To refuse to take DS to hospital for a sprained ankle

[Paurie]

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.

Good luck OP.

This is the kind of thread you desperately want to see a deletion message for, because surely to fuck nobody is actual this bad at parenting

I am glad you are taking him to A&E. Even if it is a sprain they will be able to adjust the crutches properly to his height/arm length, show him how to use them correctly, and advice when he can go back to school.
I hope it is a helpful visit.

I have severely sprained my ankle on several occasions (always the same one as the 1st sprain made it weak and I still suffer 15 years on) and everytime, I have had in x-rayed that day as soon as I was seen in A&E. Never had to wait 48 hours. I don't understand why they would wait 48 hours as they may need to treat it immediately. I would get it checked out asap. Yes, more than likely a sprain but you can't be 100%

My guess is that the OPmhas flounced off to hospital with DS in tow hopping behind her, he'll have a X-ray showingbits sprained and she'll come back here saying 'told you so, it's NOT broken'.
But at least she will know for sure, not just guessing.

YABU. I sprained my ankle really badly in November. I couldn’t bear any weight on it after it happened. It was x rayed at hospital straight away because swelling was so bad they had to confirm it wasn’t broken.

I was given crutches to get about for first 24-36 hours and told to RICE completely during that time. After that they said I must start putting weight on it even though it would be painful.

You need to get it checked. Then you will know what to do. My ankle is pretty good now but it has taken months to recover.

BoreOfWhabylon I cross posted with the latest update and suspect a lot of others did too.

Glad you are taking him in OP.

I was on hold to 111 for 30 minutes this morning

Maybe the special x-ray phones are slower?

OP you are massively unreasonable. I badly sprained my ankle a few weeks ago. They xrayed it at MIU when I went the next day. Not broken yours time, but evidence of multiple breaks in the last few years where I've hurt it and not had it checked out.

Take your son.

Glad you're taking him in OP

How can you be certain that it isn't broken?

If he still can't weight bear and is in significant pain I would be getting it checked out

It will be broken, and OP won’t be back

Yes, the OP posted for advice and has taken it, which is good.

Take your poor child to A and E! What a lack of care you have shown!

OP: AIBU?

PP: YES

OP: but I'm not, blah blah blah

PP: you're still BU

OP: but, but, but

I badly sprained my ankle as a child, and although I was taken to A & E the only treatment was to rest it. Unfortunately, all the ligaments had stretched which caused my ankle to be prone to twisting easily, which I just put up with (as you do ). I have now had my ankle replaced as all the cartilage has worn away - I'm only in my forties.

Please do not ignore ankle injuries!

Well done OP

For what it's worth the A&E near me was unusually quiet. The nurses said they reckoned people were avoiding it due to Coronavirus.

I think if the point is reached when the NHS is so overwhelmed that A&Es are closing we will be made aware of it.

Please take him to minor injuries or A&E. My friend "sprained" her ankle when we were teens. She hobbled around for over a fortnight before her mum took her to A&E. It was broken. We are now in our forties and her ankle has never been the same since. She's been told that the ongoing problems she has s is probably due to the delay in treatment.

Just seen you're taking him. Good call.

Unfortunately I think even if it is broken we'll be told it's a sprain as OP was being argumentative about not taking him.

I've had old breaks in a foot that weren't treated when younger but spotted further down the line after I'd broken my ankle and fifth metatarsal. I now have complications and have recently developed a limp I'm not sure I'll ever be rid of, I cannot stride or move my foot up and down due to achillies tendonitis alongside it. I have been having to use a combination of crutches and a zimmer frame. I'm 33.

I once waited 7 hours with DD in a&e with a wrist injury. It was actually a bit annoying that it wasn't broken after the wait and about £16 parking BUT that's your job as a parent.

The x-ray glasses I ordered from the Beano did not work so hospital was the only option.

Place marking for update

IME they wouldn’t Xray in the first 48 hours anyway - I expect it will settle after a day or two being rested

What experience is this?!

Hope he’s ok, in your position I’d have gone to A&E.

I broke my leg just above my ankle in August last year. It wasn’t that painful at the time and I was sure I had sprained my ankle not broken my leg. I still find I am limping sometimes seven months later after having the plaster off then another four weeks wearing a boot. You really can’t tell OP.