How can you tell if you have broken a bone. In particular the thumb?
I was getting out of a car and shut the dorr when the driver started to say something, so I hooked my thumb in teh dorr as I usualy do to keep it open, but it was shutting to hard and caught my thumb. I won't repeat what I said, this is a family forum.
But now my thumb clicks and hurts if I move it and has swollen up quite a lot.
When would be a good time to approach a doctor and ask for an x-ray?
Cheers
DS

Of course an X-ray is a good idea, particularly if there's swelling. There could be other types of damage, like tearing of parts in there.

Yeeeowch! Sorry to hear that, DS :(

If it is broken, the sooner they can set it the better. From what you've described, I'd probably head in to get it checked out now.

Good luck [img]smile.gif[/img]

Indeed, don't delay. Better safe than sorry.

You might as well get an x-ray now, although I don't think you're very likely to have broken your thumb unless your thumb bent back (or forwards) when the door slammed on it. Otherwise, it is probably just hurting from the impact, and it may take up to a week for the pain/swelling to go away.

Well, you can try to bend it unusually backwards or forwards. That's a suggestion, not an order.

Cheers guys
It is now the next day. I can't use my thumb, apply any pressure to it, or bend it well due to the almighty bruise right on teh joint. I don't think it's broken because a bit of gentle poking has made no crcking noises or unbelivable agony.

that's generally the case though, I broke two fingers whilst playing soccer a few years back and it only hurt a little bit when I fell, but they made me see a doctor, and although they did not hurt (only a tiny bit when bent and poked) they were VERY broken [img]tongue.gif[/img]

There are at least three different ways you can break a bone: compound, green tree, and simple. They may not hurt, depending on exactly where the break is and whether the bone slides while using it.

Easy to get checked out. Plus, they can give you rather nice pain meds if needed :D

Yeah if it swelled up, that's a sign of something broken. And if it is still swollen some, it may be preventing that clicking you were talking about, the swelling is your body's defense against further injury.

I'd definitely go to a doctor and have it Xrayed Dragonshadow.