The Student Room Group

Ankle, fell off bike

ok, so I fell off my bike whilst mucking about on my way back from an exam and went over on my ankle. It really hurt at the time but got bearable after a few minutes so I cycled the rest of the way home, although it was uncomfortable. I put some ice on it when I got back as I could see it was swelling and then went out for dinner, where it gradually got worse and I had to walk really slowly and limp back. I've taken a couple of ibuprofen and put it in a bucket of cold water with a bit of ice but it still really hurts and has swelled up quite a bit - the question is, should I go to the hospital? Photo attached, don't laugh at the carpet as it's the unis, not mine! :p:

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
*laughs at carpet*

It does look painful! I'd phone NHS Direct and see what they say.
Reply 2
ouch! :frown:

well, hmm, i can't imagine anyone on here/NHS direct can really predict whether it's broken or anything (although i suppose it just looks rather swollen rather than with point bits & at an impossible angle).

i generally tend to err to the side of caution though! have you got an exam tomorrow - or could you head up to A&E at the JR?

ooh..that carpet looks rather familiar.. :redface:
Reply 3
Elles
ouch! :frown:

well, hmm, i can't imagine anyone on here/NHS direct can really predict whether it's broken or anything (although i suppose it just looks rather swollen).

i generally tend to err to the side of caution though! have you got an exam tomorrow - or could you head up to A&E at the JR?

haha, just pmed you! thanks very much for replying! yeah, I've got an exam tomorrow afternoon so I'm not really sure what to do :frown:
Reply 4
Bezza
yeah, I've got an exam tomorrow afternoon so I'm not really sure what to do :frown:


hmm - phone NHS direct to begin with perhaps?

then perhaps prepare yourself for a trip to the JR (avec. notes!) - the waiting times might be less at night than they would be tomorrow AM? (at least your exam is PM.. look on the bright side! :wink: )

hmm - then let your tutors know? exenuating circumstances perhaps with the pain?

& finally - book a taxi to get to the exams!
Reply 5
Book THREE becuase Oxford taxis apparently don't turn up on time!
Reply 6
Looks like a simple compound fracture, I broke my ankle hun and it looked like that! Mine was complicated fracture but the ankle doesnt have to be bent at funny angle to be broken and i walked on mine before having a cast, although mine kinds felt like it was burning. I'd go to a&e.
Reply 7
apparently the jr has about 20-odd patients waiting, so the sister my mum spoke to recommended paracetemol and brufen (i've already taken some long lasting ibuprofen, can I take paracetemol too?) and possibly ice, and to keep it elevated and keep moving it so it doesn't sieze up. if it's still really bad tomorrow i'll probably go to the college nurse and see what she reckons
lol, I read that wrong, I was wondering how an ankle can fall off :rolleyes:

Yeah just go to the hospital and get an xray done, you never know you might have sprained or broken a bone. Although if you dont, I dont blame you, casulty is a nightmare.
Reply 9
Bezza
apparently the jr has about 20-odd patients waiting, so the sister my mum spoke to recommended paracetemol and brufen (i've already taken some long lasting ibuprofen, can I take paracetemol too?) and possibly ice, and to keep it elevated and keep moving it so it doesn't sieze up. if it's still really bad tomorrow i'll probably go to the college nurse and see what she reckons



aw looks painful! i dont think you can take paracetemol if you've taken ibuprofen (i think it contains paracetemol)
anyway hope you get better soon :smile:
Reply 10
the college nurse can't do an X-ray though.. :wink:

but anyway - try & do any revision you wanted to tonight, in case you spend your morning in A&E?

& if it's bad in the morning - perhaps phone the plodge & ask the nurse to come over to you, rather than having to walk..? & try & get up there early! otherwise waiting - x-ray & any treatment will take quite a while..

i'd consider contacting tutors - or NC (in the grammar school) - will PM if you don't know who i mean! she was my proctor contact with my complex exam arrangements..
Reply 11
Elles
the college nurse can't do an X-ray though.. :wink:

but anyway - try & do any revision you wanted to tonight, in case you spend your morning in A&E?

& if it's bad in the morning - perhaps phone the plodge & ask the nurse to come over to you..?

sounds like a good plan. thanks a lot for everyones help/advice
OK well you did the correct thing applying ICE to it: RICE (Rest Ice Compression Elevation) is the best thing to do with something like this. However, due to the amount of swelling and tenderness it is just possible that you have fractured your ankle and thus you may want to seek medical advice just to be on the safe side. Considering it took some time coming along I doubt that it is broken/fractured but best being safe than sorry!!!

Smiler :smile:
Reply 13
Because of the shape of the swelling, it doesn't look like its broken to me...but if you've torn a tendon that could be even worse.
The fact that you were able to cycle back following your "ordeal" indicates its not too serious, but as cettericksmiler said...RICE - by cycling back with it you would have increased the circulation and possibly aggrivated it...i know its not like you had much of a choice with that one though!
my prediction is a nasty sprain so sadly it wont get you off your exams!
I think you can take ibuprofen and paracetemol together, since you can get them in combined tablet form, but theres really no need for para....
ibuprofen is an anti-imflammitary drug, so it will be most effective, as the pain will be caused by excess fluid pressure on the joint, which will further aggrivate the injury.
dont worry though...crochet next week wont be affected (just stuff the crutches if you end up with them in the arm pits and you'll be ready to go....)
yes there should be no problem in taking Paracetamol and Ibuprofen together as they are two different types of drug!!! Just don't take too many!!!

Smiler :smile:
-sophie-
Looks like a simple compound fracture, I broke my ankle hun and it looked like that! Mine was complicated fracture but the ankle doesnt have to be bent at funny angle to be broken and i walked on mine before having a cast, although mine kinds felt like it was burning. I'd go to a&e.

Ummmm, do you actually know what a compound fracture is?
Its when the bone BREAKS and part of it then pierces out (and so sticks out) of the skin.

If its still bad tomoz then grab yourself a book and go camp out in A&E. these days they have to see you within 4 hours anyway, so it's much quicker to get an x-ray. if poss you could go to docs surgery instead, and get an x-ray referal - might speed up matters and they might tell u not to bother.

HTH.
Reply 16
I've just started riding my bike again and I feel like a kid with no fear. Things could change after seeing that :>.<: I'd go get it checked out.
Reply 17
hey everyone, thanks for all your help - I woke up this morning feeling much better and the swellings gone down quite a bit too, although it's turned a lovely colour! I can even walk which is a big improvement on yesterday. I'm not going to the hospital as there's no point, but I'll still get a taxi to my exams to keep my weight off it.
Reply 18
lessthanthree
good luck x

cheers :smile:
Reply 19
Ugh I fell of my bike this morning too, I got up at 7 am (completely unprecedented for me) and set out on my bike, but still too tired I breaked really sharply (for whatever reason) and went flying over the front of my bike. Ouch. I've hurt my arm actually, think it might be sprained or something, I've got an ice pack around it lol.