Is it possible to break a bone & not know?

[Alsonification]

Sorry I didn't know where to put this. Nowhere on the health section seemed suitable.

And before anyone says, yes I know I need a doctor & I'm going to my local minor injury clinic tomorrow but I'm just wondering if anyone has experience similar.

A few weeks ago I banged my hand off a chair & my thumb bent the wrong way slightly. Nothing too serious. No bruise or anything. Everything fine. It was a bit sore if I moved it a certain way afterward but I assumed sore from the bang.
However it's not going away, in fact it's getting worse & I think the bone feels different to the other side underneath the skin.
I'm a childminder so lifting kids etc so I'm still working but I have to be careful I don't move it a particular way.

But, it's not bruised, discoloured, swollen & im still using it fine (but just not certain ways, for example peeling vegetables is painful but I can still do it).
I'm just wondering if anyone has had similar.

Photo is circled where it's painful. If I press down on this area it's agony.

Fell over walking on holiday last year. Ankle and foot were awful for months. Didn't see a Dr..
Fell down the stairs recently and x ray showed 2 old fractures...
Ouch..

Oh wow! How were you even walking on it? You poor thing!

Yes, I broke my wrist. No bruising or swelling. Had it xrayed a week later as someone suggested I did at work as it hurt a bit when typing and it was broken in a number of places!

I would definitely get it x-rayed. That’s a long time for it to still be painful.

I wonder whether the scaphoid bone might be involved... it's a tiny bone in your wrist, right at the base of your thumb. If in doubt, it's always worth getting these things checked out, complications from untreated fractures aren't fun (and the scaphoid bone can be especially troublesome if involved). Anyway. My post is pure speculation/a slightly educated guess and you need to see someone who is actually qualified!

I broke a bone in my finger, but didn't know until years later when it was revealed in an x ray for something else.

Thanks a mil guys. Seems like it could happen so.
I'm hoping not but I want to get it checked cos as a pp said, I don't want it causing problems later especially as it's my dominant hand.
The minor injury clinic will xray there & then so hopefully all will be clear tomorrow.
Thanks again.

Very possible! I’ve done it to a few fingers here and there, and my BIL broke his ankle and only realised he’d done it before when they told him he had old fractures on an X-ray!

As above. I went to movie injuries two weeks after a fall. The nurse said I had fractured a bone. They don't say 'broken', it's always a fracture apparently. So a hairline crack or proper snap! Mine was chipped with the little bit quite clear to see. No swelling or bruising.

If it’s not too late I’d remove that ring in the meantime or they might need to use a ring cutter.

Completely possible! I only knew I'd broken my clavicle when it came up on an unrelated X-ray, I still have no idea when it happened, and DS broke a bone in his foot when he was little and none of us realized for a couple of weeks.

I'd get it checked out if I were you.

Oh yeah good call. Will do that now.
Looks awful when I take that ring off. I've had it on for 24 years so there's a mark hahahaha

I've looked up scaphoid & it looks like that might be it.

You need to go and get it x rayed. You’ve highlighted the scaphoid area so its important to know if that’s fractured as unresolved scaphoid fractures can cause problems.

Yep scaphoid fracture is a classic from fall onto an outstretched hand but seeing as you only banged your hand on a chair it would be a lot less likely, it could just as likely be a soft tissue injury that if you haven’t been able to rest it enough to heal ,may be taking longer than the norm ( any longer than 3 wks without improvement is a good guide to getting something looked at)

Yes, it is I'm afraid
I unknowingly walked on a broken foot for a week after tripping over a laundry basket at home!
As it doesn't feel right and isn't improving. I think it's best to get an x Ray
If you have a minor injuries unit, they will do it and seek advice from main hospital if necessary

Don’t worry about the ring, they’ll just concentrate on the scaphoid.

Agree with PP the area is consistent with damage to the scaphoid which can be very problematic, get it xrayed.

I've managed to get the ring off anyway just in case.

Crazy the amount of people walking on broken ankles/feet unknowingly.

Yes. Do get seen OP. I once crunched about on a broken ankle for about ten days ... Very silly and I'm lucky I didn't do more damage.

Yes you can break a bone, and it won't even show up on an x-ray sometimes. My dc's one was only discovered on an MRI scan.

Another one saying yup, you can have a broken bone and not realise it. There is such a similarity in pain and swelling between a sprain and a break, but if the pain and other symptoms stays longer than you or the doctor anticipated, further investigation always a good idea.

Happened to my DD (foot), didn't show up on x-ray, hobbled around for a few weeks (crutches and bandages) until an MRI showed the fracturing. No cast needed, but so glad I insisted on crutches.

Absolutely. I've been to hospital multiple times for torn ligaments. The last time it turned out to be a fracture, doctor commented about past breaks I said oh no I've never broken it before, got a 2nd opinion and said there were clear old fractures likely 2 or 3. Makes sense why my ankle is so utterly fucked.

Walked around for three weeks on a fractured foot recently before I went to hospital. Well six really cos they did piss all apart from give me painkillers when I went.

My ballet teacher, an ex-pro, used to proudly display her knobbly foot from when she broke a bone and danced on it anyway. Dancers are used to being in pain so she didn't find out it was broken until years later. I'm not sure that that was a positive lesson for us, but we stopped whining about blisters 🤔