Broken nose

Symptoms of a broken nose include: pain, swelling and bruising a crunching or crackling sound when you touch your nose difficulty breathing through your nose – it might feel blocked your nose changing shape – for example, it's not as straight as before A broken nose may cause bruising under your eyes (black eyes). Credit: DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/264194/view You may also have a cut on the bridge of your nose, or a nosebleed. Credit: DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/97267/view

You can usually treat a broken nose yourself. It should start getting better within 3 days and be fully healed within 3 weeks. Do hold an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel on your nose for up to 15 minutes, several times a day take paracetamol to relieve pain treat nosebleeds by sitting or standing upright and leaning forward – if possible, pinch your nose above the nostrils for up to 15 minutes keep your head upright when lying in bed by adding more pillows – this will help to reduce swelling treat minor cuts and grazes by stopping any bleeding, cleaning the wound and covering it with a plaster or dressing Don’t do not try to straighten your nose yourself if it's changed shape – get help from NHS 111 do not wear glasses until the swelling has gone down, unless you need them do not pick or blow your nose until it's healed do not do strenuous exercise for the first 2 weeks do not play sports for at least 6 weeks if there's a chance your face might be hit

A GP might prescribe stronger painkillers if paracetamol is not helping with pain caused by a broken nose. If you have a severe broken nose or it's changed shape, you may be referred to a specialist in hospital for assessment and treatment. If your nose has changed shape A doctor in hospital may be able to make your nose straighter using a procedure called manipulation. You might have to go home and wait for the swelling to go down first, but the procedure should be done within 3 weeks of you breaking your nose, before the bones start to set. Manipulation is done using local anaesthetic so that your nose is numbed. It does not always make your nose look exactly the same as it was before, but it often helps. If you have a large wound The wound will usually be cleaned and sealed with stitches or strips in hospital.