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I Forge Iron

Wrist support thoughts


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I went to the doc yesterday for two issues.  Huge knee pain and a strangely swelling left wrist.

I am being sent for an MRI and then to the specialist for the knee.  It is what I expected so, aside from being very claustrophobic no issue.

The wrist was not expected.  I have worsening arthritis that is only going to get worse.  The doc was super busy and I did not have time to really discuss the situation.  He wasn't happy about this and neither was I.  Not worth complaining about here. All he said was either stop trying to blacksmith or get some sort of wrist support.  He glanced at my chart then said for both wrists.  :wacko: I knew this would come up eventually with my right hand since it has had the most trauma in the past but I thought the left good to go since that is the tong hand and seldom hammers.  I have come to the conclusion that arthritis is punishment for having fun.

I don't want to stop.  I am having fun.  I looked at the wrist supports at Wal-mart and they are going to get destroyed in no time.

Is there anyone else using wrist supports, on either wrist?  If so what are you using.

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I wish I had some good advice for wrapping joints but I've only had problems on rare occasions and know exactly what happened. Twisting hard on casing and having it suddenly break free hyper extended my right wrist. Bent it over backwards and took about 4 months to heal up. Really ticked the Geologist off when I grabbed a pipe wrench from then on instead of breaking them loose by hand.

Are you taking Glucosamine, Chondroitin? While it's usually called good for joints, it's good for all soft tissue, even helps with Carpal tunnel. It's a Can't hurt, might help. I know it's old news but it's good stuff.

Frosty The Lucky.

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I'm starting the Glucosamine today.  I took it years ago until I found a doctor who would listen and sure enough my rotator cuff was partly torn.  Doc, yesterday, also said ibuprofen Tylenol or Aleve every day as well as the natural stuff. 

I'm hoping someone has a good leather design I can copy or find on the net.  Nothing I have found, so far, seems blacksmith oriented.  Lots of weight lifting "wrist supports" but I can't see how they support anything.  They look like the thing Rory May wears in his videos, which I thought was just for show.

 

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Often rist supports acualy minimize the tendency for tendons to "walk" by appoint a bit of presure. This is how tennis elbo braces work. 

I personaly take the Glucosamine with MSM. MSM helps with inflammation as well as providing sulfur for the "mortar" that holds cells to gether to form tissue. Ibuprofen in the med of choice for hard tissue pain but with 6 hour dosing, it's hard on the stomach, doc just hoed me to Meloxican, once a day dosing. Depending on the type of arthritis, reshaping the handle, smaller/large head and a striker/power hammer, lol.  

Ginger and tumric also provide antienflamitory responses, so consult with your pharmacist before taking than with prescription NSAIDs (or aspirin). 

Lastly let up on the death grip, let the hammer do the work. 

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With my wife's rheumatoid arthritis, we went through just about every style of wrist brace that could be found trying to find a solution.  They're all a compromise and some are really bad designs.  There are some better leather-based braces out there which are supportive if you search.  By my guess, they're designed to look fancy to sell, not work more than as a temporary fix.  IIRC the better ones were about $ 30 each wrist off the shelf but memory is often wrong.

I don't really have a specific brand/style suggestion except that many have either aluminum or plastic inserts to provide the actual support and the rest just holds that support member against your wrist and palm.  You might be able to find one that has the wrap part which is suitable and then make your own insert which is better suited to what your wrist needs...maybe you can even forge them :)

 

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Most of the braces made are to support an injury, not as a bit of reo to allow you to keep flogging the poor injured knee, wrist etc.

For long term injuries or conditions you will most likely need to see someone who knows what they are doing and have something made to suite.

 

 

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5 hours ago, Jackdawg said:

For long term injuries or conditions you will most likely need to see someone who knows what they are doing and have something made to suite.

I am thinking I am going to have to go down this road.  I've done it before.  I tore my right wrist up playing Racquette ball and the first doctor treated it as a sprain then when she thought it should be healed she told me I was faking the pain to get more pain meds.  She never prescribed pain meds just put me on such a high dose of ibuprofen I almost ended up in the hospital. 1 year later it was finally fixed for the torn up mess it was.  Because it was not fixed right away there is permanent damage in the extensor tendon. (that or the abductor I never got that straight)  I had chronic tendonitis for a few years and no brace would work becasue other permanent damage in the wrist would cause problems.  After a long discussion with the doc about requirements, and an open minded prosthetic builder I designed the perfect brace for me.  With PT and my designed brace, which was xxxx awful ugly, The pain went away in about a month and never came back.  The doc was shocked.  He probably made a mint off the design after I showed it to him.  The prosthetic builder did the work for free because he liked the challenge.  I bet I can do it again.  I doubt I'll find as open minded a prosthetic guy as before but with the flourishing of the interweb I can get most of the supplies on line.

Now I just need to find a doc who will listen

Still looking for off the shelf ideas though.

 

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I remember my dad wearing leather wrist braces when he worked at loading trucks, back in the 40's an 50's. I have arthritis in my hands and use capsacium to treat it. it works for me, only down side is to remember to pee before putting it on your hands. Cured the arthritic knees with titanium replacements. I've had shoulder repair, spinal fusion, all done with metal. The up side is my wife doesn't have to bury me, she can just scrap me when I go. To all of those who said that I wouldn't amount to much, have you checked the price of titanium lately?:P

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16 hours ago, Bud in PA said:

I remember my dad wearing leather wrist braces when he worked at loading trucks, back in the 40's an 50's. I have arthritis in my hands and use capsacium to treat it. it works for me, only down side is to remember to pee before putting it on your hands.

Do you remember what they looked like?

You rub the capsaicin on?  Really.  Peeing is one thing but what if your eyes itch, or your lady makes the moves.  I see lots of problems.  Maybe I should avoid this.

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For capsaisin on the fingers, rub some cucumber on your hands (thoroughly), or cucumber juice. then  rinse with water and then wash the digits with detergent.

Cucumber slices are at hand on every south east Asian kitchen table for when a hotspot lands in the wrong spot in the throat. It puts the fire out fast.

Regards,

SLAG.

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   I know of a hippie "cure". At my house we use Arnica Montana in a pill form. It is for bruising and muscle soreness. Drop a hammer on your toe, its just what you need. There is also an Arnica cream, it is becoming more mainstream. The cream is awesome to help specific area. 

   Best of luck

    N.N.F.

 

   

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