how do you know if you've broken your nose?

[lobsters]

Sorry this probably seems like a stupid question. DD (16mo) sat down hard on the bridge of my nose about an hour ago, it's still killing me. How do I know if I've broken it? Is there any point going to A&E/ out of hours doc? i'm guessing there's not much they can do

that's the end of mummy as a fun alternative to soft play for us

I'd imagine it would swell up and bruise

It is worth going to A&E, don't need to rush, but don't leave it longer than a day or so as after that, it starts to heal. They will refer you to ENT clinic if they think it is broken, it is worth doing in case you have damaged something internally, like the septum, or if you have cracked a cheekbone too. They can also see better than you (sometimes) if there is a break that needs straightening, this is not always obvious through swelling. If it does need straightening, they cannot do it until the swelling is reduced, but neither once it starts to heal. It takes a few days for ENT referral and GPs cannot normally do the fastrack that is needed, where A&E (or a minor injuries unit if you have one) can.

Also, at some point worth going to see the dentist as smacking a nose hard can sometimes dislodge teeth/damage roots.

Is it swollen? The bruising, if indeed any, does not come up straight away, can take a couple of days to come up.

Ouch on your behalf, i have broken my nose a few times.

does it look crooked? That is how I knew I had broken my nose the first two times. It was simply not where it was before i hit it!

DD plays hockey; often gets bashed in the nose and has actually broken it once. Very hard to tell if it's actually broken for yourself, but like Pavlov says if it is broken then getting it straightned easily is all about timing. I would pop into your minor injuries place if you really think it might be broken.

yes, if the timing is right, it is really easy to straighten, if it needs it. Not all breaks require anything other than some pain relief and arnica to help the healing. And a reduction in rough and tumble for a while

Many thanks for your messages, I've not been back as it's been a ridiculously busy day. Nose looks straight to me and no bruising, still hurts a little, but will hold off on the docs for now. I'll see how I am in in the morning

It hurts and you may not be able to breath through it. When it happened to me I went straight from the GP's to see a consultant the same day - something about needing to get it sorted quickly but can't remember exactly why. I would go to the GPs tomorrow if I were you.

A broken nose is really a dislocated septum. If it feels displaced, won't stop bleeding, or you have difficulty breathing then you will need to have it checked out. Hope you feel better.

scurry so what is the bit in the middle of the nose then? the bit between the nostrils? I thought that was the septum?

I only ask as I had a septorhinoplasty aged 18 and thought it was to straighten both the septum (septo) and the outer skeletal part of the nose (rhino).

Not sure...cartilage/septum is what is usually displaced and a broken nose is not so common....that is much higher up the nose when the bone is actually broken.

If you have two black eyes & make weird clicky noises when you breathe or swallow, it's probably broken...

Does it actually look wonky? If so I'd get it checked out, otherwise it'll probably be fine (like Pavlov I've broken mine a few times).

scurry oh see i did both! First time, I split the cartilage across the top, AND knocked the bone out of line. Op to straighten, then they noticed after they straightened the bone that the cartilage was split, could not repair that. Broke again, just the bone that time needed straightening. Then again. Then a nose job at 18. Then broke the septum being elbowed in the face while in a mosh pit !

Sounds painful.....I cracked the bit right at the top, between the eyes, running into a cylce barrier, in the dark down an alleyway....doh!

OUCH! I know how that feels, the first two times I hit it on a bar running into it without watching and the third time I got hit in the face by a sail boom.

OP how is your nose today?