Quick question...

[piplover]

Just a quick question:  How do you know if you cracked a bone?

I tripped on my cat yesterday and crashed into a chair, arm first.  It hurt like crazy, but I didn't really think anything of it. I'm a clutz.  There isn't even really a bruise, but I can feel a bump/dent where I hit it.  It's on my forearm, just above the wrist. I'm thinking it's probably a bone bruise, but I've never really broken anything, or cracked anything, so how do I know if i need to get this looked at?  

Yes, I'm silly, I know. 

Comments

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

If it still hurts, or you're having trouble moving that joint, or there's any swelling, get it checked. (I broke my finger once, and didn't actually have it checked until two days later, but it stayed sore and touchy.)

[piplover.livejournal.com]

I waited until yesterday and the swelling went down and it doesn't hurt nearly so much anymore, so I'm pretty sure it's just a bruise. Whew!

[enkiduts.livejournal.com]

You need to get it checked out, because there isn't any way that I know of to be sure if you've broken anything except an x-ray.

I've had both osteohematomas (bone bruise)and broken bones. (The former on my shin some years back, I still have a dent) and broke three bones in my foot in 2009 and pain was not a reliable indicator. Both swelled but the bruised bone was actually more painful than the three meta-tarsal fractures (and I walked on them for a month before going to the doctor, getting x-rayed and fitted with a lovely boot).

Any doctor will tell you that soft tissue damage is worse than an outright break--and that was true of my osteohematoma versus the broken toe bones...took longer to heal, gave more lingering trouble (and I still have "dead nerve space" 6 or so years later on the shin, whereas, while my foot bones grew back zig-zaggy, no lasting trouble.

Get it looked at.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

I was going to go in on Friday if the swelling didn't go down or it still hurt, but now it doesn't even hurt to touch it, so I'm going to assume (yes, I know, my bad!) that it's just a bruise and keep an eye on it.

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

There's no way to tell aside from seeing a doctor, I'm afraid. Believe me, as down as I am on doctors right now, I'd tell you if I could think of a way around it... (grin)

Bite the bullet and get an x-ray.

And I hope this is NOTHING -- and that you're out of pain soon!

(hugs)

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not too fond of doctors, either! I was going to go Friday, but since the swelling went down and it's no longer so sensitive I'm going to assume it's just a bone bruise. Whew!