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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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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XenoBitch · 02/03/2022 22:01

Yes, I would.
I misjudged my bottom step and twisted my ankle. No pain, only a little twinge when I put weight on it. I went to A&E, and walked out with a big boot and crutches.
You don't know what has happened inside your ankle.. you need an x-ray to determine what happens next.
Of course, this is MN though.. where you are only allowed to go to A&E with a suspected broken bone if it is actually poking out of your skin. And MN will have you think you are taking up the A&E space of people needing care for strokes and heart attacks. Triage is a thing, and you will probably be waiting for the max time possible. Take something to do. Good luck, and I hope you get it all sorted.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/03/2022 22:35

Of course, this is MN though.. where you are only allowed to go to A&E with a suspected broken bone if it is actually poking out of your skin. And MN will have you think you are taking up the A&E space of people needing care for strokes and heart attacks

Actually, this is MN where there's lots of people advising her to go to the minor injuries unit or A&E as available, if you'd RTFT or even a few posts.

TheMagpie · 02/03/2022 23:08

A sprain? Absolutely not. Broken, sure I'd go. Last time I went to A&E was for mental health reasons, before that I had chest pains. Can't imagine going for a sprained ankle when I can deal with it at home.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/03/2022 23:16

@TheMagpie

But as many of the posts point out, people don't always know which it is which is part of the reason for going - to get proper assessment.

Holothane · 02/03/2022 23:24

I’ve done sprained ankle so bad they thought it was broken I couldn’t bear weight on it.

FinnulaFloss · 02/03/2022 23:26

A sprain? Absolutely not. Broken, sure I'd go

Thank Goodness for your Xray vision then which accurately tells you which it is. Most of us aren't blessed with that.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/03/2022 23:27

Yes if it was very swollen for more than a day or two. I used to ignore things like this, and have ended up with some bigger issues than had I had things checked out.

If it isn’t practiced or broken then see a physio when the swelling is down to strengthen it.

Glitterbells · 02/03/2022 23:28

Minor injuries.
Ignore the super heroes.
If they wished to take a risk then that’s on them. But I wouldn’t want to be worrying about potential more serious damage unnecessarily.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/03/2022 23:28

@TheMagpie

Genius!

Except you can’t tell just by looking..

TheMagpie · 02/03/2022 23:31

@Luredbyapomegranate
@FinnulaFloss
@ErrolTheDragon

I'm unsure as to why you're all assuming I'd judge others for doing so, I personally can tell the difference due to experiencing both many times each.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/03/2022 23:35

I'm unsure as to why you're all assuming I'd judge others for doing so
Probably because we all aren't doing any such thing?

TheMagpie · 03/03/2022 00:01

@ErrolTheDragon I agree that your comment wasn't, but others were.

MunchyMonsters · 03/03/2022 00:40

Without an xray you can not tell if something is spraned or broken!

I fell (multiple Sclerosis - so I fall a lot) and hurt my wrist. I could move it but went to A&E because of the pain. It was broken in three places.

LoveFall · 03/03/2022 01:09

I fell and twisted my ankle. When it wasn't better six weeks later, I got an x-ray and yes there was a fracture.

I had been walking on it the entire time. I was too late to do anything so I live with the consequences which are mostly aching and swelling at the end of the day.

Flowersandhearts · 03/03/2022 01:14

No I don't think so.

I don't think you'd be able to walk for 20 minutes on a broken ankle. When I broke mine I needed help to walk a few steps back to my hotel without putting any pressure on it. The pain was agony and it hurt through the night as I couldn't seek medical advice at the time.

FinnulaFloss · 03/03/2022 01:23

I'm unsure as to why you're all assuming I'd judge others for doing so, I personally can tell the difference due to experiencing both many times each

No, you can't. Trying to convince people otherwise makes you look silly.

DinosaurDuvet · 03/03/2022 01:58

I was always under the impression that swelling and bruising were an indication of a break and should be checked out asap. I’ve broken my ankle twice

TheMagpie · 03/03/2022 02:18

@FinnulaFloss
You're an expert on my personal experiences and sensations then, are you? Bit creepy, could you stop stalking me?

I didn't say this was the norm, but I've had many breaks and sprains over the years.

tcjotm · 03/03/2022 02:48

Yes, I would go to A&E. I’m in Australia though and I know this is where a GP would say I should’ve gone.

It not being fractured doesn’t mean an easy recovery. I tore a ligament in mine and it needed many months of treatment and will never be 100%.

Best to get properly diagnosed upfront. Good luck OP.

PixieLaLa · 03/03/2022 03:11

No that’s not an A&E situation! Even if you have sprained or broken it there is nothing they will do just advise alternating using it and elevation. Don’t you have a local minor injures you can go to?

Superhanz · 03/03/2022 03:46

You'd need to be having your last rites before it's appropriate to go to A&E according to the ones on here. 🙄

I've seen people advising someone who was very ill in a precarious situation to not go to A&E on here.

I'd take what some if these eejits say with a pinch of salt. If you think it's broken go to A&E, the key is in the name! My DH broke his hand and never got it seen to and he still has issues with it now and he's been told it'll only get worse as he gets older.

garlictwist · 03/03/2022 03:56

I sprained my ankle badly when out for a trail run. I had to hobble two hours back to the car and then yes I did go to a&e because I was agony and there I had an X-ray.

It's important to get a diagnosis - ie if it's bone or tissue - as that depends on how it's treated. Mishandling an Injury in the early days can massively impact your recovery.

If you have a minor injuries thing I'd go there. But if not it needs to be seen.

NumberTheory · 03/03/2022 04:09

I would get it checked out the next day. Ideally GP or urgent care/minor injuries clinic rather than A&E but if you can't get in at the others then A&E.

NHS advice is:
Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you have broken your ankle. It may need treatment to heal properly.

Do not worry if you do not know if your ankle is broken, dislocated or sprained. Get it checked by a doctor.

Then they give a link to find an urgent treatment centre.

MaryShelley1818 · 03/03/2022 06:54

Urgent Care or A&E. Breaks are not always obvious. You risk serious damage not getting assessed properly.

fishonabicycle · 03/03/2022 06:56

If it is really painful go to minor injuries - usually much quieter than A&E.

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