Hand pain

[ironrosefarms]

I'm having some pain after hammering and wondering if anyone has had similar issues and can give some suggestions on ways to reduce he discomfort.

After hammering for some time my hand on the palm side just below the middle finger and ring finger (mostly below the middle) will tend to feel almost bruised. It is also not uncommon for those two fingers and occasionally the index finger as well to feel stiff after hammering or a few other activities.

Since I am still working myself back from being away for 2 years following a motorcycle wreck and dealing with hand and other issues, I have thought maybe I am simply holding the hammer to tight? I've tried to loosen my grip intentionally but I don't really know that it helps and there is something uncomfortable about it as well plus it did not seem to make it better. I don't typically wear gloves at the forge but have thought about trying some what I've seen called mechanics gloves that have some padding in that and other parts of the hand.

Anyone else with similar issues?

If you click on the picture it has a red circle of the area of discomfort...

[racer3j]

Take a look at Hofi's tutorial/blueprint on grip. And, the gel in some motorcycle gloves would likely help. I have to watch my hands-they have been banged up pretty badly in a couple of racing crashes and before I sold off my last bike I wore them.mike t.

[ironrosefarms]

Thanks Racer3j, I've read the Hofi tutorial but maybe I need to go back and read again??? Had not thought about the gel bike gloves either, I might have a pair around, I think I got a pair for Christmas several years back...

[NateDJ]

No Idea if it will help or not but I find I have to use a thinner handle on most of my hammers. The ones that come with them are usually too fat for my hand and will cause discomfort especially around the base of my thumb and index finger and across the lower portion of my hand.

Try using a much smaller (tac) hammer for a little bit and see if the handle feels better, if so try trimming an old hammer/handle down to fit your hand better and see if that helps.

[ThomasPowers]

modify you handles so there is a positive stop at the pack end of the handle so you don't have to hold your hammer in a death grip.

As my family runs to arthritis and I'm in my 50's I'm training myself to use a much lighter grip and sometimes will even have the handle sliding through my hand to reposition it on an upstroke.

[ctraugh2005]

I got a pair of impact gloves from work. They have a jell palm to them which reduses the impact to your hand. This works well when I am using my Impact wrenches. It should work well for your situation also.

[ptree]

I suffer some hand and wrist and elbow issues. I thin my handles, sand them smooth and ensure no bumps, left over labels etc. I also rub bee's wax on the handles. When your warm hand warms the bee's wax it gets a little sticky and improves the grip without requiring one to increase muscle grip. Since I am mostly holding the hammer with my little and ring finger due to the other two fingers not working right I need the help with grip. I also swing high. That is I lift the hammer head high, up near the ear, and mostly control the drop. This saves the elbows and wrists as well as the hand. I am still able to hit nice and hard, and it no longer hurts.

[Bentiron1946]

That sure is bad to have sore hands. I try not to have death grip but not so loose that it flies off some where. My sore point is my thumb, second joint up from the nail. I fell and landed on a rock ten years ago and it still bothers me. I have not had problems with my wrist and elbow like some because I give my blow power from the shoulder not the flipping of my wrist. That jell padded glove sounds good.

[mike-hr]

A couple pulls of single-malt scotch at the end of the day makes all those little stingers seem secondary. It's a good honest worthy pain, embrace it and congradulate yourself.

[Quenchcrack]

I learned the hard way that standing too far from the anvil forces you elbow to hyper-extend. This leads to tennis elbow (or blacksmiths elbow). It took a year for mine to heal. Stand close, keep your elbows close to your ribcage, drive the hammer down, don't hold the hammer too tight. Use painkillers in moderation.