Nasty Fall .............

[Ann]

Hi all - especially Sqad. Would welcome some advice please re: my 90 year old Mum who had a very nasty fall yesterday - falling straight onto her arm, giving her elbow a real crack on the floor. The bruising right down her arm started to come out immediately together with a big lump on her elbow (hematoma?) That lump has gone today but her whole arm has turned totally black from her elbow right down to her knuckles and has completely doubled in size so looks quite frightening. She can stretch her arm out and move her fingers so I know it's not broken but it is quite painful from all the bruising. We are thinking of taking her to our Minor Injuries Unit tomorrow - do you think this is the correct thing to do, and what can they do other than wait for the swelling to go down. I have been giving her Ibuprofen and Paracetemol which is controlling the pain but as it is her right arm she can't do much for herself at all. Thanks.

[Mamyalynne]

Poor Mum, sounds nasty for her and worrying for you - I would take her to the Minor Injuries Unit, they may recommend an X Ray to be sure, see how you go.

[ChillDoubt]

Given her age and nature of the injury I'd have had her straight to A&E to be honest.
If the swelling continues she may require a fasciotomy.
I wouldn't want to alarm you and it's probably just ordinary swelling but if possible, it may be better to err on the side of caution and take her ASAP.

[Sqad]

Minor injuries? Do they have X-Ray facilities?

Take her to A&E tomorrow as an X-Ray may well be required.

Analgesics are the correct treatment and it is a pity that it is her right arm.

[Sqad]

Sorry "tomorrow" should read "today"............

[anneasquith]

get her straight to minors or a&e,,

[Ann]

Yes thanks all, my brother is taking her down to our GP surgery/MTU who will then advise re: possible xray at our hospital (no A&E there so it's not that simple in our town) but she can move it although it is quite painful. Its the swelling which is so worrying as it has now spread into her hand and fingers. Could she have actually broken a bone but still stretch her arm out and move her fingers? She had a good nights sleep with some co-codamol which knocked her out. She is quite well in herself.

[anneasquith]

only x ray can confirm fractures,

[Sqad]

\\Could she have actually broken a bone but still stretch her arm out and move her fingers?\\

Possible.......but unlikely.

The swelling is almost certainly due to the seepage of blood (haematoma)

[Peter Pedant]

agree sqad

alarming but needs to be seen - old people as a result of their age can mount huge bruises.

if one has broken a bone it almost certainly is too painful to move/use it.

big stresses for all concerned. My mother FOOSH'd once and I recollect it still as some awful slow motion train crash. ( fell on outstretched hand )

[anneasquith]

I hope we hear from ann re her mother,

[ChillDoubt]

I too was hoping for an update, I take it Mrs Ann Senior is (hopefully) already on the mend.

[Ann]

Hi I'm so tired I can't go into all the finer details on here until tomorrow but after taking her at 10.30am she finally got home at ..... 10pm, a 12 hour wait!!! Hundreds of people in A&E. Had an Xray and result is she has broken a piece of bone off her elbow, the surgeons don't want to operate, far too risky at her age they say, so now after all that wait, we have to take her back again to the hospital fracture clinic (19 miles away) at 9.30am in the morning to see the top orthopaedic doc to decide what to do with the elbow!. She is tired out, now we have to go to her house so early at 7.30am to get her up, washed and dressed to get her there in time.
No fun being old and frail I have decided .............. :(
Thanks for asking about her x

[ChillDoubt]

That's why I tried to push you into going last night if I'm honest, I know it would have been impractical but A&E would have been quiet and she may have been processed a lot quicker.
Never mind, at least she's had the diagnosis, hope she's better soon. Thanks for letting us know.

[anneasquith]

i sort of agree with chilldoubt,,,,,,,,,,,,,, im not sure AB was ever going to give an adequate diagnosis, poor thing, must be in so much pain.

[Ann]

She's not actually in much pain Anne - just having a few paracetemols through the day. I'm amazed at her resilience, tough old bird really despite her frailty, she is fiercely independent and refused to let us take her anywhere yesterday. Nobody can argue with my mum in that situation!

[anneasquith]

ann, she was in enough pain last night to require co-codomol bruffen and paracetamol.

[ChillDoubt]

I understand Ann, nothing like a fiercely independent lady in her dotage! Glad she'll soon be on the mend and it wasn't anything more serious.

[Ann]

We actually made her take them. But too tired to nit pick with you all on here. Goodnight all.

[Ann]

Night Chill, thanks.

[anneasquith]

your right , your mother ann. im sure no one know her better than you.