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Original poster

Could I have broken my leg without knowing?

14 replies

worriedleg · 07/12/2016 17:29

Firstly I know only a HCP can confirm this and am going to A&E in the morning, but just wanted opinions in advance as am getting in a bit of a tiz:

Fell over 10 days ago fairly forcefully - broke the skin on my shin quite badly. Was against a metal grate. Had a fair amount of swelling but absolutely no pain.

10 days on wound healed well, still have experienced ABSOLUTELY no pain whatsoever but now the swelling has gone down I have noticed a few bobbly/harder bits on my shin and some isolated swelling. Am cacking it that have broken my tibia.

But I have had no pain or discomfort at all, carried on absolutely as normal apart form a bit of ice in the first few days. Have I been monumentally stupid here? I assumed because I felt nothing I couldn't have broken a bone - internet says tibia is one of the most painful fractures and walking could be impossible.

Aaargh stupid stupid me. And presumeably carrying on as normal is going to have increased the chances of healing not going well if so?!

OP posts:
Pestilence13610 · 07/12/2016 17:31

This is a case for a GP not A&E

freewheezy · 07/12/2016 17:37

You would be very aware if you had broken your leg. Just make a gp appointment to check out the swelling.
Please don't go to a&e. It is certainly not an emergency.

CharlieChipmunk · 07/12/2016 17:38

Gosh don't go to A & E!

Original poster
worriedleg · 07/12/2016 17:40

OK OK I won't go to A&E - please ignore that bit. I guess I was thinking that was the only way to get an Xray and that would be what the GP would suggest. Was prepared to sit there all day to wait. I didn't think it was an actual medical emergency. Have been told in the past by HCP with sprain if it doesnt clear up in 10 days take yourself off to A&E for an Xray.

Just to re-iterate please ignore the A&E bit - was more asking if you really thought it could be broken.

OP posts:
Pestilence13610 · 07/12/2016 17:42

Your GP can get you directed to an x-ray machine machine within 24 hours, if it is warranted.

HelenaJustina · 07/12/2016 17:45

Having broken my leg in the last 3 years, I would say that there is no way on earth I could have walked on it... the bruising lasted two-three weeks and the swelling for a good week. I was non-weight bearing for three months!

Agree with pp, GP your best route

MyShinyThing · 07/12/2016 17:50

A friend broke their leg at work, said it felt "odd" so his work mate drove him to a&e where they told him it was a spiral fracture. He'd walked to the car & into the hospital so I guess it is possible. He was in two minds whether to get it checked out but thought it best to as it happened at work. If not then he would have walked around on it for a while. Definitely get it checked!

CrotchetQuaverMinim · 07/12/2016 17:51

I broke my ankle, but nobody realised - sports clinic at the hospital did an xray but didn't spot it, and it was my GP who realised several weeks later, who sent me for another x-ray. They then DID have to refer me to A&E, because that was the only route to getting seen at the fracture clinic. However, I was in a lot of pain throughout the many weeks.

PinkSwimGoggles · 07/12/2016 17:53

yes it's possible to chip a bone in an incident like that. would be possible to walk buf very unlikely to be painless

Watto1 · 07/12/2016 17:54

My bil once broke a bone in his foot without realising. It was only when dh asked him how he got the massive bump that he realised something was amiss. He had an x ray and it was broken. To this day he had no idea how it happened. Probably worth a trip to the gp just in case.

Sidge · 07/12/2016 18:19

I think it's incredibly unlikely you have broken your tibia - it's a fairly big, chunky bone and to crack it completely takes a fair bit of trauma and you would be in significant pain and very unlikely to be able to weight bear, let alone walk around pain free for 10 days.

It's not really comparable to breaking a smaller bone in your foot or hand.

However you can chip or flake bone which could cause less pain and odd healing nodules - I would see your GP and they can send you for an X-ray if they're concerned.

TheMortificadosDragon · 07/12/2016 18:24

I was once talking to a guy who did mountain rescue and led lake district walks, he'd had someone fall but say they were fine; a few days later it transpired the guy had broken something in his leg (though I'll guess not a tibia). The guy was an orthopedic surgeon!

Original poster
worriedleg · 08/12/2016 12:59

OK just a quick update for those of you who very kindly responded (and thanks for telling me to go to GP - I think I had got myself firmly paranoid!).

She did thorough exam and said I haven't broken anything - said it was a big whack to the shin and the swelling is fluid protecting the area and could take a good few weeks to go back to normal. Said no need to refer for X ray as I have absolutely no pain. Made an appt for 10 days to review.

Phew! Was picturing a Christmas in plaster but that seems to be on the back burner for now.
Thanks for all the advice

OP posts:
freewheezy · 08/12/2016 13:00

Glad you're okay Smile

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