Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Stupid question about xrays ...

41 replies

DuvetQueen1 · 04/12/2022 12:41

I injured my hand on Thurs. Lots of swelling and unable to move my thumb

Had a phone appt with Nurse on Fri who sent me for an xray because thumbs can "be tricky".

I went for the xray on Friday. Radiologist told me it would be with my GP in a week. He said he couldn't tell me anything and could only advise keeping my thumb still and protected.

I'm workingon the assumption it's probably fine or he would have told me?

Do radiologists flag broken bones immediately? What do you do when you have to wait a week for the results and no medic has actually seen the injury (except the radiologist)?

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonOh · 04/12/2022 12:47

Was it a radiographer or a radiologist who saw it? A radiologist is a doctor and can interpret the x-ray. A radiographer is the tech who takes the x-ray. They are capable of reading them but are not allowed to diagnose. That said, I've often had a radiographer tell me what they think but more so with ultrasound than x-rays.

To be honest, I wouldn't assume it's fine, particularly if it was a relatively young radiographer who is less likely to give an opinion.

Wowzel · 04/12/2022 12:47

A radiologist is a doctor, do you mean radiographer?

Usually the xrays get done, results reported and sent to the person who requested it and then they phone the person if there is anything on it

username8888 · 04/12/2022 12:51

It would have been the radiographer who is just the technician and not their job to interpret xrays. Then can however see an obvious break, but hands and feet are quite tricky with lots of small bones. Sometimes they will say something if its obvious but theyre not supposed to comment.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Original poster
DuvetQueen1 · 04/12/2022 12:58

Sorry! Language mix up, it was the radiographer- lovely guy who got me in and out quickly but just said a Dr would need to review and he couldn't confirm anything.

He told me to keep it straight and protect it and they'd try to get the results through ASAP.

I thought he may give me a heads up if it was broken? I don't have a support or anything (did ask at the chemist but they don't have them for hands, just wrists). If it is broken, I know I need to keep it still whereas if its just a sprain, I know i need to move it through the pain.

Just wondering what I should be doing in the meantime before getting the result really

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 04/12/2022 13:04

Keep it still, maybe wrap it to the hand with an ace bandage and some cotton wool to pad it out so it isnt dragged into the hand iyswim. It doesnt mean it isnt broken, it just means the communication between the xray department and the GP is shit. Call the GP on Monday and start chasing the results.

YogaLite · 04/12/2022 13:07

Hands and feet are tricky especially very soon after the injury.
I was told verbally my ankle was fine but a letter arrived a few days later saying I in fact broke my ankle.

LatteLady · 04/12/2022 13:08

No, they will not give you a heads up, as the radiologist will read and report the n your film. It happens that way, as they do not have the clinical skill to advise you and might mislead you.

BookedOut · 04/12/2022 13:12

I would buy a brace with a thumb support, to keep it still and protected. It can be hard to get the sizing right, might be worth going to a pharmacy with a range of sizes, or measure if you’re ordering online, especially as it’s swollen.

Yutes · 04/12/2022 13:13

Treat it with the assumption that it is fractured or badly damaged. Thumbs can be painful and you can have ligament damage which is not visible on an X-ray.

they wouldn’t tell you anything because it opens radiographers up to getting sued.

MeJane · 04/12/2022 13:14

They can't give you any heads ups. Even if it's ridiculously obvious. Although they can send you to A&E to speed up you seeing a doctor.

BabbleBee · 04/12/2022 13:17

I fell down the stairs and had X-rays to check for a scaphoid fracture - really difficult to see on X-ray and I was told to wear a wrist support and I was reviewed in fracture clinic a few days later. I found a support with thumb immobilisation more comfortable. At the fracture clinic my symptoms still suggested scaphoid fracture even though it couldn’t be seen on the X-ray. I carried on wearing the support and mobilised as pain allowed. It was fine within 6 weeks.

ILoveShula · 04/12/2022 13:17

keep it raised, in a sling. If it is broken it will heal more quickly

Original poster
DuvetQueen1 · 04/12/2022 13:41

Thanks everyone, I was really grateful to be seen so quickly but I'm genuinely lost as to what to do in the meantime, especially if the results do take another week.

I don't want to make it worse but I don't really want to find I've been overdramatic with it and made it stiffer.

I'll try a different chemist and see if they can help me with some kind of support.

OP posts:
ILoveShula · 04/12/2022 15:17

Rest it. Apply an icepack if it is swollen (bag of frozen peas or similar).
Keep it raised (above your heart) as much as you can.

Original poster
DuvetQueen1 · 04/12/2022 15:25

Thanks, I'm icing it every hour and I'm trying to not knock it. It's too painful to actually use for anything - even moving my fingers on that hand is sore. I knocked my thumb in the shower this morning and my eyes watered with the pain.

Seems so stupid when it's just a thumb!

@BabbleBee sorry to hear about your fall. I hope you have recovered? Could you share your symptoms by any chance? I'm just trying to get a feel for mine if I can!

OP posts:
CharlotteFlax · 04/12/2022 15:27

In the trust I work in the radiology consultant will review the X-ray within 24-48 hours and should flag up fractures quickly.

Just so you know, if you'd gone to A&E instead of going through your GP you'd maybe have had one long wait to find out out either way rather than having to wait days. If I were you I might still attend A&E at the hospital you had the X-ray done and see if they can access the images you had done and treat you there and then. If your GP does get told you've broken it then they'll probably send you there to get it dressed/supported properly anyway.

As it is, you're in pain and can't move it properly so if you don't go to A&E today then definitely ring your GP tomorrow and get them to chase it for you.

BabbleBee · 04/12/2022 15:29

@DuvetQueen1 The heel of my hand and my wrist were really sore, but the most of my pain was at the base of my thumb - the really fleshy part. I had some bruising and swelling there too. Very classic result of ‘fell onto an outstretched hand’.

Original poster
DuvetQueen1 · 04/12/2022 15:35

Thanks for the advice @CharlotteFlax

I guess they will be in touch shortly if there is something broken by the sounds of it.

I didn't want to take a space at A&E for a sore thumb. And I hoped my GP would s
ee me in person. The fact they have the ability to refer to xray reassured me but I wasn't expecting the delay in being informed of the results/treatment.

The bruising isn't as bad as I would expect it to be with a break but also conscious I'm not a medic and I'm due back in work tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
DuvetQueen1 · 08/12/2022 21:13

Okay, so it's been 6 days since my xray and the results aren't back yet.

The bruising has gone mostly but there's still some swelling. It's still painful and I'm struggling to move it much.

Would you bother making a GP/nurse appt tomorrow if the results aren't back?

Can't decide whether its a waste of time until the results come back or whether it would be good to get a medic to take a look and dress it/tell me whether I should be moving it or not?

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Original poster
DuvetQueen1 · 08/12/2022 22:22

Anyone had any experience with hand injuries and having to wait for the xray results?

OP posts:
MrsMorton · 08/12/2022 22:27

What do you mean "the results aren't back yet"?

Has someone told you this or have you just heard nothing

Original poster
DuvetQueen1 · 08/12/2022 22:34

I've heard nothing from the hospital @MrsMorton and so I spoke to my GP receptionist this afternoon who said nothing had been sent yet.

They couldn't put a timescale on it but I really don't know what to do in the meantime.

OP posts:
BoneyEmm · 08/12/2022 22:46

When I worked in outpatient x-ray, any requests that queried a fracture were reviewed straight away by the advanced reporting radiographer.

So if the protocol was the same in your hospital, any fracture seen you would have been sent to a&e for immediate treatment.

Original poster
DuvetQueen1 · 08/12/2022 22:56

Thanks @BoneyEmm - so your guess would be no break?

I'm wondering if a nurse in my surgery may have the same knowledge and then be able to wrap/support it or tell me to get on with it?

I don't want to waste anyones time with a sore thumb but it is still very painful and I don't know whether I'm harming it or helping it by trying to keep it still

OP posts:
BoneyEmm · 08/12/2022 23:20

@Duvetqueen1 how did you injure your thumb?

If a fracture was seen, you wouldn't be sent home without treatment, no.

It depends what was put on your referral info, the magic words query fracture should get an immediate review, but I don't know if that applies in all hospitals.

New fractures which are very subtle might not show. After 10 days or so the bone healing can be seen easier on an x-ray so if it's no better, might be worth getting another appointment with the GP.

.