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?

Being a martyr won’t get you anywhere.

Just go back in the morning for heaven’s sake.

Elevate it tonight, put antiseptic on the graze and go to A and E sooner if you feel nauseous or spike a temp.

I’m knackered but really struggling with sleep atm (not a shock as I do at the best of times!)

They would have to manage if you were hit by a bus.

It's still an injury that needs to be treated so it can heal.

(how come they can manage at work when you go on holiday....?)

She hasn’t got a broken ankle, she has a minor/stable avulsion fracture which is treated like a bad sprain.

OP is this basically what they told you?

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/leg-and-foot-problems-and-conditions/ankle-avulsion-fracture/

I think if you’re particularly concerned about pain or bruising you’d be better going to see your GP. A&E aren’t going to tell you anything different.

@ihowlforyou ah bless you.. broken ankle not good for existing insomnia! Maybe the maximum dose of codeine you are able to take and propping the ankle up on a pillow or two will help. Hard to sleep like that I know, but the codeine might help that.

I personally don't see any point going back to A&E as is being suggested. The advice will be the same to rest it, ice it and elevate it. You can walk on it but it will be very sore for a few weeks. So you just have to take pain killers that are strong and try and get a splint from the fracture clinic. It won't help with the pain but will give you a bit more stability.

It’s a broken bone in my ankle. It’s at fucking painful, and annoying. Trying to minimise it isn’t going to make me be nice to you. I’ve explained what I was told.

Is this you who posted last week when you did it? I think you need to try to take a bit more control of the situation.

Your reluctance to see anybody else and your attitude of continuing to work under the guise of “well I’m still breathing” (under pressure from your work I think) isn’t really doing anybody any favours and is just prolonging the agony.

Call in sick tomorrow (it IS possible, unless you’re genuinely saving lives) get back to A&E for a second opinion, get your ankle and your knee strapped up properly, and go back on Friday in better shape. Come on now, you can do it!

I think you need to go back to A&E for a second opinion on the ankle as well as get the knee looked at.
And forgive me if am wrong, I thought when things went numb, it was a nerve issue rather than muscular? I would deffo get the knee xrayed too, sounds like something may be being compressed (at a guess) and I seriously would question walking on that ankle, esp with no boot.

Sorry OP, if I remember right your work were not happy about you being off? Don't be afraid to take the day off to get yourself from hospital and go from there.

I'm sure you feel that way, but unfortunately everyone is expendable.

I would also recommend go back to A&E if your symptoms are worsening, and I'd also insist on a boot or crutches or something. If they flat out refuse then ask for another doctor.

Is there anyone on your local Facebook group who has crutches you can borrow?

I genuinely do not know how many more times I can say it. I cannot call in sick. My managers would not accept it. I would likely face a disciplinary.

You have to go off sick. Seriously. Go to another hospital, another A&E department, get yourself sorted out.

You can’t be walking. Elevate and rest. You get a fit note for work as you are not fit to work.

I’ve had a severe sprain and I couldn’t walk on it for about 3 weeks. I can’t believe you are doing 5,000 steps a day. What does Protection and Optimal Loading actually mean?

It’s just the skin on the knee that’s numb, where k grazed it. It’s probably really normal for a bad graze but it turns my stomach when I try to clean it up, I don’t know how to explain the feeling it gives me!

You cannot face a disciplinary for being off sick with a fractured ankle.

Absolutely no idea. From Google it looks as though I need to protect the ankle (???? Shin pads maybe?) and from what I can tell optimal loading is not hiking on it, or that’s how he described it to me

@ihowlforyou i'm turning in for the night myself OP.

I hope you feel a bit better in the morning and get some rest.

She wasn't given a cast, boot or crutches.
A&E I think have let her down, even if it's just for a referral if not done straight away.
Her GP isn't helping and her knee is also numb in places and hurting in others. I don't know about you, but this doesn't sound good or that she's been looked at properly.

I absolutely can when I’ve been in work for a week.

That sounds illegal.

I had to take my daughter to minor injuries last week as she had stupidly twisted away from her horse, whilst wearing flip flops!
They took an x-ray and the nurse had a look and said it will be fine, just go and rest. She was in a lot of pain. We went back to the hospital and this time a doctor looked at the xray and said you have an avulsion fracture. They said she must not weight bear and to wear a boot and use crutches for the next few weeks.
It sounds like you need a boot and crutches!

A minor and stable fracture is only the status at the time the X-ray was taken. This can easily change for worse. Repeat images for comparison and to confirm normal healing process are required. You need to go back to A&E. Call 111 if you’re not convinced and they’ll tell you the same. There’s nothing a GP or pharmacist can do other thar pain management advice.
If there been deterioration in the status then it may need intervention now to avoid potential complications. Just go back to A& E

I just don’t want to make a nuisance of myself. I don’t want to make it seem like I think I know better