Do I need to go to a&e?

[OuchThisReallyHurts]

I was out walking my dog earlier today and fell over. I slipped going downhill on some soggy leaves. I smacked my left hip/buttock area quite heavily and also hit my knee on a rock. It now hurts in both hips to take a deep breath, it hurts to walk, I can’t sit comfortably and my knee is in quite constant pain. I’ve taken paracetamol and ibuprofen and they’ve not touched the sides of it. I’m quite worried I’ve done something significant

as a nurse (ICU) I would find your pain when breathing concerning for fractured ribs. Do you think that’s a possibility based on how you fell? Any difficulty breathing should ALWAYS be checked out OP.

If you're creating a post on Mumsnet, you don't need to go to A+E.

Oh, don't be silly.

I would go this evening. I would want to get the pain on breathing checked out.

That sounds like absolute agony! I once fractured the ball part of one of my shoulder joints and the pain was off the scale, yours sounds worse though. I always think leg/hip must be worse given that they are weight bearing.

Mumsnet isn't a place to ask about health. You'll have people saying straight to A&E for a stubbed toe and some saying just because you can type on here clearly you don't need to go when you're having a heart attack.

Call 111, its what they're there for. If something is impacting your breathing clearly you need to look into it. They may say you can wait until GP tomorrow. If they say to A&E go to A&E. You may not want to wait and leave the dog but leaving the dog for a few hours overnight when they'll be asleep anyway is much better than you not getting help and getting worse and ending up in hospital for days.

Don't be absurd - the 2 have absolutely nothing to do with the other.

15 years ago I was a little like OP - slipped on ice and the pain was unbearable. DH helped me hop to the couch - but I thought like OP that it might get better and to wait until morning - took some pain killers, finished a work project - but then next morning was worse. Was taken to hospital by ambulance, straight into a cubicle where my leg was put in plaster before it could be x-rayed. Turns out I had totally destroyed a joint and had permanent nerve damage - after surgeries and rehab have never walked properly again.

I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s difficulty breathing but just painful to take a properly deep breath/yawn? But it’s hurting right at the top of my hip/pelvis so I don’t think it’s my ribs.

I laid down for a nap because I was knackered but then every time I turned over it was hurting so much it woke me up. I think it’s muscular as opposed to skeletal though as it’s only on movement so im going to get myself ready for bed properly and hope it clears up by the morning

There are not enough eye rolls available for this post.

Slipping and landing on your backside does really hurt for quite a while. Broken ribs also really hurt for a while. There’s not much they can do for either.
Personally I wouldn’t go to A&E, I’d take some painkillers and see how it goes. I do agree with pps that being able to move does not rule out a break. See how it goes over next few days. Sometimes the GP will book an X-ray.

WRONG.

& stop posting shit that puts people off seeking medical help that they need.

But they can check to see if you've done any internal damage. Anything causing pain when you breathe needs checking out.

f you're creating a post on Mumsnet, you don't need to go to A+E.

Yep, only legitimate to go to A&E when you are dead.

111 do not book tests such as x rays etc.

I walked on a broken foot for 3 weeks and did permanent damage to myself when I was in my early 20's because I didn't want to make a fuss or go to A&E unnecessarily. Damage that I'll now have the rest of my life, all because people in my family shared the absolutely moronic view you'll see on here a lot that if you're not rolling on the floor writhing in agony, you don't need the hospital.

Just go. Worst case scenario you leave with bruises, a bit embarrassed and with some decent painkillers and anti-inflammatory meds.

I will also say you saying it's muscular rather than skeletal doesn't actually make it better. Sometimes muscle, tendon and nerve damage can be worse and longer to heal than bone damage, a broken bone isn't actually the worst case scenario here. My brother's broken ankle took six weeks to heal, his torn Achilles tendon took 3 years.

Surely it's just best to be safe and get checked out?

I really do think you should get checked right now. The pain when breathing is concerning. Also being in your twenties doesn't mean you can't have fractured your hip or your pelvis. I had a fall from a horse in my 20s and the doctors were very concerned I may have fractured one or both. A potential pelvic fracture needs checking ASAP as it can have very nasty life-threatening complications including internal bleeding. Given the location of the pain you need checking.

Oh,, and it's total nonsense that people can't walk on broken bones. Twice I've walked around for several days on a fractured ankle. (You would think I'd have learnt the first time).

This is such a dangerous myth. Yes they don’t usually “fix” broken ribs but they absolutely do need treatment. Broken ribs cause pain when breathing, this leads people to avoid coughing and deep breathing which puts them at huge risk of retaining secretions and chest infections and pneumonia which can be very nasty. You need adequate pain relief to ensure you are comfortable enough to deep breathing and cough. The amount of people I see every every week/month/year on a ventilator because they have broken ribs and subsequently ended up with a chest sepsis would shock you.

That's nonsense, and potentially dangerous nonsense at that. If you saw the thread on here recently from someone who was posting while clearly very unwell, and who turned out to have sepsis, it would have put the kibosh on your theory.

Tell that to the poster recently who was debating going and then turned out to have sepsis.

You sound just like my mother.

Multiple times as kids we were cutting about with broken bones because she didn't think we were in enough pain. My little sister nearly died of meningitis at 6 because she thought she was being dramatic.

Hope you don't have kids.

Such a good and accurate post

Is that the one from the other day? With the lady who was going to pick up her kids from school?

If there’s even a possibility your hip is fractured you shouldn’t muck about with it. It’s one fracture that always needs surgery. First thing in the morning is a good time to go to A&E.

If you ahve not yet gone to A and E, I'd call 111 and they will either suggest A and E or a minor injuries or might get you an appointment at your GP tomorrow.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/

It can take two hours for them to call back, if not more, so I would call tonight and not go into work tomorrow (if you work).... just be prepared because if you are trying to call them Monday morning you may wait longer.