To not know where to turn for help with this?

[ihowlforyou]

I fell and fractured my ankle a week ago. I was told it’s a stable fracture to be treated like a sprain. I also really tore up my knee, which has been very slow to heal.

A week on and I’m still incredibly swollen, bruised and my ankle is becoming more and more painful. My knee is still very sore, the actual skin is numb but I have pain at the base and top of my kneecap. It also feels a little unstable and I am getting sharp stabbing pains to one side of my kneecap.

My GP isn’t interested. They say that I have to go to physio if I need, as it’s a muscular injury.

Physio has an eight week minimum wait for a video consultation.

This obviously isn’t an A&e situation (shamefully I did go to A&E for the initial injury because it had a very short wait time, it seemed to be a quiet time of day!), and they wouldn’t take a look at my knee anyway as it’s a “superficial injury”.

Minor injuries is now by appointment only in my area and appointments are gone within a minute of opening.

I’ve tried the pharmacy for the graze that isn’t healing but they just say to dress it and keep it clean and it’ll heal “eventually”.

I feel like I’m being turned away at every turn but I’m in so much pain, I’m left feeling sick by lunchtime because my ankle is that sore, and by the end of the day I can’t stand walking around. I have basic physio exercises from my last sprain years ago but I can’t do them, but I can’t be seen by anyone.

Please don’t suggest a private physio assessment, it’s not within my budget at all. AIBU to just feel despondent and like I can’t get help anywhere?

That’s quite literally the least I can do in a day. I’m barely moving during the workday, it’s just getting myself in and out of work. I have no other options.

They will have to cope. Honestly, no-one is indispensable at work, no matter how much they think they are. Take the time off and prioritise your health. Look after yourself and give yourself a chance to heal rather than making it worse!

The graveyard is full of people who thought they couldn’t be done without.

Would you expect one of your team mates to walk to work on a broken leg? Would you maybe make them carry a backpack while they are at it?

I think you need to have a chat with yourself.

Have you any friends or family or people who care about you at all? Do you care about yourself?

I just felt a bit like I was being a nuisance when I went the first time, so I feel like it’ll be even worse if I went back. 111 have offered me a nursing call back but I was seen by a nurse in a&e the first time, so I feel like the advice will be the same. I just want it to stop hurting, and for someone to tell me what to do about the pus that’s coming out of my knee. I feel like because I’ve not snapped my leg in two it’s just written off as a minor injury

Well it’s not minor and you need to speak up or you will end up worse. Is there anyone that can go with you to the hospital and get it rechecked? You need to do this. We are all telling you the same thing.

Are you taking any painkillers? Ibuprofen will help.

I agree with everyone saying go back to A&E and get another x-ray. Take the day off work tomorrow, show up at A&E at 9am and it will be quieter than the evening. Get a second opinion on the break and ask how you get a proper boot to keep it protected while it heals.

Ibuprofen every 4 hours, paracetamol in the gaps in between (so I’m not going 2 hours without them) and codeine some nights if it’s been awful.

Can I just do that though? Is that the way to get a second opinion? I felt bad enough going to a&e the first time

Of course you can take time off. Your workplace will just have to cope. They should have plans in place for that eventuality and if they don’t, that’s not your problem.
You need to go to A and E first thing and get it looked at again.

I'm very surprised that you have been given such generalised information. If you have a fracture (stable or otherwise),, I am not sure that you should be walking normally.
I would have thought partial weight bearing at the most, ice pack and elevation whilst sitting and regular analgesia.
Also, your knee should be cleaned and dressed to prevent infection.
Please take care of yourself OP, fractured ankles are very painful.

Pus indicates infection so you need to get a GP appointment or see a pharmacist as you may need it swabbed and be given antibiotics.
And your ankle hurts cos you are walking on it too much. It's that simple. Walking 5000 steps a day is giving it no chance to heal.

I was really shocked too. The guy seemed almost angry it was fractured?

I turned up and as soon as I hobbled into a&e he asked why I was there as a sprain isn’t an a&e problem and as I could weight bear it wasn’t fractured.

I explained my symptoms and he said again that because I could weight bear and the pain was radiating around my leg it wasn’t a fracture but he “may as well” do an xray.

I sat and waited a while and he came back, said it was fractured, but it should be treated like a sprain and went through the police acronym and sent me on my way with a leaflet for physio if I needed

OP go back to A&E and call in sick tomorrow. This is ridiculous, you don't need permission but please do take it, you should not be walking 5000 on a fractured ankle. Work would cope without you for a week.

Please go and get seen before you end up with a septic leg.

Go to A&E - the situation is worsening. Don’t hold back about the pain level and symptoms. Make a fuss.

OP no one is indispensable. We all find it out sooner or later. Go back to a and e. Make a fuss, get some care.

The pharmacist just tells me to keep it clean and dressed, the AI gp form bounces me back to the pharmacy. I’m sick to the back teeth of all of it, I’m tired, in pain and feeling grotty in general and everyone I speak to makes me feel like a nuisance for daring to ask for help for something so minor

Are you actually telling us that you are working in the hospital?

Yes you can get a second opinion any time you want and you can also GO TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL if you want to.

Your options are limitless but you need to get it rechecked.

i understand you are in pain and probably not thinking clearly but do you have any one who can go with you and help you?

Was it you who fell on the way to work and had an avulsion fracture? You certainly didn’t get very good treatment then, if it was you. I think you should go back to A&E and tell them exactly what is going on.

However, NOBODY is indispensable at work. That is just plain irresponsible of you.

It’s an avulsion fracture isn’t it, which under NHS guidelines is to be treated like a sprain. It is not remotely the same as having a broken ankle where you’d be in a cast/boot.

Unfortunately there’s nothing you can do except try not to walk on it too much and take painkillers. It’ll take 4-6 weeks to heal. But you already know this.

So bloody what?

111 told me to go to urgent care for similar and booked me in. You might need an MRI, so ring 111 and ask what to do. Ignoring "minor" issues like this has left too many people with permanent problems.

I know it sounds stupid but i’m almost scared to go back. I don’t want a flag on my records to say I’m seeking drugs or a diagnosis or something. I just want some help.

The bruising is spreading up my leg, and all over my foot. I was literally told nothing.

Surely you should be in a boot for some support. It is admirable that you don't want to let your team down but a team is only as strong as its weakest link and that would be you right now. You are not fit for work. Get your GP to prescribe painkillers and sign you off. Rest is essential for an injury like yours.

Go to another hospital then.

I recently fractured my foot and following an x-ray at minor injuries, was given similar advice.

Due to the pain, numbness and difficulties with getting around (I had no choice but to walk around on it as I had just had a baby) I didn’t think it would get better, but by week 8, it was fine.

I wore supportive trainers, and it was easier to walk with those tied tight. But it was my foot that was fractured, not my ankle, so I don’t know whether that would actually help you or not.

I slept with my foot elevated, and that helped too.

I considered going to A&E a few times, as I just didn’t feel it was getting better. But it did, with time.

Of course you can phone in sick.
Would you go in if your appendix burst or you chopped or finger off or you caught pneumonia or had severe explosive diarrhea??
(I bloody hope not....)
Go back to A+E.
You aren't complaining about your previous treatment - you're going there to get treatment because it's got worse.
Which (in this situation) is what A+E is for.