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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you go to a&e if you thought you had sprained your ankle?

213 replies

Awarethebear · 02/03/2022 13:51

Hi, I ended up twisting my ankle whilst stepping off of a large step and onto unbeknownst to me slippy mud on the school run yesterday afternoon, it hurt straightaway but I was able to walk the twenty minute journey after ( in pain and with a limp). When I arrived home I noticed my ankle was swollen and after a couple of hours the bruising began. It's really painful to walk on almost 24 hours later, I'm wondering is it just sprained or could it be broken. Would you go to the hospital if this was you?

OP posts:
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5
ParisNext · 02/03/2022 15:46

I did go to AandE with exactly this against my gut feeling and it was broken. I was completely shocked as was the first doctor who really thought it was “just a sprain”. You might need a boot and will avoid problems later on. No point not checking.

Starlight86 · 02/03/2022 15:49

@MajorCarolDanvers

Minor injuries unit would be more appropriate than A&E or even a pharmacist.
What the hell will a pharmacist do?
GnomeDePlume · 02/03/2022 15:49

Yes I would go as I'm not a doctor and don't have xray vision to be able to see if it was a sprain or a fracture.

lljkk · 02/03/2022 15:50

I can't self diagnose a sprained ankle. I would seek health care if I couldn't put weight in it.

worriedatthemoment · 02/03/2022 15:52

If any chance it may be broken go to a and e or minor injuries unit
My son had sprained ankle recently and was really swollen and bruised and we took him to a & e to confirm if broken and they did x ray as even they were not sure

BlingLoving · 02/03/2022 15:53

You haven't said if you've done any first aid. Because if you haven't, then I would not be going to A&E. Where they're going to tell you to ice it.

WeirdlyKind · 02/03/2022 15:54

@LowlandLucky

There is no need to xray, if you could walk for20 mins after the injury you haven't broken your ankle. Elevate it, strap it and use ice. Yes it will bruise and yes it will hurt.
That's not true. I walked on a broken foot for over a week.
UnsuitableHat · 02/03/2022 15:55

I once went to A&E with a sprained ankle, and it virtually healed in the time I had to wait there! Agree with advice to elevate, use ice etc, but get it checked out if you're worried. You may find yourself with a permanent weakness if there's something you don't sort properly.

SpicePumpkin · 02/03/2022 15:56

@LowlandLucky

There is no need to xray, if you could walk for20 mins after the injury you haven't broken your ankle. Elevate it, strap it and use ice. Yes it will bruise and yes it will hurt.
This is complete bullshit.
worriedatthemoment · 02/03/2022 15:57

@UnsuitableHat you didn't actually have a sprained ankle then read the recovery time for an actual sprained ankle

worriedatthemoment · 02/03/2022 15:58

@BlingLoving yes they will tell you that if only sprained with my son they still xrayred to be sure as even they couldn't say for sure in his case if it was broken or just sprained just by looking at it

pawpaws2022 · 02/03/2022 16:00

@LowlandLucky

There is no need to xray, if you could walk for20 mins after the injury you haven't broken your ankle. Elevate it, strap it and use ice. Yes it will bruise and yes it will hurt.
I wish people wouldn't say this I was at uni and waitressing and out clubbing for a week on a sore ankle. Wearing heels It was broken, my ankle AND foot, in multiple places
InvisibleDragon · 02/03/2022 16:02

I would to A&E.

I've done the "phone the GP for reassurance" before. They reassured me so well I didn't get my thumb looked at for weeks. Turned out it was broken in 2 places. It healed a bit wonky too Hmm

BoredZelda · 02/03/2022 16:07

No - I did something similar years ago, never dreamed of going to hospital. Ice, elevation, try to keep the weight off it. The bruising will probably be spectacular but should start to settle after a week or so.

On the other hand, an ex colleague did similar, and had actually broken her ankle and by the time she went to A&E she needed surgery.

We have minor injuries service for this scenario. I’d use that.

Longingforatikihut · 02/03/2022 16:12

RICE it- Rest Ice Compression Elevation

WalkingOnTheCracks · 02/03/2022 16:12

I damaged my ankle, really badly. Couldn't walk on it at all. Went to A&E, got it x-rayed and it wasn't broken - just a really bad sprain. I was on crutches for a couple of weeks.

Almost everyone I met during that time said, "Ooh, a bad sprain! That's worse than a break in many ways!" Everyone. It was almost comical. "No - honestly. A break will mend. A really bad sprain is worse."

I thought, "Oh, come on. It can't be."

Thirty years later I still have a weakness in that ankle, and it gives up on me at the slightest excuse.

Worse than a break in many ways, apparently.

1forAll74 · 02/03/2022 16:16

No I wouldn't go to the hospital for this. I have sprained my ankle a few times over years. You will mabye get some swelling, and a lot of pain, but you need to rest your foot up, and wait for a few days, and it just takes time to sort itself out. Some people use a tight bandage to shield the area,

ErrolTheDragon · 02/03/2022 16:17

Well... last year when I sprained my ankle when covid was raging I didn't go to Minor injuries and turns out it was ok though it took quite a while for the swelling to fully subside.

Otoh someone who does mountain rescue once told me about a guy who was adamant he'd just got a sprain. Turned out it was quite a nasty break which was a bit embarrassing as he was an orthopaedic surgeon.

Chely · 02/03/2022 16:20

If I suspected it was just a sprain I would not go in, I'd maybe go see the GP instead.

My mum once nagged me to go to A&E as my ankle was severely swollen and badly bruised after a fall. It was just a sprain as I thought, they didn't feel it needed xrays. I was advised to wear a compression bandage, take ibuprofen and keep it raised as much as possible.

worriedatthemoment · 02/03/2022 16:24

OP most advising on here are not drs and nurses so a & e if not sure or minor injuries
Its what its there for hence the name accident , they prioritise in order of seriousness
As many have said some had broken and not known
My ds took 4 weeks for his sprained ankle to recover almost fully , so there is a difference as well between sprains
I think they grade them or something like that

Iceiceisolationbaby · 02/03/2022 16:26

Do you have a Minor Injuries Unit near?

Teddypoops · 02/03/2022 16:26

I scoffed at my husband when he suggested he needed to go to A&E for a bad ankle. So had phone consult with GP - got sent to A&E for X-ray and scan and ended up with his foot in a boot for 12 weeks and six months physio. So…

FixTheBone · 02/03/2022 16:28

Definitive answer is only the OP knows the right answer.

R.I.C.E and gentle active range of movement exercises.

Weightbear as pain allows in supportive footwear (think hiking boot) if possible,

If unable to weightbear needs and xray.

If pain not improving despite appropriate rest etc, needs an x-ray

Not all fractures need surgery (or even a boot).

Not all sprains can be managed with a tubigrip.

Essentially, if it's not getting better, get professionally assessed

Captainj1 · 02/03/2022 16:32

I personally wouldn’t, but then when I was 8 I dropped a paving stone on my foot trying to help my dad lay the patio and broke it in 2 places and my dad just strapped it up and I hobbled about for a week before he eventually conceded we should probably go to A&E. So that’s the mentality I have now, soldier on and see how it goes.

I know people who are constantly having ‘suspected hairline fractures’ after the slightest knock which after a referral turn out to be nothing, the nhs must see them coming

Do what you feel is best

RedWingBoots · 02/03/2022 21:53

@worriedatthemoment they do grade them. I learnt the painful way.

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