Painful foot injury after a fall

[MorganneA]

Two days ago I fell down a flight of stairs outside and landed on concrete. The side of my foot and ankle took the full impact, I heard a loud crack when I landed and it was agony. I went to the minor injuries clinic later that day as I could barely walk and I wanted an x-ray to rule out a break. My friend broke her foot and walked around for months and it caused her a lot of ongoing problems.

The nurse at the clinic said she doubted it was broken after making me walk a few steps (more like hobble as the pain was so bad.) She said they don’t x-ray anymore unless they’re sure it’s a break (but how they can be sure without an x-ray, I don’t know.) She said it’s probably a sprain and put a compression bandage on it and sent me home. I felt a bit dismissed after waiting so long to see someone.

It’s still very swollen and bruised. I’ve been elevating it and trying not to walk on it. The pain is getting me down and I can’t stop worrying about a break and perhaps having problems later. I walk a lot as part of my daily routine and not being able to do that isn’t helping my mood.

Do you think I should go elsewhere for a second opinion? Or continue to rest at home?

I would go for a second opinion.

Funnily enough I also fell last week and landed on the side of my foot on one side. I went to minor injuries the next day and after a very gentle exam was sent off for x-rays - she wanted to make sure there was no break before doing any manipulations.

I hope you feel better soon. I had no break but the ligament damage is bloody painful!

Definitely go for another look. Your experience sounds very similar to mine a couple of years ago, foot has never been the same since.

turns out I seriously damaged my tendons and should have had some reconstructive procedure; too late now: every time it’s cold and I get out of bed in the morning it hurts, when I flex my foot it hurts, you get the picture.

if the bruising is very bad and pain is also bad then it could well be more than a simple strain.

some nurses are fantastic but at the end of the day they aren’t doctors and don’t have the same level of training.

Go back to the minor injuries or to A&E. You need an X-ray at the very least

you definitely need an xray

Thanks for your replies. I requested an x-ray at the time but the nurses seemed to think I was being dramatic. They said ‘we get hundreds of people through here every day and we can’t x-ray everyone!’ and kept telling me to walk normally even though I couldn’t. I told them about the cracking noise when I landed and they said ‘we’re not worried about that, it was probably just the ligaments.’

I think I will go back and ask again. It doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

It is certainly possible to walk (hobble, limp) on a fracture. It needs X-ray to rule that out.

Yes I'd go back too...

You go back, if not to clinic then a&e, my dh was wrongly diagnosed by a nurse, she wouldn't order an tray, he now has long term pain abd reduced mobility. If there is a fracture I'd report the nurse to the clinic manager.i say that as a nurse.

Also I’ve read the notes the nurse has sent to my GP. It’s incredibly dismissive and makes me come across as a time waster 😕 also full of lies (‘no swelling or bruising’)

Then that needs reporting, take photos and send them to your GP, the nurse shouldn't be assessing patients if she hasn't got the right skills and experience,

I'm surprised she didn't tell you to go to A&E anyway. I went to my walk-in clinic (more of a hobble-in actually) when I damaged my ankle. They also didn't have x ray facilities, but told me to get it done at the hospital. It turned out to just be a nasty sprain, but at least it got looked at.

If you have a fracture and raise a complaint don't be surprised if the response is you could have fractured it after you were seen by walking and weight bearing and that you were advised to rest, see your GP or go to a&e if it didn't settle. I would also request a copy of the actual notes and assessment.

@MissMoneyFairy I wouldn’t be surprised either. I can see the assessment and notes on the NHS app. It’s extremely dismissive, says I can walk unaided (I had to be wheeled in on a chair as weight bearing was so painful) and that the nurse ‘had to explain that an x-ray needs a clinical reason and shouldn’t be just to check.’ I was quite shocked reading it as it makes me seem like I was unreasonable to ask.

I fell on the side of my foot onto concrete last year, it really hurt and was a bit swollen but I hobbled around on it for 9 days until I thought I should get it checked - went to urgent treatment at the hospital, I was triaged and sent for an xray. Turned out I'd fractured the 5th metatarsal and was given a boot to wear for a few weeks. It's been 5 months and still not quite right, I wish I'd gone straight away as worried I've done long term damage by not getting it treated sooner! Definitely go back and ask for a x ray! Maybe your GP could refer you?

That sounds really frustrating. I'm sorry you’re still dealing with it months later. Your experience really highlights why it’s important to push for an x-ray when there’s that level of pain and swelling. It’s easy to underestimate injuries like this, especially when you can still hobble around, but even a small fracture can lead to long-term issues if not treated properly. Looking after your health and wellness early on is so important to avoid complications down the line. Sites like www.medicaldirectorco.com/ have helpful info that reinforce the importance of early assessment and proper care. Hope your foot continues to improve, even if it’s slow going.

Last year I tripped over a tree root and heard a snap. I had an X-ray but there was no break. After 7 weeks of hobbling about I went to a diagnostic physiotherapist who did an ultrasound. It turned out I had a second degree tear of an ankle tendon and ligament. It took a further 9 weeks before it healed properly. I put a support on and carried on walking etc