Think I broke my arm but a couple of weeks ago, what now?

[musicposy]

About 2, maybe 3 weeks ago I was standing on the edge of the bath to reach something and slipped and fell. I landed hard on my arm on the side of the bath. It hurt like mad and came up in an enormous bruise. I could barely move it. I debated going to A and E but I have a history of ridiculous accidents that I could have probably managed at home so I thought it would probably calm down if I took painkillers and left it.

All this time later and the pain is still unbearable and if anything, getting worse. I cannot lift anything heavy, drive without pain, or use the arm much and I wake up in the night feeling ill with it.

But I can't go to A and E now and say "Hey, I have an emergency, I banged my arm 3 weeks ago," because I'm going to look like a right wally and timewaster. Doctors appointment are always for 3 weeks time unless you say you're going to die that day - which I'm not. We have no walk in clinic near, or that is what I would do.

I get so cross with myself because I never learn not to do stupid things. I will probably be one of those old people who dies putting on tights or something.

Anyhow, I think it needs looking at, but how?

I'd go to A&E. You could always call them first and ask?

I think you should go to A&E unless you can get a GP appointment in the next couple of days. Alternatively, do you have a minor injuries unit near you? They might be a good starting point.

Is there one part of your arm which hurts more then the rest if you press on it? You do need to go to A&E. You can demand an x-ray if they tell you to go home, make sure you stand your ground.

some minor injuries have x ray facilities, so if you really cannot bear to turn up at A&E I'd phone them in the morning

Can you bear another night?? Poor you.

You do need to go to A&E to avoid permanent damage.

OK, I will go tomorrow. Thank you for making me feel that I'm not wasting time. I can manage the night, it's bearable on ibruprofen.

Yes, one part hurts more than the rest if you press on it, the part where I hit it. I assumed that was bruising but otherwise I have no clue what that means. Weirdly, it also hurts in parts of my arm I didn't hit, further up and down.

Sadly we only have a major A and E or GPs. The NHS website makes A and E sound as though you need major bleeding/ breathing difficulties/ about to die and that put me off. I also, rather stupidly, assumed that even if it was a break it would heal whether I went or not.

The bones in your arm (the radius and ulna) are like a ring, if one part is broken then it's likely that another part of the opposite bone will break also. You need to rest it as much as you can, put it into a sling if this is possible. You really do need to go to A&E. If it's broken then they will need to either plaster it, or do something else. A&E deal with all sorts, lots of fractures. You poor thing, you must be in so much pain. I hope they sort it out tomorrow.