I do a lot of heavy bag training. i used to hit my 100lbs heavy bag with speed bag gloves (i should have known better), and over time, i've developed bruising in the finger joints (interphalangeal between 2 & 3). this happens especially to my pinkie. i've since got proper bag gloves. the bruising is still here. i'm wondering what i can do to get rid of the bruising completely. just to let you guys kno how long, this bruising's been around for a couple months. i've tried rubbing dit da jow on it, but it hasn't had much effect. could this be bursitis?
Id say give it time to heal. Then when you go on the bag again wrap your hands and wear bag gloves or boxing gloves. If it does not clear up...the doc is your man!
What type of dit da jow are you using? Depending on the type of injury - you will need a specific type of medecine to treat it. Make sure you are using the right stuff! If you put the wrong type of jow on an injury, it can actually aggravate it! You need a good iron palm formula, likely. PM Plumdragon, he is pretty knowledgeable about chinese medicine. Get some bigger gloves, don't overdo you bag trainin.
Wazzabi, Hmm.. sounds like you need two things: 1) a trip to a good sports oriented physiotherapist. Yes I know it's not exactly cheap... but it is your body after all and you've got to live with it for a very long time - so consider it an investment. The longer you put off getting a proper, credible diagnosis... the longer it will take for you to start healing. 2) rest time for your hands If they're tender or painful then that's your body telling you that something is wrong. Get smart... listen to you body. It usually won't talk without saying something important. If it is some sort of soft tissue damage in the joint - then take it very seriously... you don't want painful hands later in life. You don't want your bones aching when the weather changes. If it is bursitis there are several things they can do to treat it in addition to a schedule of rest. If the bursa is inflamed they'll probably prescribe an anti inflammatory like Celebrex. Massaging the injured area could make it much worse if it's truly some type of bursitis. You'll only inflame the bursa even more. But make sure you get someone to look at it that knows enough to give you a good diagnosis. I've found that general MD's usually don't deal with this stuff enough to give you any real diagnosis... and will usually tell you to quit whatever activity it is that causes it. Whereas a sports physio will help you to get back to the activity. Big difference in treatment methodologies. Are you getting any discoloration in the area... like you'd normally associate with a bruise. What about swelling? Is it tender to hit the bag or touch that part of your hand? Do you have full range of motion for those knuckles or is it too painful? FWIW - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bursa_(anatomy)
it's a bit red in the area. when i press down hard on it, i feel pain. also when i hit the beg, even with gloves on, it hurts. i still have full range of motion. there's definitely swelling.
ok... so that means NO bag work. Time to focus on something else for a while. Besides variations in your workout do wonders for your routine. Seriously... stay off of it and get it checked out. You don't want it to become a chronic situation. Get it looked at and do what the physio tells you. From start to finish. No point in getting it looked at if you don't do what they recommend. Chances are it will be fine with the right amount of rest. That could be anywhere from several weeks (again NO bag work) to several months. That's nothing when you consider the bigger picture. Be cool...get it checked out. Good luck.
thanks slip. i already decided to lay low from hitting the bag with my hands, even before i posted this thread. i'll probably book an appointment to get it checked out soon.
i booked an appointment with a sports medicine physician, but it will be a week and a few days before it gets checked out. i'll keep you guys posted.
ok so i went to see the sports med physician. he told me to ice it for 15-20 min 3-4 times a day, and perscribed anti-inflammatories, which i'm very iffy about taking. anti-inflammatories make you sick & can give you ulcers, & right now, i think the risks outweigh the benefits. i'll just stick with ice for now & see him after a couple weeks. i'm thinking about seeing another doctor to get a 2nd opinion.
Those are possible side effects, I would take your medicine and worry about side effects if they appear. Generally people don't need a second opinion, and even when they get it it will be the same as first time around.
lol... you sound like you actually read all the fine print in the contraindications in the printed paper in the pill box. Trust me... they always sound insane. If you keep reading them you'll never take anything. Ever. It's not like you're going to develop and ulcer from one or two pills. Go with your doctors suggestion... NOT what's printed on the contraindication sheet. Out of curiosity... what anti-inflam did he prescribe for you?
Wazzabi: Unless you have a pre-existing stomach disorder, I wouldn't worry about the meds you've been perscribed.
