Carpal Bone Fracture?

[Linz3]

Hey guys, Im new here so.... hiya!

About 3 weeks ago I ended up loosing my temper and punching a wooden door... please no judgements, I already hate myself about the whole thing and I dont think it was clever and I will never doo it again. Anyway, it swelled pretty bad around my second knuckle and strangely around my lower hand, Id say over my carpal bones. I left it a week and decided to go and get an x-ray becuase I had another lump, not swelling, a lump towards my thumb. I had an x-ray and it came back as just brusing. Its now been 3 weeks and I still have about 3 hard lumps near my thumb and a bit further over my hand, and swelling over my knuckle. I also had burning at night but that seems to have disapeerd now, Im just left with a dull aching type pain that gets worse as the day goes on. Is it worth me going back for a second opinon? Im not one for going to A&E so for me to go onece means Im in pain, I dont want to waste anybodys time but its been 3 weeks and it still looks like this.....

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8563/handinjury.jpg
(click link for full size or copy and paste into address bar)

Thanks for any advice!

[Heidi]

Hi

Definately worth a second opinion. Fractures in these small bones are sometimes hard to pick up and if they are hard lumps, not swelling, then there is obviously something wrong.

It may not be a fracture, other possibilities include ligament damage causing a kind of semi-dislocation.

I would go back to the Hospital, ask for a second x-ray. If this produces nothing, then try to push to see another specialist, don't just accept it if there is no fracture. There could be other injury which may not necessarily be picked up on an x-ray.

Good luck!

[Linz3]

Thank you! Ill give it another go! If its ligament damage is there any kind of support I could use for working? I am a photographer/designer so I am always using my hands, which is obviously difficult at the moment. But I dont want to hold it in the wrong position, would a Carpal Tunnel splint be good for this if nothing comes of an x-ray? Thanks so much for your advice!

[Heidi]

See what the x-ray or a specialist says.
Immobilising it in a carpal tunnel splint would be good in some ways (preventing further injuries, maybe easing pain), but you may end up with a very stiff wrist too.