Information for the public
Pain relief
If you have a broken bone, healthcare professionals should help you decide what type of painkiller might be best for you. You should have regular checks to make sure that your pain relief is still adequate and that you're still comfortable.
Adults (16 or over)
If you're 16 or over and healthcare professionals think you have broken a large bone in your leg or arm, you should be offered:
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paracetamol for mild pain
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paracetamol and codeine for moderate pain
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paracetamol by injection or a drip (directly into a vein through a tube and needle), with morphine, as needed, for severe pain.
You may also be given a type of painkiller called a non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drug (for example, ibuprofen). However, these are not suitable for everyone; frail people or older people have a higher risk of developing problems (such as stomach ulcers and kidney problems) with non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs. Healthcare professionals should also be careful when giving morphine to these people because of concerns about side effects such as constipation, confusion and drowsiness.
Children (under 16s)
If healthcare professionals think that children (under 16s) have broken a large bone in their leg or arm, they should offer:
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either paracetamol or ibuprofen, or both, for mild to moderate pain, or
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a stronger painkiller called an opioid (for example, morphine) for moderate to severe pain; this is usually given by injection or a drip, but it may also be given as a spray up the nose.
If it is thought that a child might have broken a thigh bone (femur), they may have their thigh numbed (with a local anaesthetic) in the emergency department.