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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not take DS to A&E

176 replies

IAmADancer · 09/01/2023 13:09

asking for your thoughts.

DS has dropped a 2kg dumbbell on his foot. He thought he would ‘try and see if he could lift it’

I have iced it, raised it and tried to get swelling down. He originally said it didn’t hurt but he’s now saying it’s painful to touch and he is walking in a funny way. DH said to take him to A&E, I feel this isn’t best course of action. GP won’t do anything.

I have attached a picture, am I being a bad mother not taking him to A&E? It is swollen but I think they’ll just say to ice it and give painkillers

To not take DS to A&E
OP posts:
Morestrangethings · 10/01/2023 03:36

IAmADancer · 09/01/2023 13:12

I suppose because he isn’t screaming in pain I thought it was likely just a nasty lump. I broke my toes when I was a teen and it was exceptionally painful and he isn’t really complaining of pain unless he walks on it

I broke toes too. But that looks worse. If he was my child I’d be getting a doctor to look at it.

GiltEdges · 10/01/2023 03:39

Forgooodnesssakenow · 10/01/2023 03:10

I wouldn't rush to a and e in the current climate for that. I'd ask myself if it was life threatening or unmanageably painful and what the consequences would be if waiting to call 111 and get their advice. Then I'd hope they'd send us to a minor injuries or advise wait until the morning for a GP referral to an x-ray clinic.

3 reasons for this

  1. What are they realistically going to do about a broken pinky toe that can't wait 24 hours if he's not in horrific pain while we rice the foot.
  1. There are up to 12 hour waits in some a and e departments, does this belong in that backlog? Does it serve a child in pain to do that wait rather than have pain relief etc at home then have x-ray tomorrow via GP?
  1. Is it bad enough to risk catching the 50 different communicable diseases we'd leave the hospital with? But then I have a kid with febrile seizures so I worry about this above all else.

Seriously though I'm shocked ho many would attend a and e for this

It’s an ACCIDENT potentially involving a broken bone, of course it belongs in ACCIDENT and emergency 🙄

If it was infact a metatarsal break, which is far more likely based on the picture that OP posted than a toe, then it’s important the X-ray happens ASAP to check the bones are still in alignment/surgery isn’t required to correct them before the bones start to fuse.

And FWIW, in our area there would be absolutely zero point attending the GP rather than A&E with a possible break like this, because you’d still end up being sent to the exact same hospital, to have the exact same X-ray via minor injuries. They wouldn’t even refer you for the X-ray, because it would take far too long.

TheaBrandt · 10/01/2023 04:58

My teen hurt her foot at a party. Pain didn’t go so after 24 hours we did go in. paediatric A&E was deserted we were out in 2 hours. Avulsion fracture.

TheLadyofShalott1 · 10/01/2023 06:17

Can you come back for a quick update @IAmADancer please!

Coffeecreme · 10/01/2023 06:45

i think i would have asked the GP if they could organise an X ray - otoh monday afternoon should have been reasoanble in A & E, and this is your ds, not me

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 10/01/2023 07:06

Forgooodnesssakenow · 10/01/2023 03:10

I wouldn't rush to a and e in the current climate for that. I'd ask myself if it was life threatening or unmanageably painful and what the consequences would be if waiting to call 111 and get their advice. Then I'd hope they'd send us to a minor injuries or advise wait until the morning for a GP referral to an x-ray clinic.

3 reasons for this

  1. What are they realistically going to do about a broken pinky toe that can't wait 24 hours if he's not in horrific pain while we rice the foot.
  1. There are up to 12 hour waits in some a and e departments, does this belong in that backlog? Does it serve a child in pain to do that wait rather than have pain relief etc at home then have x-ray tomorrow via GP?
  1. Is it bad enough to risk catching the 50 different communicable diseases we'd leave the hospital with? But then I have a kid with febrile seizures so I worry about this above all else.

Seriously though I'm shocked ho many would attend a and e for this

It looks likely to be a break so yes A&E is the correct place to go. If there is no minor injuries close by or open at the time, then A&E is correct. Breaks need to be looked at and set it possible, rather than waiting around for an appointment from the GP.

Homecomin · 10/01/2023 07:09

hope you’re home and he’s on the mend

Alleycat1 · 10/01/2023 07:10

I broke my leg last year but it didn't hurt much and it was only because a neighbour, who had been a paramedic, insisted that I went to A and E. Take the poor chap to a Dr at least.

beezlebubnicky · 10/01/2023 07:13

How did he get on OP? Hope he is doing ok and not in too much pain - painkillers, ice, rest and elevation for next few days.

Alleycat1 · 10/01/2023 07:14

Ignore my post. It was written some time ago but the Send button failed, I thought. Turns out it was a weak signal and it has just sent the post when things have moved on.

lightand · 10/01/2023 07:41

Topbird29 · 09/01/2023 13:11

I'd go to a & e to check if anything broken. If there is and it heals wrong, it could affect him a lot when older.

Yes this

I know someone, youngish, doesnt remember how she got the injury.
Now her toe has "healed" wrongly, as it happened 6 months ago.
She may have to have it rebroken and surgery on it.

LookItsMeAgain · 10/01/2023 08:09

IAmADancer · 09/01/2023 13:12

I suppose because he isn’t screaming in pain I thought it was likely just a nasty lump. I broke my toes when I was a teen and it was exceptionally painful and he isn’t really complaining of pain unless he walks on it

Were you expecting him to levitate to get around? It's only sore when he walks on it? That's what his feet are for, to walk around on.

Why on earth wouldn't you bring him to a minor injuries clinic or A&E for that??? Your thread title is "To not take DS to A&E", so based on that, I was reading it that you would let your DS ride it out, in pain when he walks on his foot, see how he gets on and not the alternative that @MotherOfCrocodiles was suggesting, trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. I think if that is what you were originally thinking when you started the post @IAmADancer, then that's really unfair to your DS.

If you had the same on your foot, would you expect to be seen by a medical professional if it only hurt when you walked on your foot???

NYE2023 · 10/01/2023 08:26

In a space of a few months my DD hurt her foot twice . The first time she was in agony, swollen and she couldn’t put weight on it at all. I took her to hospital and was admonished for not having done ice/ painkillers first . X Ray revealed it wasn’t broken . The second time - I diligently followed the ice / elevation / ibuprofen and she wasn’t in much discomfort . But it still looked weird to me so eventually we went to A&E. it turns out her foot was broken . So it’s impossible to judge . Dumbbells are pretty heavy so whilst bruising and swelling can look alarming I think you have no option but to get it checked . I would try and find a minor injuries centre if you can - ours is very quick . You could be in for a long wait at A&E - saying that our A&E triaged on arrival - some sent to urgent care queue , some to on site GP , some to minor injuries if you have that set up then that might be ok.

OhBitchPeas · 10/01/2023 09:38

I hate it when people don't come back.

Pr1mr0se · 10/01/2023 09:39

GP is not the same as A&E. Take him to hospital. Get his foot looked at by a professional.

amusedbush · 10/01/2023 09:47

Ouch, that's a sore one! Glad it's being looked at.

In summer 2020 I was (stupidly - do not recommend!) using an 8kg metal kettlebell to break up old slabs in the garden, by propping the slab up and then throwing the kettlebell at it. It worked well... until it bounced off one and cracked me in the shin. It was agony and I really should have had it looked at because even after the bruise faded, there was a lump and it was painful to touch for months afterwards. Then last month I fell down the stairs - the same spot is sore so I probably chipped the bone in 2020 and have bothered it again Blush

Moral of the story: be thankful if you don't have dyspraxia and an "ach, I'm sure it'll be fine" attitude Grin

AlmondBake · 10/01/2023 09:53

Pr1mr0se · 10/01/2023 09:39

GP is not the same as A&E. Take him to hospital. Get his foot looked at by a professional.

OP took him to hospital yesterday

Pr1mr0se · 10/01/2023 09:57

Great!

nozbottheblue · 10/01/2023 10:18

How did you get on OP? All ok with the foot?

NameChangePoP · 10/01/2023 10:23

I don't understand those saying not to go for that.

I broke my ankle playing a sport. The adrenalin kept me going and it was uncomfortable and not excruciating painful to start with. I didn't go until day 3, by which point I had been trying to weight bare as much as possible.
It was a displaced fracture that need pinning and surgery to correct it.

Pain isn't always an indictor of the severity.

MrsJBaptiste · 10/01/2023 10:37

I whacked my toe on a door over Christmas and my foot looked exactly like your son's picture @IAmADancer I've just put up with it as there's no way I'm hanging around in A&E for 12 hours to be told there's nothing they can do (well I presumed there wasn't!)

I always think there isn't a lot that can be done about toes if broken so soldiered on but after 2 weeks, it still bloody hurts although I can now just about walk without limping!

ArrrMeHearties · 10/01/2023 10:54

My ds dropped my 10kg Kettlebell on my foot when he was younger. The bang was horrible. I took him to a and e and they x rayed it to check for broken bones.

Dontlistitonfacebook · 10/01/2023 10:56

@MrsJBaptiste yes but the appearance of the OP's son's foot suggests a possible 5th metatarsal fracture, not a toe fracture.

She was sensible to get X ray to find out as treatment would be different.

Longleggedgiraffe · 10/01/2023 10:57

Why are you seeking advice on medical matters on here? Your son has had a nasty accident. Take him to either A&E or at the very least, your GP. This isn’t any time to be fanning around and I’m amazed at your reluctance to seek professional medical attention.

purpledalmation · 10/01/2023 11:04

Yes, minor injuries. That's quite a significant weight