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General health

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Original poster

Does this look like a bad sprain to you?

50 replies

Pd1 · 27/09/2023 11:47

Just looking for a bit of advice really. I twisted my ankle a few days ago and landed flat on my face. At first the pain in my ankle was horrendous and I was convinced that I wouldn’t be able to get up and weight bear. After some time I got myself up and was able to hobble home and walk around a bit. A bit later that evening I was in horrific pain and couldn’t put any weight at all on my foot, but the next morning was able to limp around and the pain had significantly reduced.
Am still limping but mostly able to walk and not in too much pain. The only thing that’s concerning me is the fact that my ankle now feels a bit wobbly/unstable and I’ve had quite a bit of tingling in my foot this morning.
I think it’s probably just a grade 1 sprain but just wanted some advice, am I ok to continue as I am or should I get it checked out?

Does this look like a bad sprain to you?

OP posts:

thinkfast · 30/09/2023 11:46

No point speaking to GP, they'll just tell you to get an X-ray.

Go and get an X-ray OP.

Highlyflavouredgravy · 30/09/2023 11:48

Oh for gods sake! Go to a and e! All this no wanting to waste time. You know you can end having your leg amputated for shit like this? Prople used to die of broken bones. Get the bloody thing checked!

user1497787065 · 30/09/2023 11:53

A GP will just send you for and X-ray. Just go to A and E or Minor Injuries if they have X-ray facilities.

No one will consider that you are wasting their time but I do feel you are wasting ours asking the same question over and over again. Just get it xrayed.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 30/09/2023 12:06

You need an x Ray 🤷‍♀️

It's a bit weird not to go to a&e with stuff like this tbh.

No one on mn can tell you if it's broken, only an x Ray can do that. Even if it's a bad sprain they can strap it up for you and give you a boot to wear. The longer you wait the greater the risk is of a break fixing in the wrong place.

You will absolutely be wasting your GPs time, you need to go somewhere with an X-ray machine!

MissBattleaxe · 30/09/2023 14:03

I work in a doctor's surgery and when people say "I don't want to waste a hospital appointment" what they mean is "I don't want to wait in A and E or MIU." A GP can't do an x-ray.

Original poster

Pd1 · 30/09/2023 14:15

I can promise you that I absolutely don’t mind waiting in a&e. Please don’t make presumptions about me!

OP posts:

Highlyflavouredgravy · 30/09/2023 14:57

Have you been yet????

HellNoBedBug · 30/09/2023 15:00

Honestly you’re wasting yours and the GPs time. They don’t have X-ray vision and can only tell you to go to A&E. they can’t do anything else nor jump the queue. Holiday places have minor injuries or A&E units too. Why mess around with your mobility?

of course they don’t mind crating and seeing 10 people to find the one break

BettyPhuckzer · 30/09/2023 15:12

Pd1 · 30/09/2023 10:13

Also forgot to mention that it seems more painful when I’m resting now. It felt really painful and was throbbing when I was in bed last night.

This happened to me and it was a broken bone in my foot

Highlyflavouredgravy · 02/10/2023 22:41

Have you been for an xray yet?

Original poster

Pd1 · 03/10/2023 10:22

I went for an x-ray and it’s not broken. They said it’s a sprain and will take about six weeks to get better. In the end I was convinced that it was broken, so I’m quite surprised. My foot is absolutely throbbing at night and the bone is quite tender to touch and I can still feel some weird sensations, but the x-ray was absolutely fine.

OP posts:

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 03/10/2023 12:01

See how you go but some fractures are only picked up on mri scans, have they given you a boot to help stabilise it?

Original poster

Pd1 · 03/10/2023 12:45

That’s a good point. If I don’t feel any better in six weeks then I’ll see if my GP can refer me for an MRI scan.
No, she didn’t give me anything. I’ve only just realised that she should have maybe given me a leaflet about sprains too. She just said it will be better in six weeks and then sent me on my way.

OP posts:

MissBattleaxe · 04/10/2023 18:51

You did the right thing OP. It could have been broken but an X-ray is the only way to know. Xx

Original poster

Pd1 · 04/10/2023 21:40

Me again! My ankle and foot have been really strange today. I’ve been feeling a stretching sensation in the side of my foot, like the ligaments and tendons are stretching when I stand up etc. And it’s getting really swollen again today. :(

OP posts:

bracemyselfagain · 04/10/2023 21:46

Pd1 · 04/10/2023 21:40

You need to be re-assessed.
Sad that your still suffering with this ...

whoisjoe · 04/10/2023 21:46

I did this exact thing about 8 weeks ago! No broken bones but gave me a support boot to use - which really helps take the pressure off whilst it heals. There could be muscle and ligament tears - so these take time to heal. Lots of ice, and regular ibruprofen/paracetamol. Try and elevate your foot as much as possible, you’ll be surprised at how little can aggravate it. I still have pain when I wear shoes as I didn’t rest it enough. I used the boot for about 2 weeks , can you get one?

Original poster

Pd1 · 04/10/2023 21:56

Thank you for your reply. If it’s no better by tomorrow evening I’ll definitely try to get reassessed.

OP posts:

Original poster

Pd1 · 04/10/2023 21:59

Thank you. I wasn’t offered a boot but I’ll look for one online as I feel that I need something to support it. I’m kind of dragging my foot along when I’m walking because it’s so hard.
I hope you’re on the mend! It’s a nasty injury!

OP posts:

whoisjoe · 04/10/2023 22:45

I’ve seen them on Amazon, it really helped with the pain and provided great support . Unfortunately still in a bit of pain and have a lump on the outside of foot 😆 I went back to normal activity wayyyy to soon however . I also got given simple exercises to do once pain had settled - I hope it heals soon for you! Definitely get re-assessed if not improving

bracemyselfagain · 15/11/2023 06:33

How's things OP?

Original poster

Pd1 · 16/11/2023 16:18

Thank you so much for asking! :) still not great, I’m walking around fine but still feel quite a lot of pain especially in the evening. I also seem to get a lot of swelling at night, like a golf ball on my ankle. My DH says that’s normal after a sprain, so hope it will settle down soon.

OP posts:

wishmyhousetidy · 16/11/2023 16:45

I had a foot similar to that and was x rayed lying down and was told it was not broken. After 3 weeks i couldn’t weight bear v much and it was swollen at night, another x ray and it was dislocated tendons and broken bone on bridge of foot. Google Lisfranc fracture- hospital was great in the end, pinned with metal, 3 month recovery but it is notoriously misdiagnosed as needs a weight bearing x ray. Hope it gets sorted Op

Original poster

Pd1 · 16/11/2023 17:04

Oh gosh, really? I hope yours has fully recovered now? Thank you, I’ve been thinking about asking my GP if it’s normal for it to be like this still so maybe she can advise further? I can weight bear fine though, it just kind of aches and still quite a bit of swelling especially at night.

OP posts:

wishmyhousetidy · 16/11/2023 17:57

It’s fine thank you now. Great nhs! Maybe yours just needs some more recovery time

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