Hmm... kinda odd that me and Manny start "injury help/I don't wanna see a doctor" threads within 24 hours of each other. Mine ain't as serious though. So basically, I was lifting weights and my left wrist started hurting a bit. It had actually been bothering me just a little when I lifted over the past few months, but it was never a big deal. Then yesterday it started hurting really bad... not sure if I did it benching or curling, but it was one of those. So of course I did the logical thing, which was go to bed and hope it goes away. It didn't. Actually, after 24 hours, I don't know if it got better at all. Now the thing is, I've had ankle injuries out the ass, I know those cold, but I've never really hurt my wrist, and I'm not sure about a few things. I'll try to describe it... first, there's pretty much no swelling, at all. That's probably what weirds me out the most actually, because I know I've never had an ankle hurt this much without swelling. Anyway, if I hold out my arm straight, and let my wrist drop down, there's no pain. Fine. I can also hold my arm straight out and raise my wrist, and it feels a bit tight, but practically no pain at all. But if I rotate the damn thing even a little... well, it really ****ing hurts. So I'm wondering... 1. Should I wrap the thing up or not? 2. About how long will it take to heal? 3. How long should I let it go without healing before I see a doctor? 4. If the pain goes away and it "seems" fine, how long should I wait before I start lifting weights again, so I don't screw it up again? (this is the one I most want answered, actually) Thanks in advance for any advice.
My grip isn't too bad at all... I actually get the impression that I could lift heavy stuff fine too, if I was lifting it STRAIGHT, and not having to move it to the left, right, or rotate it at all. It's one of the stranger injuries I've had.
Buckle down and go see a doctor. There is no point in possibly crippling your hand for the rest of your life to skip a visit to the doctors office.
Hmm, that is interesting that it hurts, yet weight isn't an issue. Do you think it's more internal or superficial? Does it feel like a bone (ulna or radius if you can specify) or muscle/tissue thing? I ask this because I once tripped and fell on a concrete court and broke my fall with the palm of my hand. The wrist absorbed just about the entire force of the fall and pain traveled up through my arm. My wrist was incredibly weak -- I couldn't even hold a soda can. I had virtually no range of motion and I thought that one of my bones had to be cracked or broken. I got an X-ray eventually and no break occurred; it was my radial nerve that was affected. Nothing serious, just a lot of pain for a good couple weeks. I guess if you want to avoid a doctor just be aware of more things you are and are not able to do. If it doesn't get any worse then it couldn't be all that serious, but conversely, if it doesn't get any better you might want to just get an X-ray. Good luck with the pain and feel better!
Well weight is certainly an issue if it isn't straight, then it hurts even more. I mean, if I just flip my wrist left or right it hurts, but if I try to say open a heavy door and accidently turn my wrist while doing it, then it logically hurts even worse. It's internal, no doubt. NO idea whatsoever if it's muscle or bone... it truly feels like it could be either or both. I honestly don't think it's a really big deal, it's just a strange injury, and on a part of my body I've never really injured before on top of that, hence the thread. However, both you guys suggest seeing a doctor anyway... think you could answer question #3 then? How long to wait? I'm thinking 5 days without improvement = doctor. Too long? Too short? What do you guys think? And what if it does get better, then what do you think for question #4?
Well personally, I would wait about 2 or 3 days if it was persistant. Five days seems fine I guess; it's really relative to how much pain you're having. If it's nothing, then you would hate to have to pay for a 5-minute doctor visit who tells you it's fine or wraps it or tells you to massage it or whatnot. I personally don't think it's a bone issue. If it was, then you would have constant throbbing. And if it is a muscle issue, I would say a muscle tear would have to be rules out since tearing is absolute awful pain, specifically in the tissue (you would definitely know if it was a muscle issue). Then again, a doctor might want to do more than an X-ray. An MRI would show anything wrong, but seems a bit drastic if you don't think it's that bad. A question I should've asked is where exactly is the pain? Can you pinpoint it? Like is it in the joint or more towards the forearm? If it is in the joint then I would lean towards saying go to the doctor soomer rather than later. From reading your description (and assuming the injury is above the joint, about where a watch would be strapped), I would say it could be a pulled muscle or a possible nerve issue. What you might want to do is go to specific medical forums like WebMD or similar. There are professionals in those places who will give more accurate medical advice for free. As for the weights, ultimately it's your call on what to do; just don't try to do anything that might make it worse. You know this already, but don't start with the weights you were previously working on. Go light for a bit and work your way up. Just common sense really. But good luck once again.
The pain is definitely focused in the joint. Lesser pain extends about an inch into the hand and probably less than an inch into the arm. Ok, so 3 or 4 days and I'll give the doc a ring.
Drexler, If I am reading your description right, you are describing something that has happened to me from time to time. I think what you have is a strained ligament or a sprain. I would rest it from lifting for at least 3 days; however, you might want to focus lifting weights that do not affect your wrist like leg stuff or ab work. After resting it for 3 days, see how it feels but you also should change up your exercises. For the longest time, I could not do barbell curls without getting intense pain in my forearms. So, I just had to quit doing that exercise and do something else that worked my biceps. That is the real key, IMO, is to find an exercise that works the body part that you want to work like chest or biceps or whatever but doing it in a way that does not cause any more pain to your wrist. If it gets worse after a week or you just feel that you have to go to a doctor, I would take Cohen's advice from my knee thread - you are wasting your time by going to a general practicioner doctor. I mean, you might, as a courtesy to him phone him up and tell him what is going on and if he can recommend a good specialist in wrist injuries. But I don't think it is a mandatory thing. Man, I have had so many little aches and pains since I have been lifting - usually happens with my back but sometimes wrist or forearms, etc. that if I "ran" to the doctor every time, I would probably be on his payroll right now.
If you lift weights with any significant poundage your going to get minor injuries here and there. Its all part of the fun of wielding heavy iron. If I went to the doctor for every injury that I’ve had, my insurance would have dropped me a long time ago. That being said, I have seen people in the gym that have had injuries and refused to see a doctor which turned out to be a decision that the y regretted later. Some injuries can get worse if not is treated by a doctor. Some injuries, while being minor at the time, can turn in to problems that will aggravate you for the rest of your life. If you think the injury is minor and not worth going to the doctor you should definitely take care of it. Rest the wrist by not lifting weight for a while, ice the wrist frequently, compress it with wraps and keep it elevated. Wrist injuries are common with people who lift weights. Usually it’s the result of poor form. Make sure that when you’re benching that your fists are facing the ceiling. If your wrists are bent then you’re inviting injury. The width of the grip can also cause stress on the wrist too. The wider the grip the more stress involved. The reps you use can also cause problems also. Some people get injured easier with heavy weight (low reps) and some people put constant repetitive stress on their tendons with light weights (high reps). Wrist wraps have their pluses and minuses. Powerlifters use wrist wraps constantly for the bench press. They will use them for training as well as competition. For the athlete who is training for sports events, they can be a weakness. Basically, your chest, shoulders, triceps, forearms, and hands get stronger, but your wrist does not because it is not stabilizing the weight. If you do wear wrist wraps, you should make sure your wrists are being worked with other exercises.
OK, just wrap it up for those 3 or 4 days. Keeping it immobile as much as possible will prevent aggrivating the situation.
Speaking of which, my back is actually the reason I started lifting. In every bball game I played over the past few years, whenever there was a really huge guy I ended up guarding him because I was the best defender on the floor (shame I can't shoot worth **** ). About a year ago I just got run over by one of these guys and I was out for 3 weeks with a back injury. The next 4 consecutive games I played in I kept hurting my back, because I'm the kinda guy who flies in for layups and doesn't care if he gets knocked around by 2 or 3 guys while in the air. So then I started lifting and working out, and I haven't had one back problem in about 10 games or so. Shame the lifting created another problem. Really? Well, you're right that wide stresses them more than normal grip, but it's the narrow grip on the bench press that seems to kill my wrist the most.
