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Original poster

Go to A&E - yes or no?

39 replies

Gobbledigook · 09/07/2006 21:24

Fell down stairs earlier (well sort of slipped down in my, aptly named, slippers). As I went I heard a 'snap' sound and then couldn't get up for a good 5 mins while I was in agony. After about 5 mins I was able to get up and can walk on it OK. It's swollen around the outside ankle bone adn it looks bruised.

I'm pretty sure I've not broken it or else I wouldn't be able to walk but JT is telling me I shoudl go to A&E where I'm pretty sure I'll just spend a crappy evening with a load of piss heads and come away with a tubigrip.

opinions please, whaddya think?

OP posts:
Whizzz · 09/07/2006 21:25

I would go - thats what they are there for.
Or you could get advice from NHS Direct first ?

Waswondering · 09/07/2006 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

notsoladyjess · 09/07/2006 21:26

i know a&e is totally shit but i reckon you should go. maybe you fractured it.
god, i am no doctor, what am i italking about!!
it does sound like an xray is needed, espec if it is swelling.
good luck with the piss heads.
great excuse to buy heat AND grazia, wouldn't you say?

DarrellRivers · 09/07/2006 21:27

stay at home,
alternatively there may ne no-one @A+E as all watching footie

chatee · 09/07/2006 21:27

i would go- you don't know what will happen during the night...

go now before the football finishes

puff · 09/07/2006 21:27

take a book and a magazine and some nibbles and go to A&E - the "snap" sound sounds a bit grim

albatros · 09/07/2006 21:28

While you are deciding what to do put a cold compress on it.

NappiesGalore · 09/07/2006 21:28

you could see how it goes over next few hours or overnight...

hope its ok soon, either way

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 09/07/2006 21:28

Hmmm, but am working (at home, granted) and I can walk OK on it. couldn't I just go to GP tomorrow if it's still dodgy?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/07/2006 21:28

No, i wouldn't bother. probably screwed up the ligaments or tendons, which won't show up on xray as it is.

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 09/07/2006 21:29

Yes, am sat with a bag of frozen sprouts on it but they are starting to thaw out and beginning to stink

OP posts:
Original poster
Gobbledigook · 09/07/2006 21:30

Expat - I just knew you'd say that!

I've gone over on this ankle before, I think the ligaments are weak so it's probably that and what will they do for it - nowt!

OP posts:
Tommy · 09/07/2006 21:30

somebody once said to me "If you don't know whether to go to A&E or not, you probably don't need to go" - which has worked for me pretty much.

You might have bruised the bone but if you can still walk on it, there's probably not much they can do anyway.
(BTW I am not a doctor )

puff · 09/07/2006 21:31

Your mother doesn't strike me as a fusspot

southeastastra · 09/07/2006 21:31

if you're screaming in agony go, if not go to the doctors tomorrow

Elf1981 · 09/07/2006 21:31

You can walk on broken bones. Friend of mine "hurt" their leg, week later went to a&e and had broken a bone.

I know of two people who did that with their arms as well (I know you dont walk on them but you know what I mean!), though they were fine but they'd actually broken them.

Go, go now before the football finishes and the pi$$ heads start throwing things at each other in the city centres!

expatinscotland · 09/07/2006 21:34

if it's a 'trick' ankle, you've probably sprained it again. of course, they won't bother doing an MRI to find out the damage at A&E.

i broke my foot and ankle when i missed ONE lousy step when i was 19, and believe me, i couldn't get up and walk!

since then, i sprain it about once a year - badly every so often - but it tricks out at least once a week.

think i knackered the ligaments and tendons when i broke it.

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 09/07/2006 21:36

Sounds similar expat - I 'go over on it' all the time but this was with all my weight (not that much!).

Hmm, am leaving it till tomorrow but puff is right - Jools didn't rush me to A&E the first time I did it when I ws about 15 AND on teh same bloody stair (remember we now own mum and dads old house?)!!!

OP posts:
lewsmummy · 09/07/2006 21:37

I'd go, i fell and heard a snap a few years ago my ankle swelled and foot bruised straight away. I didn't think it was broke cos i could walk on it too but my parents (i was sill at school and lived at home at the time btw) made me go and eventually after 5 hours waiting was told i'd broke 2 bones in my foot

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 09/07/2006 21:38

But did they do anything? THey don't put ankles or feet in plaster do they? Genuine question btw!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/07/2006 21:41

they shouldn't plaster anything fully for the first 48 hours b/c of swelling.

MerlinsBeard · 09/07/2006 21:46

they do put ankles and feet in plaster. Up here they will plaster u staraihth away and then u have ur plaster reset after 24/48 hours when swelling has gone down. I would go b4 football finishes.

btw, i have broken both wrists (not at the same time) 3 times and 2 of those times i didn't sawell and i could still move them.

MerlinsBeard · 09/07/2006 21:46

straight

lewsmummy · 09/07/2006 21:49

I had a soft half plaster on or 24 hours then once swelling went down a proper one up to my knee but only because they wern't sure if my ankle was broke as well

Twiglett · 09/07/2006 21:52

I fell over once .. heard a snap .. got up could walk on it (just) wiggle my toes ... by the time they got my boot off at A&E it had swollen to about twice the size

turns out I'd snapped off my ankle bone .. and had spiral fractures of my tibia and fibia

guess what I reckon?

Go to A&E