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

[Awarethebear]

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?

[quote TasteRevolution]@JustLyra is that a pilot program? - I've googled and all I could find was this link below - I know it's not the most current but couldn't find anything to suggest pharmacists generally provide this service, just that they'd want to.

www.pharmacymagazine.co.uk/latest/allow-pharmacists-to-make-direct-nhs-referrals-say-health-bodies[/quote]
They’ve been able to do it for ages here.

Think it’s because we have pharmacy, nurse, GP or A&E and that’s it. No minor injuries or urgent care or the likes.

They give you a letter the same as a GP will to take out to the hospital and that bypasses the first “let’s see if that’s actually anything needing looked at” bit of A&E.

Doesn’t queue jump beyond that, despite some people hoping it does.

It is almost impossible to tell the difference between a fracture and a sprain. Go to you local minor injuries (if you have one), they should have an x-ray to confirm. Best get it checked because if it is broken and can be cast to set properly, it’s best to sort out earlier than later!

This happened to me last year. I did go to A&E because I was worried I'd torn something. The nurses were lovely and strapped it up for me. Luckily it was better after a few days, but it's better to be safe.

@FrankRattlesnake

It is almost impossible to tell the difference between a fracture and a sprain. Go to you local minor injuries (if you have one), they should have an x-ray to confirm. Best get it checked because if it is broken and can be cast to set properly, it’s best to sort out earlier than later!

Every time I've gone to the minor injuries unit - I've waited almost 4 hours to be told they can't help me and I should have gone to A&E - they often don't have a doctor and they don't have access to an x-ray machine - would not go anywhere near them now - an utter waste of space.

I have in the past as it is easy to miss a fracture , but minor injuries if available.

I went over on my ankle a few years back, and I felt a distinct tearing. I know now I should have sought medical advice. It turned out I'd torn the ligaments.
Did you feel any tearing? In your place, I'd probably ask my GP's advice. In the meantime, keep it elevated.

Either book a GP appointment or go to minor injuries unit. It needs checking but if you can walk you might be able to avoid a long wait in A&E.

111 can often even book you a slot in minor injuries to avoid waiting around. Give them a call & see what provision there is?

Most GPs won't do a thing for an injury like this. They'd just send you on to urgent care/minor injuries/A&E depending what your area has.

Hope you’re ok OP.

I had a very similar injury. Because I was able to walk after I assumed just a sprain, turned out to be an avulsion fracture.

Things like this should absolutely be checked properly, that means a&e or an urgent care centre which are often attached to a&e depts so you can get an X-ray.

I've known three people who assumed they'd sprained their ankles, and each of them came out in a cast.

I'm glad you're going to A&E OP.

[quote MajorCarolDanvers]**@Starlitexpress* What the hell will a pharmacist do*

Pharmacies provide minor ailments care which will include being able to obtain appropriate support bandages, pain relief. Some pharmacists can prescribe. And if OP needs more medical intervention then then pharmacist can refer directly.

That's what the hell they can do.
[/quote]
Heh? When did I say that?

Some sprains can be much more painful than a break.

Go to a minor injuries unit if you can. If you don't have one nearby then you can try your gp, they'll refer you for an xray if you need one.

If the pain is severe and you can weight bear on it at all and there's a strong possibility its broken then yes, you can go to a&e.

Keep an eye on circulation in your foot. If you press your toenails they should blanche and then turn their normal colour again when they refill with blood. If this appears compromised, go to a&e as it suggests circulation has been compromised.

If you cannot move your ankle or hear/feel cracking noises when you do, then it's probably broken.

*can't weight bear

I don't think you need medical attention when you have sprained something. Go to minor injuries or urgent care if you are really worried about your sprain, whatever is nearer.

@worriedatthemoment
The clue is in the name accident !!

The clue is also in the word emergency, a sprain or fracture in my opinion is NOT an emergency. That’s what minor injury clinics are for.

And speaking from my own experience when I fractured my ankle (went to minor injury’s for an X-ray) I was told to rest it/elevate and then start using it slowly because not using it at all can cause even more issues.

From your description of symptoms I would definitely go to hospital if I wasn't able to have a doctor examine me on that day. It could be broken. Only in the UK would you avoid seeing a medic with those symptoms

@PixieLaLa not everywhere has a miu though , in my area we don't and the OP doesn't as stated so the accident bit applies
Its not hard to grasp
They will triage accordingly depending in severity or if emergency, so as OP has stated they do not have a MIU then its a & e

@PixieLaLa you were told to rest a fracture not have it in plaster ? Thats very strange , a sprain yes a fracture normally requires a boot or. Plaster as a fracture means broken, I wouldn't want to go to your MIU if thats the advice they give

I went to minor injuries for mine. Not A&E.

A&E is for life threatening conditions, so go to a minor injuries unit if there’s one near you (there normally is). You’ll get seen much quicker

Our minor injuries unit doesn’t have a doctor or facilities to x-ray and staff who are incapable of knowing you need either till you wait for two hours to see a nurse who tells you you should have gone to A&E
If you attend a minor injuries unit make sure they have the staff and the equipment

@Aikatarina

A&E is for life threatening conditions, so go to a minor injuries unit if there’s one near you (there normally is). You’ll get seen much quicker

It's for accidents and emergencies

I wish people would stop thinking you need to be practically dead
I went with a sore ankle/foot which I was walking on, I was right to be there, it had multiple fractures and was in plaster for months
I also drove myself there with back pain and needed emergency spinal surgery. Just because someone is upright, walking and not obviously unwell doesn't mean they don't need a&e

@Aikatarina

A&E is for life threatening conditions, so go to a minor injuries unit if there’s one near you (there normally is). You’ll get seen much quicker

Well, the E is what you suggest.

So what's the A for?

@Aikatarina its a-so for accidents if you don't have a miu
Also a miu in a county next to me i know doesn't do xrays on weekends so will send you straight to a & e on a weekend
Its worrying that people are saying don't seek help from a & e regardless
Yes its not for some things but they will send you off if its something a dr should see ans not appropriate

GP, not A&E!