Can you have a broken bone(s) without swelling or bruising?

[Aim]

My 14yr old hurt her foot this afternoon (around 4) and is still in pain. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst pain) she said it is a 9. She was running up stairs and tripped. Her foot folded in half, with her toes going underneath her foot toward her heel as she was stepping down on it.

I've had her ice it. And elevate it. You'd think I asked her to cut off her own finger the way she went on and on about icing the damn thing.

For now- we're going to wait until the morning to see how it feels. But is the worst it is going to be is a sprain? There may be just a tiny bit of swelling, it's hard to tell on her foot. She has the longest boniest damn feet.

[gregk9]

I the pain is a 9 I think I'd get it x-rayed.

[Di]

It is possible but usually you have swelling or bruising to the area, I've seen fractures with neither though. You are doing all the right things, ice and elevate. Hope her foot is better soon. I'd show you a pic of my foot when I broke it but its not pleasant to see or re-live.

[BauersMom]

I broke my ankle when I was 16. I did my beam dismount at gymnastic's practice, and felt it snap. It hurt, but didn't swell or bruise badly. My mom took me in the next day and it was broken. I think it depends on the person. About 10 years ago my son slammed my thumb in the car door, and again there was very little swelling/bruising. The Dr said,"it probably isn't broken. I've never seen a break caused by a car door." It was broken.

I hope she feels better in the morning. Leg/foot breaks suck!

[Aim]

I the pain is a 9 I think I'd get it x-rayed.

That's the plan if it still hurts in the morning. Keep in mind she is a 14yr old girl who tends to lean on the side of dramatics. Our only option tonight is the ER and I don't think it is an emergency. We may end up there anyway for xrays- poor kid has her first set of exams tomorrow starting at noon.

[CindersMyGirl]

I tore ligaments in my foot and it hurt worse than when I broke my foot. My son broke a finger and it had little bruising and swelling but still hurt after a week ( yes, we waited a week. In my defense he could move it fine) and it was broken.

I hope she feels better soon.

[Mary Jane]

Poor thing.....broken, pulled, torn -- any of that is very painful. I hope she gets relief/feels better very soon!

[csblabmom]

Hairline fracture of the ankle- walked on it for a week before it swelled up and turned purple.
Hope it turns out to be nothing.

[Linda1]

Hope your daughter feels better this morning.

[javasmom]

My son has done all of the above-he broke both ankles, tore all the ligaments in one ankle and broke his wrist.
None of his injuries swelled or bruised.
We didn't go to the doc for 2 days after he broke his wrist (he could move/use it).
For one of his broken ankles we didn;t go until the next day.
Torn ligaments we went right away-this was after he broke both ankles and had surgery on one foot-so I was a little more cautious.