Leg injuries are common and not all of them require medical attention. If something about your injury is worrying you, there's a chance you may need to see a doctor. Understanding more about key warning signs can help you decide whether to contact your GP or go to A&E.
Struggling to Walk
Some leg injuries may leave you feeling as though walking is painful. If you're managing to walk but there's some pain, call a medical professional as a precautionary measure. Walking but being unable to fully weight bear is a sign you need to see your GP. Depending on their findings, they may offer self-care advice or refer you for an x-ray. Not being able to bear weight at all may suggest that your leg is broken, so you should go to A&E.
Swelling
Some swelling after an injury is normal. It's one of your body's safeguarding responses to injury. If your swelling doesn't respond to rest, ice, elevation and compression, contact your GP. Swelling that continuously worsens over a short period may require emergency attention. If you feel as though the swelling is rapid, schedule an emergency appointment or attend A&E.
Signs of Infection
Even when a cut to your leg seems minor, it has the potential to cause an infection. Any cut breaks your body's biggest barrier against infection: your skin. Signs that you're experiencing an infection include heat in the area, swelling, redness and pus. Request an emergency appointment if those signs occur and your local GP's surgery is open. You may also have a systemic infection if you're also experiencing a fever. As such, you should treat it as though it's an emergency and go to A&E.
Signs of a Break
Fractures aren't always easy to spot. They generally fall into two categories: open and closed. An open fracture is exactly as it sounds; you can see exposed bone. Closed fractures usually come with subtler symptoms, such as being unable to walk, swelling, having a lot of pain and showing some signs of deformity. Not all of those signs need to be present for a doctor to suspect a fracture, so always be cautious and request emergency advice. If the fracture is open, attend A&E.
Broken bones and infections aren't the only concerns when you injure your leg. You can also harm tendons and ligaments, which require specialist healing. If you're in any doubt as to how your injury is progressing, speak to a doctor for further advice.