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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that this is just a sprain?

104 replies

user0512 · 13/05/2022 14:46

I fell down a step or two at work and fell on my foot. My colleagues say I should get it checked and so does my family.

However, I think it's just a sprain from the trauma of falling on it and that I don't need to go to hospital.

Anyone had anything similar?

It has swollen a bit more than when it first happened and it does hurt to walk on it, but I'm not crying or anything

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Theunamedcat · 13/05/2022 16:24

Do you have a minor injuries in your area?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/05/2022 16:24

Get it checked, stop trying to diagnose yourself over the internet and listen to your family!

SunsetInToulouse · 13/05/2022 16:25

You need to get that looked at. I went to the GP with a swollen foot that wasn't particularly painful. They sent me off for an x-ray at a local centre. (Was very quick, much better than going to A&E, also no local minor injuries near me). Confirmed a fracture, within an hour of the GP appointment.

longtompot · 13/05/2022 16:27

If anything I'd say your foot has swollen up a bit more. I really would get it stayed just to be certain.

longtompot · 13/05/2022 16:27

*xrayed not stayed🙄

Gherkingreen · 13/05/2022 16:38

@user0512 worth an x-ray to rule out a break. Be praying for a break because at least it will be treated properly rather than a severe ankle sprain like mine which took months and months to heal. Two years on and it's still a bit tweaky

AIBU to think that this is just a sprain?
AIBU to think that this is just a sprain?
Original poster
user0512 · 13/05/2022 16:40

Gherkingreen · 13/05/2022 16:38

@user0512 worth an x-ray to rule out a break. Be praying for a break because at least it will be treated properly rather than a severe ankle sprain like mine which took months and months to heal. Two years on and it's still a bit tweaky

Oh my god. Did you not get any medical intervention? Hope that eventually it does heal 🌸

OP posts:
AlphaAlpha · 13/05/2022 16:42

OP that's not an ankle sprain, that's likely a metatarsal fracture - you have localised swelling rather than general ankle swelling.

Why won't you go to your local UCC/UTC/MIU.... ?

Gherkingreen · 13/05/2022 16:46

@user0512 nope, it happened just before lockdown and after an x-ray showed there wasn't a break I was kinda on my own. Lots of RICE and self-administered physio.

GoldenEclipse · 13/05/2022 16:48

user0512 · 13/05/2022 16:40

Oh my god. Did you not get any medical intervention? Hope that eventually it does heal 🌸

Show quote history

Says the person who won’t get her own injury medically checked out?

Topseyt123 · 13/05/2022 16:53

Just go to A & E!

No, the second photo doesn't look any better than the first. Stop trying to diagnose yourself and probably minimise the injury.

If it is a fracture that needs treatment and you don't do anything about it then you risk more long term problems in later life, such as mobility issues and arthritis.

You cannot tell from just looking at a swelling externally whether it is fractured or just sprained. They can and often do look much the same.

Original poster
user0512 · 13/05/2022 17:02

I'm on my way to A&E now

OP posts:
WeirdManFromRummikub · 13/05/2022 17:08

Get it checked out. You can sometimes get a blood clot in the leg from an injury like that.

Topseyt123 · 13/05/2022 17:13

user0512 · 13/05/2022 17:02

I'm on my way to A&E now

Good luck.

EmilyBolton · 13/05/2022 17:20

Get to A&E. Insist on a X-ray .ideally weight bearing
like other people I fell at work, twice. Both times I went to A&E under orders of work occ health. Both times hospital sent me away without X-ray as I apparently clearly wasn’t showing enough pain 🤷🏼‍♀️
my elbow break was picked up by physio a week later- wrote a letter for A&E saying please X-ray this lady. Sure enough a break.
second time , my foot, I kept going to physio and GP for 10 weeks. Finely went private, had weight bearing X-ray (which is what they should do with feet apparently) and had broken 3 metatarsal. I took another 10 weeks in a boot to heal sufficiently. It took me a further year to not walk in pain. My foot is misshapen . I still can’t walk long distances.
my foot looked like yours in terms of swelling. It was also very gloriously coloured for weeks

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 13/05/2022 17:23

Imagine if it is broken and heals badly and hurts forever for the rest of your life. All because you didn't want to spend a couple of hours in A&E for an X-ray

Original poster
user0512 · 13/05/2022 17:50

Thanks everyone. Waiting to be triaged. Gosh it actually hurts so bad. Walking on it is killing me

OP posts:
HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow · 13/05/2022 18:12

Good luck @user0512 I broke mine last week but thought it was a sprain for 4 days and probably made it a bit worse walking on it.

I hope A&E goes smoothly

iklboo · 13/05/2022 18:20

Looking at the photos again it looks like mine when I tore a ligament and fractured metatarsals. Also falling down a few steps at work. I'd turned right over on my ankle. Hope it all goes ok.

Original poster
user0512 · 13/05/2022 18:43

iklboo · 13/05/2022 18:20

Looking at the photos again it looks like mine when I tore a ligament and fractured metatarsals. Also falling down a few steps at work. I'd turned right over on my ankle. Hope it all goes ok.

What was the treatment that you were advised? Thank you so much xx

OP posts:
sparklefarts · 13/05/2022 18:47

I'd lay money on that being a break.

Original poster
user0512 · 13/05/2022 18:52

Waiting for an X-Ray. Using a wheelchair at the hospital to take away pressure (and pain) from that foot but dreading what I'll do when I go back home :/

OP posts:
DSawyer · 13/05/2022 19:00

I had something similar but had damaged the ankle. They put me in a boot rather than a cast. So much better IMO than a cast - gave me more freedom as I didn’t need crutches.
wishing you a speedy recovery!

1DoesNotSimplyWalkIntoMordor · 13/05/2022 19:01

Gherkingreen · 13/05/2022 16:38

@user0512 worth an x-ray to rule out a break. Be praying for a break because at least it will be treated properly rather than a severe ankle sprain like mine which took months and months to heal. Two years on and it's still a bit tweaky

Did you have any bruising on the sole of your foot?
My foot looked like yours after an accident, it was diagnosed as a sprained ankle and it took me 6 weeks to convince somebody that it was more than a sprain, turned out to be far worse than a sprain, I had suffered a Lisfranc Fracture which consisted of ligament damage and multiple fractures of the second Tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint and ligament damage to the first TMT joint.
OP that looks more like a Metatarsal Fracture than a sprain, glad you're getting it looked at.

Snaketime · 13/05/2022 19:01

Glad you finally went for an x-ray OP. But I second the pp that says hope it is a broken bone as at least they will do something. I have hypermobility syndrome so sprain my joints all the time and they take ages to heal and there is nothing really that medical professionals can do. I remember one time partially rupturing the ligament in my knee, I just had to get on with it.