[feary]

I slipped on the ice today and I think I hurt my right hip and now my right leg hurts all the way from hip to ankle and my leg feels heavy.

Can anyone tell me what is wrong and do I need to see a doctor?

Thank you.

[Raindropvampire]

My hubby just had surgery because of a slip on the ice so I would definitely get a doctor to check you over. Better safe than sorry. If you don't have insurance check around your local hospitals I'm sure one or more will have a program to either write off or reduce your bill based on your income. Good luck.

[Leed]

You could have slipped yourself right into sciatica. A fall can cause that. That's what it sounds like right now.

You should have some tests run. I hope your doctor will run an MRI with and without contrast material on your lumbar spine and hip area. That's what you need anyway. You might ask him to do it (if it won't make him mad!) Get a report of the MRI afterwards, and bring it here and post it. We can help you decipher it. I wish you the very best. Take care and God bless. Hugs, Lee

[avlady]

Go to the hospital emergency room if possible, or at least the doctor. I have fallen several times on the ice, and looking back i think i should have gone to the doc because I have arthritis anyway and the fall made it worse.Now my arthritis is 10 times worse. just letting you know my situation so you could do something about your's -avlady

[feary]

Thank you all for the help. It's still paining but better.

[Travelinglady]

So sorry for the fall. I am really worried about winter weather, since I'm still recuperating from a fall in August. I'm glad your pain is less, and I do hope you let a doctor check it out, if you haven't already.

Ouch I hope you feel better soon.

[Rose76]

Falling on ice can cause awful injury. The short answer is "Go see a doctor."

Truthfully, though, I've fallen a number of times in my life and I never felt the need to see a doctor after a fall. I think it depends to some extent on how in tune you are with your body. Come to think of it, though, I never had any much lingering pain after I'ld fallen. So if the pain feels worrisome, listen to your instincts. If the next day, you have a bruise where you'ld expect to find one, and it's just a bit tender there, then that's probably not a big concern.

Also, look at your age and other risk factors. Do you have strong bones? (as far as you know.) I've worked many years in nursing homes where people fall all the time and they don't usually get sent to a doctor right away. I've seen people who did break a hip, and it's not a subtle presentation. They tend to be in agony. Also, the musculature over the upper thigh is knotted looking and quivering in a way that is very disturbing to see. Sometimes a pelvis cracks or crumbles.

For your leg to be hurting over such a great expanse is a worry. More commonly you'ld have one main focus of soreness . . . where the bruise shows up.

Here is something I've learned. If you seem to be getting better, and then you start getting worse, that can be a sign of a blood clot.

If you ever feel your complaint is getting minimized by the doctor/provider, again: Trust your instincts. As mentioned above, imaging gives the most secure answer. It's not unheard of for emergency rooms to send you home as fine . . . and your not.

I do hope it's no worse than a black and blue. With your symptoms, though, I would probably go now. I don't know what the heaviness means. You've undoubtedly fallen before in your life. Does this feel really different?