[pegasus]

Hello friends,

About 4 weeks ago I bashed the outside of my left hand. It was extremely painful at the time and swelled up and of course a massive bruise appeared. I figured though that beings as I could use it that nothing must be broken. Well, 4 weeks later I have just the hugest lump on the outside of my hand, seriously it looks like half a bone sticking out!

See diagram...



It would be the metacarpal bone.

So I can use this hand and have been but should I be getting an x-ray on this 4 weeks later? It's still painful but I'm not fussed about it other than this lump which makes me think it is part of a bone?

Thanks for your help. PS. I hate doctors.

[gayleggg]

It might be wise to get it checked out especially since it is still painful.

[pegasus]

Thanks Gayleggg, but since I've left it so long I guess they won't do anything about it now? I broke a bone in my other hand a few years ago and I heard a crack when I broke it, I heard the same crack when I did this too! I can use it, it just looks unsightly.

[buttrfli42481]

I would get it checked out just for piece of mind. There is a possibility of them rebreaking it, I know doesn't sound like fun. Hope you decide to get it checked.

[pinkflower17]

It wouldn't hurt to get it checked out, no one would fault you, but it's unlikely to be broken if you can still use it. From simply banging, metacarpals are hard to break, unless you have osteoporosis or something. It's probably just a hematoma, which does hurt (a collection of blood, essentially a blood clot under the skin). But if it makes you feel better, get it checked out.

[willing2learn]

You can still use your hand even if its broken (it can be a tiny fracture). But considering you still have a lump after a month.. not good. If you were my relative, you'd be going to the dr. Take care.

[unaluna]

Yeah i think i read somewhere you can get bad stuff happening from stuff like that. I cant remember what it was, but it was basically cooties building up and or breaking off somehow. I wish i could be more specific. Im not trying to scare you. I was surprised myself to read it.

[~Christina]

I would have an xray and eval, Since you have something you can "see" .. Years ago a woman took a step back and step damn near full weight on the top of my foot, hurt like hell !

It swelled and bruised of course but it just didnt look right , a couple weeks later I went to have it checked out... Even tho I could not see any place the skin looked that it had broken open at the time she basically stomped on it.. It had in fact broken and I had a pretty icky infection brewing it was localized luckily, they drained as much as possible. They took a sample by needle, to make sure they put me on the correct antibiotics. It wound up being staph ! Took over a month of antibiotics to completely clear up. There was about 15 fractures in the small bones of the top of my foot, Nothing can / could really be done, so I have a foot with a bunch of lil bumps, the average person would never even see it , But I sure know its there. lol

Don't wanna scare you, but I would say go get it looked at. Peace of mind is worth it.

I don't think there's a reason NOT to get an x-ray, unless you're severely iatrophobic (fear of doctors). If you get an x-ray, you'll either have A) confirmation it's broken and can get treatment or B) confirmation it's not broken and peace of mind. If you don't get an x-ray it's either A) not broken and no harm done or B) it's broken, continues to hurt and might heal wrong.

[unaluna]

Yeah maybe its confusing because they say urine is sterile but our bodies are basically bags of cooties.

[eskielover]

I would definitely have it checked out....my ortho MD always told me that if you are still sore after 4 weeks there is probably something more serious going on than just a bruise or bump....

When I bailed off the horse 4 years ago, my lower back continued to hurt & I couldn't just "sit up" in bed....sort of had to slide myself out....so I thought...ah, chiropractor.....ended up being a compression fracture...little did I know that compression fractures keep getting worse until you stop doing things & let them heal.....so 6 months of not picking up more than 5 pounds (basically a milk carton).....& I had a farm to take care of.....that was torture.

Usually my broken bones have hurt so much....I have had a fractured hip also & I could hardly walk...it healed on it's own but seemed to take forever. Many times bones get bruised & cause huge lumps & the bone isn't necessarily broken....but it's best to have it checked out.