Scaphoid fracture or soft tissue injury?
Discussion
Just over a month ago I had quite a heavy fall when running due to my idiot of a dog charging into the back of my legs.
About a week later I was in some pain when it was suggested I could possibly have a scaphoid fracture so I rang 111 and was sent to the local minor injuries unit where I was examined and X-rayed, nothing showed on the X-rays but as I had the symptoms I was booked in to a scaphoid clinic the following week. I was examined and x-rayed again and nothing showed again. The doctor said it was probably just a soft tissue injury and I was discharged.
Now over 3 weeks later I am still in pain, my grip is weak and I suppose I have the classic symptoms of a scaphoid fracture despite is being ruled out. What should I do now? Dr Google suggests scaphoid fractures are often missed on X-rays but I don’t want appear to be a complete Fanny by booking and appointment for a sore wrist.
About a week later I was in some pain when it was suggested I could possibly have a scaphoid fracture so I rang 111 and was sent to the local minor injuries unit where I was examined and X-rayed, nothing showed on the X-rays but as I had the symptoms I was booked in to a scaphoid clinic the following week. I was examined and x-rayed again and nothing showed again. The doctor said it was probably just a soft tissue injury and I was discharged.
Now over 3 weeks later I am still in pain, my grip is weak and I suppose I have the classic symptoms of a scaphoid fracture despite is being ruled out. What should I do now? Dr Google suggests scaphoid fractures are often missed on X-rays but I don’t want appear to be a complete Fanny by booking and appointment for a sore wrist.
I fractured my scaphoid when I was about 17/18, initial x-ray revealed no fracture so was told to rest it for a few days and take it easy, a week later still no better so a further x-ray and still no fracture showing, a further 2-3 weeks later and still suffering so back for another x-ray where this time it showed a nice fracture.
Cast on for the next 6 weeks and a further x-ray after to be told everything is fine, struggled with pain and discomfort for the next 4-5 years with numerous (almost on a 3 monthly basis) x-ray after x-ray which showed nothing, finally got to see a specialist who was shocked at how much noise my wrist made when twisting my hand in a clockwise motion so booked me in for a CT scan, this resulted in me being told..." sorry Saleen836 but it would appear your wrist is still fractured!"
A month later i'm in hospital having bone removed from my hip and grafted into my scaphoid bone and held in place with a screw.
Apparently it is a tricky bone to diagnose when fractured so push as far as you can with tests
Cast on for the next 6 weeks and a further x-ray after to be told everything is fine, struggled with pain and discomfort for the next 4-5 years with numerous (almost on a 3 monthly basis) x-ray after x-ray which showed nothing, finally got to see a specialist who was shocked at how much noise my wrist made when twisting my hand in a clockwise motion so booked me in for a CT scan, this resulted in me being told..." sorry Saleen836 but it would appear your wrist is still fractured!"
A month later i'm in hospital having bone removed from my hip and grafted into my scaphoid bone and held in place with a screw.
Apparently it is a tricky bone to diagnose when fractured so push as far as you can with tests
I injured my hand/thumb on 2021 in a drunken incident of trying to break dance when the pub restrictions lifted.
It went black along my thumb palm for lack of a better word. Immediately. I was heavily intoxicated so I carried on.
The next day was agony, I went to fracture clinic and they said nothing was wrong with it. Just tissue damage.
I’ll save you the long story, but it’s 2025, my thumb knuckle is twice the size of the other, I have restricted backwards movement of my thumb, and I have a constant tremor in my thumb whenever it is under strain, such as hovering it over my iPhone as I type this
. It’s all symptoms of a fracture to the scaphoid.
They gave me a token removable pot with a metal splint for 2 months to help, but I feel the damage done is irreversible.
Badger your GP, lay it on thick, request treatment for it regardless.
Edit to add: I have never break danced before nor have I attempted it since
It went black along my thumb palm for lack of a better word. Immediately. I was heavily intoxicated so I carried on.
The next day was agony, I went to fracture clinic and they said nothing was wrong with it. Just tissue damage.
I’ll save you the long story, but it’s 2025, my thumb knuckle is twice the size of the other, I have restricted backwards movement of my thumb, and I have a constant tremor in my thumb whenever it is under strain, such as hovering it over my iPhone as I type this
. It’s all symptoms of a fracture to the scaphoid.They gave me a token removable pot with a metal splint for 2 months to help, but I feel the damage done is irreversible.
Badger your GP, lay it on thick, request treatment for it regardless.
Edit to add: I have never break danced before nor have I attempted it since
It took 2 x-rays to spot my scaphoid fracture after a mountain bike off. They initially cast it but didn't do it properly. Had to be manipulated and recast. It eventually healed but you can visibly see the the difference on the back of my hands.
Still causes me bother nearly 20 years later.
Still causes me bother nearly 20 years later.
Where I work, anyone sent away from fracture clinic gets what's called an open appointment. You can call fracture clinic and say you're still having problems and they make you an appointment. If this doesn't work just call 111 again.
Persistent pain that's not settling at all, assuming you're not just being a pussy, would probably earn an MRI in my clinic. This will tell you for certain if the scaphoid is broken or not.
Persistent pain that's not settling at all, assuming you're not just being a pussy, would probably earn an MRI in my clinic. This will tell you for certain if the scaphoid is broken or not.
ED209 said:
Just over a month ago I had quite a heavy fall when running due to my idiot of a dog charging into the back of my legs.
About a week later I was in some pain when it was suggested I could possibly have a scaphoid fracture so I rang 111 and was sent to the local minor injuries unit where I was examined and X-rayed, nothing showed on the X-rays but as I had the symptoms I was booked in to a scaphoid clinic the following week. I was examined and x-rayed again and nothing showed again. The doctor said it was probably just a soft tissue injury and I was discharged.
Now over 3 weeks later I am still in pain, my grip is weak and I suppose I have the classic symptoms of a scaphoid fracture despite is being ruled out. What should I do now? Dr Google suggests scaphoid fractures are often missed on X-rays but I don’t want appear to be a complete Fanny by booking and appointment for a sore wrist.
MRIAbout a week later I was in some pain when it was suggested I could possibly have a scaphoid fracture so I rang 111 and was sent to the local minor injuries unit where I was examined and X-rayed, nothing showed on the X-rays but as I had the symptoms I was booked in to a scaphoid clinic the following week. I was examined and x-rayed again and nothing showed again. The doctor said it was probably just a soft tissue injury and I was discharged.
Now over 3 weeks later I am still in pain, my grip is weak and I suppose I have the classic symptoms of a scaphoid fracture despite is being ruled out. What should I do now? Dr Google suggests scaphoid fractures are often missed on X-rays but I don’t want appear to be a complete Fanny by booking and appointment for a sore wrist.
Yep I had symptoms of a scaphoid fracture a few years back and they took it very seriously indeed - I was a bit bemused assuming I just had a broken wrist but Google once I got home revealed all.
Can't remember exactly but after various X-rays, they were still concerned so had an MRI which revealed it was actually fractured but in a place with good blood flow and that it was healing nicely.
No issues at all now, but it was weak and sore for quite a long time.
Can't remember exactly but after various X-rays, they were still concerned so had an MRI which revealed it was actually fractured but in a place with good blood flow and that it was healing nicely.
No issues at all now, but it was weak and sore for quite a long time.
I've had an issue for many years now where I can't extend my right wrist beyond, I guess, about 75%, ie if I hold my arm upright and try to bend my write back, it will only move a very small amount. The other wrist is fine. I had it seen back then and their view was that I'd probably fractured something earlier in life (I've been a MTB and enduro bike rider), and this was now arthritic and not much can be done. It doesn't hamper me too much, but if you think of something like being on your hands and knees (a yoga "table pose" for instance), I can't do that and put my right hand flat on the floor.
About two weeks ago, my own idiot dog caused me to fall over in slippery mud, and my right hand went out automatically to break my fall. As part of that, the wrist of course tried to extend (bend back) but couldn't, for the above reasons. The pain was borderline nauseous, although it settled down in a few days, but now I have a small hard bony lump on the thumb side of my lower arm, more on the arm than the hand, and it's bloody painful again.
So yes, I get the whole "being a fanny" but but it's probably worth getting it seen/checked to avoid problems later on. I may have to do likewise!
About two weeks ago, my own idiot dog caused me to fall over in slippery mud, and my right hand went out automatically to break my fall. As part of that, the wrist of course tried to extend (bend back) but couldn't, for the above reasons. The pain was borderline nauseous, although it settled down in a few days, but now I have a small hard bony lump on the thumb side of my lower arm, more on the arm than the hand, and it's bloody painful again.
So yes, I get the whole "being a fanny" but but it's probably worth getting it seen/checked to avoid problems later on. I may have to do likewise!
My son had a big fall last August. There were more pressing and obvious injuries to deal with (3 breaks in his jaw and lost teeth!), but he had also a sore wrist. An x-ray showed no wrist fracture so just told to rest it. In November it still hadn't sorted itself out, so I took him back to the GP and they referred him to see a wrist specialist and then for a CT scan which revealed a fractured scaphoid which wasn't healing. So he was on the NHS waiting list, which they said could be up to 12 months long. We ended up going private last week, and they did the bone graft from the hip and a screw fix. Now in plaster for 6 weeks and hopefully this will be the end of the saga....
Don't ignore it. Push your GP to refer you to a specialist, but as always with the NHS, you may need to be patient....
As an aside I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of going private. The treatment was superb and swift and as he is in the prime of his life, not able to play sport or his guitar, 12 months is a long time to wait so we put our hands in our pockets for it.
I should add for balance, that the maxi facial team who dealt with his jaw in an emergency situation were fantastic.
Don't ignore it. Push your GP to refer you to a specialist, but as always with the NHS, you may need to be patient....
As an aside I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of going private. The treatment was superb and swift and as he is in the prime of his life, not able to play sport or his guitar, 12 months is a long time to wait so we put our hands in our pockets for it.
I should add for balance, that the maxi facial team who dealt with his jaw in an emergency situation were fantastic.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff