Chronic Hand Pain...Somebody Help

Jezziah · 03-09-2004, 08:21 PM

Over the past year I've developed a chronic injury related to weight lifting. Both of my hands have developed a dull pain radiating from the bones (and tendons?) attached to my fingers. So the pain radiates in my hand down to my wrist stemming from my fingers and worsening with use of them or gripping something firmly. I've been struggling with this for the past year and its driving me absolutely insane. I've been using chondroitin, glucosamine, and MSM reguarly for the past year and at times it helps but at others it seems to do nothing. If anyone knows of or has any experience with a supplement or therapy to alleviate this I would appreciate the input...until I figure this out I'm going to be stuck running and working my abs...

Jezziah · 03-10-2004, 11:43 AM

If anybody cares, and it seems that no one does, I've diagnosed this problem as a sprain and am treating it accordingly. Sometimes I feel like the injury is aggravated by the use of gloves...

BabsieGirl · 03-10-2004, 12:08 PM

I believe the reason why no one has responded to you ISN'T because "nobody cares." This is probably due to the fact that, no one has this problem or they don't have the time (at the moment) to properly respond.

Jezziah, please consult a physician about this. I wouldn't put it off too long.

Mean while, relax. you just posted this today. Give people time to respond.

Jezziah · 03-10-2004, 01:38 PM

My "nobody cares" comment was only said in frustration and not directed at anybody ...I'm really tired of having to take a week off at a time and basically halting all my forward progress. My symptoms are hard to diagnosis because they fit the characteristics of tendonitis and of a sprain. The problem is that regular treatments (RICE) tend to aggravate the situation. Does anyone think wrist and hand strenghening exercises would help alleviate this problem in the future?

bandaidwoman · 03-10-2004, 08:17 PM

This doesn't sound like a simple sprain or strain. Go see a doc.

DrChiro · 03-10-2004, 09:14 PM

I agree with bandaidwoamn....it is more serious.

some questions....are your hands cold?
if you squeeze your fingernail (it should turn white)...then let it go...does it return to its normal reddish color quickly?
(just trying to see if it a vascular problem)

do you wear gloves with wrist wraps..and if so do you keep them too tight?

i am just curious to know...but regardless of your answers I strongly advise you get this looked at by a professional quickly!

Vieope · 03-10-2004, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jezziah
If anybody cares, and it seems that no one does.

It is not that, I don´t have the knowledge to help with that, most ppl here will be very careful before posting, specially here. I read it but I couldn´t do anything.
So .. Did you see the doctor ?

Jezziah · 03-10-2004, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DrChiro

some questions....are your hands cold?
if you squeeze your fingernail (it should turn white)...then let it go...does it return to its normal reddish color quickly?
(just trying to see if it a vascular problem)

do you wear gloves with wrist wraps..and if so do you keep them too tight?

To answer your questions my hands are not cold, the red rushes back into my fingernail, I wear gloves for certain exercises, however this happened when I was doing reverse grip lat pulldows and I don't wear gloves for that exercise. I know I should see a doctor but I'm "between" insurance carriers at the moment and that is easier said then done. This has happened several times before and always goes away after waiting a "un"reasonable period of time. I just can't deal with taking time off. Thank you for the input. I apologize for saying nobody cares I was frustrated, impatient, and in pain. I’ve never been good at waiting…

Jezziah · 03-10-2004, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vieope
It is not that, I don´t have the knowledge to help with that, most ppl here will be very careful before posting, specially here. I read it but I couldn´t do anything.
So .. Did you see the doctor ?

NO Vieope, but thanks for asking. In reference to nobody cares thing it was really only said in frustration and was not directed at anybody. It just sucks having to take time off, especially when I just revamped my entire workout program and I was really getting into to it. Whatever, at least I've been able to run every day...

I've got to stop all this crying and just hope for the best

Jezziah · 03-10-2004, 10:20 PM

Hey Doc how would you define the symptoms of a hand sprain?

bandaidwoman · 03-11-2004, 07:13 AM

The reason I say see a doc is that the hand is one of the most complicated collection of joints, ligaments and muscles in the whole body. In fact, no orrthopedic surgeon wants to even touch the hand, they have super super specialists in this field appropriatly called hand surgeons and any injury that does not resolve itself nicely in a timely matter is very ,very worrisome.

Remember, a sprain is injury to the ligaments that hold bones together and strain is injury to the muscle, tendon of the sheath enclosing both. The hand can have a complex interplay of all three. Off the top of my head the muscles are all the interosseis, hypothenar, lumbricals, palmar brevis, thenar muscles and much much more. Then there are the ligaments: cleland's ligament, central slip, grayson's ligament, oblique retinacular ligament, triangular ligament, terminal tendon, saggital band, transverse retinacular, natatory ligament and the list goes on and on (I've had hand surgery after a basebal injury sliding into third base so I have a vested interest in this)

You sound like you are doing all the right things for a strain, could you have a sprain, maybe. My concern, like Dr. Chiro is that there may be something more. He mentioned circulation problems, my other concern is a chronic compartment syndrome of the hand and or chronic damage to the tendon sheaths. You might also have avascular necrosis of one of the metacarpal bones (there are one or two bones that have a tenuous blood supply and if disrupted (classic example is Colle's fracture) the bones will slowly degenerate and cause long term debilitating problems. This can happen with just chronic pressure and improper grip and not necessarily from a fall. If you might have a tenosynovitis of some sort (inflammation of the tendon sheaths lining the flexor tendons in the palm of your hand) do you have a underlying rheumatological problem that can manifest in this way? There's more, which is why I said go see a doc, the hand is something you don't want to mess around with. I understand you are between insurances so that is frustrating. Hopefully, that will get worked out soon.

03-09-2004, 08:21 PM	#1
Jezziah Member Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 168	Chronic Hand Pain... Over the past year I've developed a chronic injury related to weight lifting. Both of my hands have developed a dull pain radiating from the bones (and tendons?) attached to my fingers. So the pain radiates in my hand down to my wrist stemming from my fingers and worsening with use of them or gripping something firmly. I've been struggling with this for the past year and its driving me absolutely insane. I've been using chondroitin, glucosamine, and MSM reguarly for the past year and at times it helps but at others it seems to do nothing. If anyone knows of or has any experience with a supplement or therapy to alleviate this I would appreciate the input...until I figure this out I'm going to be stuck running and working my abs... Last edited by Jezziah : 03-09-2004 at 10:22 PM.
	"Now the sneaking serpent walks In mild humility, And the just man rages in the wilds Where lions roam." -Wiliam Blake O'Doyle Rules! Secure E-mail http://www.exrx.net http://www.bodybuilding.com Foamy

03-10-2004, 11:43 AM	#2
Jezziah Member Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 168	If anybody cares, and it seems that no one does, I've diagnosed this problem as a sprain and am treating it accordingly. Sometimes I feel like the injury is aggravated by the use of gloves...
	"Now the sneaking serpent walks In mild humility, And the just man rages in the wilds Where lions roam." -Wiliam Blake O'Doyle Rules! Secure E-mail http://www.exrx.net http://www.bodybuilding.com Foamy

03-10-2004, 12:08 PM	#3
BabsieGirl Fighting Endometriosis Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 7,495	I believe the reason why no one has responded to you ISN'T because "nobody cares." This is probably due to the fact that, no one has this problem or they don't have the time (at the moment) to properly respond. Jezziah, please consult a physician about this. I wouldn't put it off too long. Mean while, relax. you just posted this today. Give people time to respond.
	Don't hate the player, hate the game!http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/...the%20wave.GIF Before you talk about what you want - appreciate what you have. http://home.earthlink.net/~gwcaton/s...ctures/tmf.jpg A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband. -Honore de Balzac Desire+Consistency='s RESULTS

03-10-2004, 01:38 PM	#4
Jezziah Member Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 168	My "nobody cares" comment was only said in frustration and not directed at anybody ...I'm really tired of having to take a week off at a time and basically halting all my forward progress. My symptoms are hard to diagnosis because they fit the characteristics of tendonitis and of a sprain. The problem is that regular treatments (RICE) tend to aggravate the situation. Does anyone think wrist and hand strenghening exercises would help alleviate this problem in the future?
	"Now the sneaking serpent walks In mild humility, And the just man rages in the wilds Where lions roam." -Wiliam Blake O'Doyle Rules! Secure E-mail http://www.exrx.net http://www.bodybuilding.com Foamy

03-10-2004, 08:17 PM	#5
bandaidwoman inadvertant tree hugger Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 601 Photos: 4	This doesn't sound like a simple sprain or strain. Go see a doc.
	Official Race Member of the Crank Crushing Rednecks Eat more mud, mountain bike until you die! XX Feminine power

03-10-2004, 09:14 PM	#6
DrChiro addicted to the crack Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: houston, tx Posts: 798	I agree with bandaidwoamn....it is more serious. some questions....are your hands cold? if you squeeze your fingernail (it should turn white)...then let it go...does it return to its normal reddish color quickly? (just trying to see if it a vascular problem) do you wear gloves with wrist wraps..and if so do you keep them too tight? i am just curious to know...but regardless of your answers I strongly advise you get this looked at by a professional quickly!
	My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right. When one door closes another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us.

03-10-2004, 10:20 PM	#10
Jezziah Member Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 168	Hey Doc how would you define the symptoms of a hand sprain?
	"Now the sneaking serpent walks In mild humility, And the just man rages in the wilds Where lions roam." -Wiliam Blake O'Doyle Rules! Secure E-mail http://www.exrx.net http://www.bodybuilding.com Foamy

03-11-2004, 07:13 AM	#11
bandaidwoman inadvertant tree hugger Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 601 Photos: 4	The reason I say see a doc is that the hand is one of the most complicated collection of joints, ligaments and muscles in the whole body. In fact, no orrthopedic surgeon wants to even touch the hand, they have super super specialists in this field appropriatly called hand surgeons and any injury that does not resolve itself nicely in a timely matter is very ,very worrisome. Remember, a sprain is injury to the ligaments that hold bones together and strain is injury to the muscle, tendon of the sheath enclosing both. The hand can have a complex interplay of all three. Off the top of my head the muscles are all the interosseis, hypothenar, lumbricals, palmar brevis, thenar muscles and much much more. Then there are the ligaments: cleland's ligament, central slip, grayson's ligament, oblique retinacular ligament, triangular ligament, terminal tendon, saggital band, transverse retinacular, natatory ligament and the list goes on and on (I've had hand surgery after a basebal injury sliding into third base so I have a vested interest in this) You sound like you are doing all the right things for a strain, could you have a sprain, maybe. My concern, like Dr. Chiro is that there may be something more. He mentioned circulation problems, my other concern is a chronic compartment syndrome of the hand and or chronic damage to the tendon sheaths. You might also have avascular necrosis of one of the metacarpal bones (there are one or two bones that have a tenuous blood supply and if disrupted (classic example is Colle's fracture) the bones will slowly degenerate and cause long term debilitating problems. This can happen with just chronic pressure and improper grip and not necessarily from a fall. If you might have a tenosynovitis of some sort (inflammation of the tendon sheaths lining the flexor tendons in the palm of your hand) do you have a underlying rheumatological problem that can manifest in this way? There's more, which is why I said go see a doc, the hand is something you don't want to mess around with. I understand you are between insurances so that is frustrating. Hopefully, that will get worked out soon.
	Official Race Member of the Crank Crushing Rednecks Eat more mud, mountain bike until you die! XX Feminine power

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