hospital or wait for minor unit tomorrow?

[SweetStrawberry]

hello,

I started a new exercise regime beginning of the month and since last weekend, I've had a very painful ankle/calf. Really struggle to bear weight on the affected ankle. I am able to walk on it but it really hurts to and aches.

Cannot go on to tip toes, it feels like I've got pins and needles if I lift it off the ground. Even touching it hurts (my toddlers have been drawn to it since its happened I swear and have run into it multiple times!)

I've done rest, ice, elevate etc. but I'm not sure if I should see how it goes or go to hospital/minor unit.

one reason I'm considering hospital is because I have people to help with my toddlers today, noone can during the week and minor unit is open 9-5 weekdays.

does it sound like just a nasty sprain? I don't want to do any more damage as its not really easing up.

Does your minor injuries unit have the option to x-ray? If not I’d go to the hospital today. Sounds nasty!

it's odd because there is only slight swelling, no bruising. the pain is all inside.

I am not too sure, I will double check.

Have you had it for a week? If so and it's not got worse I would wait and go to minor injuries unit tomorrow morning. However if you have flu like symptoms or if it's got red, hot and the area is spreading then yes I would go to A&E but be prepared for a long long wait.

If you’ve had it since last weekend, one more day is neither here nor there. It’s not something I’d go and sit in A&E for several hours for tbh. Are you taking anti inflammatory meds & pain killers?

I agree with not going to a and e if you have had it a week. I'd continue with painkillers and go tomorrow.

How did you do the injury?

I think you’re too late to go today, wait times at our A&E are 8 hours+ and you’re unlikely to be priority.

I’d call your GP tomorrow. You need to rule out a DVT as well (make sure you mention that too when you call).

I honestly have no idea how I done it. I recently started up a new exercise regime, I noticed after one of my sessions it was really hurting and I was struggling to put weight on it but I shrugged it off as overdoing it and iced it when I got home.

think i will go minor injuries tomorrow morning, my toddlers will have to just come with me.

its more the weird numb sensation that has freaked me out

Sorry, OP, I should have been clearer, Is the injury from a specific exercise like running, weight training, spinning...?

oh i see, I started a lot of HIIT and dance based

I'd say ring your GP tomorrow as there's no obvious injury (so you won't get an X-ray) only thing I would be concerned about is possible blood clot but more likely just a soft tissue over use type of thing.
Or call 111

It's a sprain/strain why do you need to see anyone? I despair of current health seeking behaviour. People Google everything else but seem to see out the rare and wonderful on Google instead of the first obvious answer.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/sprains-and-strains/

A sprain can be mild right the way through to a fully ruptured tendon. An inability to move a joint (in this case toes) and pins and needles says to me some level of damage to the tendon and/or nerves too.

Or it could be a DVT.

The former can be seen tomorrow if you can tolerate the pain. The latter needs medical attention today.

Also. I'm just a random on the internet. Call 111 to get the best advice

I injured myself a week ago - i have only become concerned recently because I've started loosing feeling in areas of my foot and am still struggling to bear any weight.

why is that reason to despair? I don't want to do any further damage by assuming all is okay which I am guilty of doing in the past.

you might have a DVT (although having an obvious injury makes this less likely): i'd have a low threshold for having calf pain and swelling seen, just for a d-dimer blood test

Doesn't sound like an a&e problem. Leave it till tomorrow/minor injury unit

Hi OP, you can telephone our local minor injuries dept direct and book an appointment- have a look and see if you can do the same, would mean your toddlers wouldn’t be hanging around too long (111 is just a waste of time in my experience!). Ours is open on the weekend too - any chance yours is? I had a great experience this morning where we were seen within an hour and dc’s wound dressed and told a&e not necessary. Good luck.

That is really unfair. A friend of mine fell on her foot, and sprained her ankle. Walked on it for ages. Eventually sought help as it was not getting better. Got a huge telling off for weightbearing on it. She is now having physio sessions to get full use of her ankle back.
Sprains can also present similar to a fracture, and there are also different grades of sprain.

I am walking on a similar injury myself at the moment. Nearly 3 weeks and no better. Am I allowed to see a doctor now?

I'd go to minor injuries or GP tomorrow.
A&E won't be interested in an injury that's a week old in this current climate. You'll probably still be waiting tomorrow lunchtime!

That's not A&E worthy in the current climate.

Deffo GP tomorrow. Probably easier to take your toddlers with you than to minor injuries too.

Can’t weightbear, no improvement in a week, new altered sensation. As a first aider I’d point this in the direction of minor injuries as long as they have an xray - not being able to weightbear will incline towards an xray, and soft tissue damage can be just as detrimental as a fracture.

However, if advised to get physio I’d find a private sports injury specialist rather than wait for NHS help.

First aider trumps GP with 20+ years experience (and regular 111 work). Welcome to the future of NHS healthcare 🤣🤣🤣

If it's been a week, then clearly it isn't an emergency - why waste the time of A&E staff?