Can you have a broken wrist and not know it?
In short
Yes. A hairline fracture can feel like a wrist sprain, so some people do not see a doctor right away. The scaphoid, a small bone near the base of the thumb, is the classic example, and its break may not show on the first x-ray. A fracture that is missed and left unprotected takes longer to heal.
Call (817) 382-6789 to have this looked at, or book online with Dr. Knight.
How a break hides
A fall on an outstretched hand, a sore wrist, and the thought that it is probably just a sprain. That is how most missed fractures start. Dr. Knight sees hairline fractures that feel like a sprain, so patients do not come in right away, and the break shows itself later through pain that does not go away.
The scaphoid is the one to watch
Put your thumb out like a hitchhiker. The hollow at the base of it sits over the scaphoid, a small bone in the wrist. A scaphoid fracture often causes pain that is not severe and may be mistaken for a sprain, and wrist pain that does not go away within a day of an injury may be a sign of one.1 In some cases the break does not show up on an x-ray right away, so the wrist goes in a splint and is checked again later, or an MRI is used.1 Parts of the scaphoid have a poor blood supply, and a bone that fails to heal, called a nonunion, is a real risk.1
What waiting costs
Most wrist fractures heal in about six weeks. Dr. Knight's point is that a fracture that is not identified and protected in a brace usually takes longer, and the scaphoid can take longer still. He explains how a broken wrist is treated in How is a broken wrist treated?.
A sore wrist checked soon in Southlake or Plano, Texas
A wrist that is still sore the day after a fall is worth seeing quickly. Same day appointments are often available at our Southlake office on weekdays and our Plano office on Tuesdays, and x-rays are taken on site and reviewed with Dr. Knight in the same visit. If it happened at work, we handle workers' compensation cases. Our pages on broken wrist treatment and scaphoid fractures cover what happens next.
In Dr. Knight's words
"Yes, you can. Hairline fractures sometimes feel like a wrist sprain, and patients don't see a doctor right away, and then with persistent pain are found to have a wrist fracture. It just prolongs the healing. [Healing that usually takes] six weeks takes longer if the fracture is not identified and not treated in a brace."
When to call us
- Wrist pain after a fall that is still there the next day, especially on the thumb side.
- Tenderness in the hollow at the base of the thumb.
- Swelling or bruising that is not going down.
- Weak grip, or pain when you put weight on the hand.
What else do patients ask about this?
How long does a wrist fracture take to heal?
Usually about six weeks. Dr. Knight says a fracture that is missed and not treated in a brace usually takes longer, and the scaphoid can take longer still.
What happens if a scaphoid fracture is missed?
Parts of the scaphoid have a poor blood supply, so a break there can fail to heal. A bone that fails to heal is called a nonunion.
Where can I get a wrist x-ray near Plano or Southlake, Texas?
Dr. Knight, a hand surgeon, takes wrist x-rays on site at our Southlake office, open weekdays, and our Plano office, open Tuesdays. Same day appointments are often available. Call (817) 382-6789 for the first opening, or book online any time.
Sources
- OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist Read 2026-11-02.