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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you're injury is severe, you'll need to seek immediate medical attention and won't have time to prepare for your appointment. But, if the injury to your nose is minor — accompanied only by swelling and moderate pain — you may choose to wait before seeing your doctor. This allows time for the swelling to subside, so you and your doctor can better evaluate your injury.
However, it's best not to wait longer than a week before seeing your doctor if your signs and symptoms persist. And, during this waiting period, get medical attention if:
- The pain or swelling doesn't progressively get better — and eventually disappears.
- Your nose looks misshapen or crooked after the swelling recedes.
- You can't breathe efficiently through your nose even after the swelling subsides.
- You experience frequent, recurring nosebleeds.
- You're running a fever.
You'll probably start by seeing your family doctor or general practitioner. However, he or she will likely refer you to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose and throat (otolaryngologist).
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, and let your doctor know what you were doing at the time of the injury.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking.
- Bring a photo of yourself before the injury for comparison, if possible.
- Write down questions you want to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions ahead of time can help you make the most of your time together. For a broken nose, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- Do I need any tests, such as X-rays?
- How long will the swelling and bruising last?
- Will my nose look the same?
- Do I need surgery?
- Are there any activity restrictions that I need to follow?
- What type of pain medication can I take?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor may ask:
- How and when did your injury occur?
- Have your symptoms improved at all since the time of the injury?
- Does your nose look normal to you?
- Can you easily breathe through your nose?
- Do you participate in contact sports? If so, how long do you plan on participating in this sport?
What you can do in the meantime
Immediately after your injury, apply ice to the area to help keep swelling down. Use light pressure to keep the ice on your nose. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), can help reduce pain. Ibuprofen can also help relieve inflammation.
- Kucik CJ. Management of acute nasal fractures. American Family Physician. 2004;70:1315.
- Pope TT, et al. Maxillofacial and neck trauma. In: Stone CK, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Emergency Medicine. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3101510. Accessed May 27, 2009.
- Fractures of the nose. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec21/ch312/ch312d.html. Accessed May 30, 2009.
- Mendez DR, et al. Nasal trauma and fractures in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
- Nasal fractures. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery, http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Nasal-Fractures.cfm. Accessed May 30, 2009.
- Blum DJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 5, 2009.
