Fell down the stairs hurt my foot, a & e or wait ?

[Zaina89]

So about an hour ago I was coming downstairs holding my 20 month old. I went to walk down the first step and slipped, luckily I had held off baby tightly so she didn’t get hurt or fall but I watched as my leg and foot went in all sorts of positions. I sat on the stairs for 10 minutes crying because I had sharp shooting pains in my foot. I managed to walk down to the sofa with my older children’s help but it hurts to put weight on it. It’s a little swollen but my older children helped and I had ice on it straight away. I can’t bend the last 2 of my toes, it hurts all around the top part of my foot and hurts to put weight on it, I can walk but I’m limping and like I said can’t bend my last 2 toes and when I put pressure I get shooting pains.

never had a fall like this before but I’m in a lot of pain. I called my husband who’s on his way home from work but my sister in law came and she’s told me to have a hot bath whilst she watches the kids and see if it helps.

any ideas? There is minimal swelling but I have a lot of pain in my actual foot and can’t bend the last 2 toes and hurts when I try

Hot bath? That won't help.

I would get that checked out.

If you are struggling to bear weight then I think you need to go to an and e or minor injuries. It’s quite possible you’ve broken something

Get your SIL to watch the children and your husband to take you to hospital or the minor injuries unit, it needs checked out.

I'd go to a&e for that, you've quite possibly broken something. Hot bath won't help, you need ice.

A and e is for accident
You had an accident

Go get it checked

You need to be seen incase it's broken - you've had an accident and may require treatment its absolutely fine to use A&E. However, I would try to find a minor injuries unit as it may be quicker to be seen there. My DD jammed her finger in a car door recently, I called 111, they arranged a video call back from an advanced nurse practitioner who assessed her pain level & injury and decided she could wait until the next day for an xray - we went for xray at 11 the next morning & were in & out within an hour. She had broken her finger. I was so impressed with the system!

Goodness. Get it xrayed or Ct‘d (I broke my foot badly last year and I’m still feeling the consequences). Why not go???

Definitely not a hot bath. I’d get checked out

you need an x-ray
go now
take a snack, drink, power bank

Hot bath is a fairly stupid suggestion. I’d go and get it checked out, but even if you don’t ice it, don’t heat it

Definitely not heat. Go to A&E. Hope its not broken

Paracetamol, ibuprofen, ice (frozen peas would do), elevate and rest then go to a minor injuries unit that has an x-ray facility. It sounds like you could have fractured bones in your foot. No hot bath as it won't help with the post-injury inflammation and will likely cause more pain.

Ice and paracetamol and then if you still can't stand on it go for an x-Ray. No other way to k own if its broken....sounds highly likely if it hurts enough to make you cry like that.

Phone 111 for advice. I did exactly the same (twice! Nightmare open tread stairs). They booked me a slot both times at minor injuries. This meant I could rest at home until the slot was near then husband could drive me in. I was seen pretty quickly.

I'm sure i broke my big toe a few years ago. I was scared to call an ambulance as i had noone to look after dd.
the pain subsided by day 3, but it was agony until then xx

Absolutely A&E with an icepack. Have you got a small injuries unit anywhere? Alternatively check which hospitals have the least waiting time.

Yeah a&e, I did something similar and I’d fractured it. Found out on the xray. I had to be in a boot for 6ish weeks, it was only a minor fracture but still.

Call 111 for advice - hopefully there's a minor injuries unit near you. Don't have a hot bath, ice it and elevate it.

The fact you can't bear weight suggests you may have fractured/broken a bone or sprained your foot. Keep ice on your foot, and see if your husband or SIL can take you to A&E. If you have a minor injuries unit open, you may be seen quicker.

A&E.
You need to get an X-Ray.
Don't walk on it.
Get a babysitter then head to hospital.
Be prepared for either a "boot" or cast and crutches if you have broken it.

Ouch poor you! Minor injuries is your friend here. Unfortunately I suspect most are closed now unless you live in a bigger town or city. A&E on a sunny Friday will be hellish, although it is still early. I agree with PP you need to get it looked at. In the meantime time remember RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (although not sure about compression on a potential break -sure others here will know).

A hot bath? Ludicrous advice : how you going to get in and out without weight bearing ( likely will slip over risking more injuries), plus such heat is the exact opposite of what is needed. You need to apply Ice. Or frozen peas. And definitely a walk in centre or A and E

Hot bath is terrible advice.

With that description i’d say a&e for imaging (ex medic)

I hope you’ve gone to A&E. If you can’t weight bear or move two of your toes you definitely need to get it assessed.