

We would xray it, and would expect you to bring him in if he can't walk.

COVID19 hasn't really hit the ED yet - now is the time to be taking him for medical care, not in 2 weeks time when he still can't walk!

tearsandtiaras · 11/03/2020 11:19

How do you know its not broken ????????

I broke my ankle 6 weeks ago- thought it was just a sprain . I was sent to a and e by my work place and was x rayed within 2 hours

I have sprained the same ankle before 10 years ago and been x rayed in a and e .

I am shocked that you would deny a child in your care medical treatment. He could be walking on a broken ankle!

AJPTaylor · 11/03/2020 11:20

Given that corona v is going to get worse before it gets better, taking him today is sensible, rather than tomorrow.
School sound sensible. If it's bad enough for a crutch, it's bad enough to be seen by a doctor.
My colleagues son did similar. It was a fractured ankle.

finn1020 · 11/03/2020 11:20

Can you take him to a physio in the UK? I’ve had a physio order xrays and cast one of my kids broken arms (twice) although it did require GP involvement too. Hospital here used to only do heavy old fashioned cast but physio did the lightweight one.

Original poster
Paurie · 11/03/2020 11:20

Fine - I’ll take him in - see what they say.

OP posts:
1forsorrow · 11/03/2020 11:20

Even more stunning than me walking to xray to discover my fracture was DD being taken to hospital by ambulance, discharged and we were told she was making a fuss and no damage done. Got a phone call a few days later asking us to take her in, they had missed a fracture that was noticed when xray reviewed.

You really don't know it isn't broken.