Possible broken finger. Should I get an x-ray?

[funambulist]

I woke up yesterday with a dull pain in the index tiger of of my left hand. I can't remember injuring it. The finger is swollen (though not massively), I can move it, but don't have the full range of movement. When I press down on it the pain is located at a fairly specific site below the joint in the middle of the finger. It is painful to use, particularly when using gears or the handbrake when driving and when I've bumped it or picked something up in a particular way the pain has been very sharp.

I don't think that there is any point in going to the GP as they can't tell me whether it is broken or not and I know enough first aid to strap it up myself.

Is it worth going to A&E for an x-ray? My hospital is local and I don't mind waiting, but I'd feel very silly and a real time waster if it isn't broken, especially as there isn't any bruising, I'm not aware of any injury and I'm not in any great pain. (I've strapped it up.)

On the other hand I feel like I'm making a big deal of it strapping it up when people ask what's wrong and I say "Oh, it's a bit sore." Also if it isn't a minor break / chip in the bone then I'm a bit worried as to why I've lost a bit of movement and function in that finger.

What do you think?

index finger, not tiger! Hard to type with two fingers strapped together!

Maybe it is tendonitis? Do you feel a click or trigger effect when you try and bend it?
Try cold. Cold helps swelling.

I broke my finger recently and could tell instantly that it was badly damaged. It was definitely more than a dull ache and I couldn't touch the site of the break without crying and whimpering. I had fallen off my bike on to my hand so it did take a considerable impact to break it.

My gut feel is that it isn't broken, but I'm not a doctor. If might be worth going to see your GP if it doesn't feel any better in a few days? And ice it when you can.

Hope it heals quickly.

Thanks musical endorphins2. I don't have a click or trigger effect, it just hurts to bend it and I can only get it to bend so far.

My ds15 recently fractured his little finger on his right hand(writing hand)at martial arts & it sounds just like what your describing. He did it on a Thursday night but still went to school on the fri. The bruise didn't come out till about 12 hours later. Took him to a & e on the fri night & they just strapped it up & we went back for a follow up at fracture clinic.
If u have time I would go to a&e for an X-ray just to confirm.

My daughter broke her finger last year. No particular injury, she thinks that she twisted it picking a heavy bag up and she wasn't ever in enough pain to cry (she's 11) but she complained about the pain and found it difficult to use it. On the other hand she had a lot of bruising.