Hard bang on knee - do I need A&E if on Apixoban

[foxglove1]

Hello all

I have just had a trip landing hard on my knee and wondering if as on Apixoban I need to go to A&E? I feel fine and did not bang my head but always have this nagging worry about Apixoban and blends.

thanks for any advice x

[Popepaul]

Ring 111 and ask them, they have access to doctors who can evaluate the likely consequences to your injury.Regards

[foxglove1 in reply to Popepaul]

thank you Popepaul

[2023AFibber in reply to Popepaul]

I was told any injury that causes bad bruise, go to ER, can cause internal bleeding.

[Buffafly]

No, unless you have a lot of pain, swelling and bruising. My daughter (not on anticoagulant) banged her knee hard and struggled on in pain for weeks only to find she had broken her knee! If the injury only causes bruising there is not much you can do after the initial minutes when you can use an ice pack. Later Arnica is supposed to help,

[Vonnegut in reply to Buffafly]

Arnica helps very well for bruising in my experience but you may need to see a homeopath for advice if particularly bad bruising.

[RoyM]

I had exactly the same thing happen to me I am on Apixiban and I fell on my left knee going up some metal steps at the local tip. When I fell it hurt but I was able to carry on....2 days later I was struggling to walk and eventually I had to ring for an ambulance a) because of pain, b) couldn't walk and c) swelling on my knee. At hospital I went under a number of tests x-ray etc. They thought I had broken my knee luckily I hadn't but internal bleeding had taken place following the fall. My knee swelled to twice it's normal size and was extremely painful, my leg was put in a soft splint and I was given crutches to help with mobility. From fall to the swelling reducing enough to walk without pain was approx 8 months. All is fine now but it did take an age to resolve. Roy

[Maggie46]

Hi foxglove 1 I have the same worries. I haven’t bn on Apixaban for very long, about 6 months now. After I’d just started taking it I banged my thigh very hard by walking into the arm of a theatre chair and I ended up with a huge lump under the skin and a bruise that still hasn’t completely faded. I did go to the doctor with it, I actually saw a nurse, and she said it was a haematoma under there and to massage it, eventually it did resolve. Since then I’ve banged myself pretty hard in various places, this isn’t unusual for me!! and I don’t seem to bruise any worse than usual, I don’t know why that incident was so bad, but I am still very conscious of trying to be careful. I don’t know if that will ever go away but hopefully so. Good luck and I hope your injury resolves soon

[foxglove1 in reply to Maggie46]

Thanks Maggie 46. My thing is I trip going up steps which is what happened last night going from garden into kitchen. same on the bus, going up stairs in the tube, I really need to pay more attention. I’m a big walker and that’s ok but it’s steps. Wouldn’t give it much thought if wasn’t on Apixiban (5 plus years) Heads are important I banged mine on cupboard and although didn’t want to went to A@E. ct scan fine but told should always go there is head injury and on anticoagulants.

Have a lovely weekend

[CDreamer]

Short answer no - if you have no symptoms. All you will get is a very long wait

If you have any unusual swelling or pain then do go get it checked out. I have broken 4 bones altogether, had 2 operations and loads of knocks, falls and bruises and never had a problem with bleeds. I think the anxiety is actually more injurious to our health.

[foxglove1 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CD

[LadyZ13]

I whacked my head on the side of our garden shed while I was pulling out a bush. I'm on apixaban and the dire warnings about head injuries rung out in my mind. A call to 111 was really useful as they told me which symptoms I should worry about (e.g.. if my vision started to change) and what to do if that happened (get husband to drive me to A&E). Getting the advice was the reassurance I needed and I was OK once the headache passed! I hope your knee isn't too series and that you recovery quickly from the injury.

[foxglove1 in reply to LadyZ13]

that’s interesting Lady Z13. I’m afraid I wouldn’t hesitate about going to A&E if I’d hit my head. When I went I felt a bit foolish as just a tiny bruise on my forehead. The doctor (A&E Registrar) who saw me said to always get checked by them if on anticoagulants. It’s a bore sitting around for hours but rather safe….

[ibuputih]

I hope you can avoid A and E if you can.

A month ago, my neighbour in her early 50’s tripped and hit her head on the pavement while shopping. She is healthy and not on anti coags. The bang on her head resulted in vomiting, visual disturbance and an excruciating headache. She was advised to go to A and E. She waited 11 and a half hours before being seen! Thankfully she was ok.

When she told me she was still distressed and said ‘I was so frightened I would die while waiting’.

I hope that hospitals prioritise those of us on anti coags in similar circumstances.

Thanks for asking the question and to all for advice given, as I have often wondered what should be done for nasty falls etc

[Buffafly in reply to ibuputih]

I was banged on the head by a heavy garage door and though I had no symptoms except an ‘egg’ on my head my GP practice insisted I needed to go to A&E. I was seen promptly and had a CT scan which didn’t show any bleed. The next time I banged my head (missed the bottom stair step and ended up against the door post) I was alone and read the ‘head injury’ leaflet very carefully, stayed at home and all was well although I felt very nervous about a possible slow bleed. The anxiety was worse than the minor headache!

[foxglove1 in reply to Buffafly]

Agree totally about the anxiety being worse than the minor headache!

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

I have banged my head 3 times over the last 2 years. I reported it to St John's Ambulance team and a Dr. Nothing happened even though I said that I was on PRADAXA 110 x twice day.

I've survived.

I think it is the bleeding that They worry more about.

But I might be wrong.

cheri JOY. 74 (NZ)

[Visigoth]

I would say no, unless you have any really worrying symptoms. I’m on Apixaban and have had a fair number of bangs but bruising is unsightly rather than dangerous. You get used to the bruises!

[foxglove1 in reply to Visigoth]

Thanks Visigoth. That helped and once I’d calmed down decided not to spend 4 hours in A@E (minimum).

[foxglove1 in reply to foxglove1]

Just want to say big thank you to everyone for replies. I thought I might get one or two which would reassure me but lots more came thru.Thank you. I know my issue is always with Apixiban and the fear of stroke.

A positive which would like to share while I am posting is I am now nearly 8 months post ablation and no afib since. Was my first ablation and apart from a difficult first week I’ve been free of afib ever since. And no meds apart from the Apixiban. I’m very grateful.

Have a lovely weekend everyone

[Karendeena]

I fell against the door frame of a boat on the Norfolk Broads and both arms went black from the elbows down. I just used arnica cream and didn't go to A & E. I take apixaban.My mum who is in her 90s, also on apixaban fell in the house and banged her upper thigh against the hearth of the fireplace. I did take her to the walk in centre as her leg was very bruised all the way down and she developed a haematoma but it still all cleared up.

Personally, I would only go to A & E if I banged my head

[foxglove1 in reply to Karendeena]

Thank Karendeena

It really helps to read all these views. Very reassuring.

So lucky to have this site

Not going to A&E unless I’d banged my head was rather my view too. It was the Apixoban that bothered me.

Have a good weekend all