Dillion Brian Grant Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 So, for those that didn't know, I am 17 I just turned 17 on September 27th, anyway I know it may sound kind of pathetic but I am serious when I ask, what can I do to limit or hopefully stop pain in my left had, fingers, and wrist, it isn't just blacksmithing only its anything at all if I use my left hand within about 1-3 minutes the pain increases to the point that I can't hold anything in that hand for about 10 minutes and I am unable to open my fingers completely and I have had this problem for quite a few years so it isn't new but it obviously hinders me being able to forge efficiently because I can't hammer more than 5 or 6 swings before the pain is to intense. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and yes I am left handed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Good Morning, Dillion See your Dr. Bones and ask him/her. Probably need to do some exercises to build up your muscle. I keep an elastic band that comes on Broccolli, yes the blue wide one. Put it around the outside of your finger tips, expand your fingers, out, relax, out, relax, etc. Stop if it hurts. I keep the elastic on the outside of my wallet, stops the moths from escaping (LOL) Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy k Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Hammer size? Death grip? Not much to go on for your situation. Physically active? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Pain is your body's way of telling your brain it is doing something stupid. So stop what your doing and figure out way it hurts, and what is causing the pain. This is not normal so have someone with medical credentials look at the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillion Brian Grant Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 About a year of so ago I talked about it to my doctor because it was becoming almost unbearable to skin deer and he suggested I wear a wrist brace and I did that for about 5 or 6 months but it didn't help any, And Jeremy, I am pretty active, I'm not an exercizaholic, but i do exercise at home fairly often so I stay in shape, and I don't have a death grip on my hammer I hold it just firmly enough that it doesn't fly out of my hand, and the hammer I have been using was a 2 lb cross pin but it broke at the handle a few days ago and my granddad bought me a new one that is a 2 1/2 lb cross pein And like I said Glenn, when I talked to my doctor he suggested wearing a wrist brace when I wanting doing anything and after about 5 or 6 months it wasn't doing anything of any kind of help But it may just be something I have to deal with I've dealt this long so eh I definitely wont let it stop me from doing something I love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 The elastic exercise Swedefiddle mentions is a very important one. It exercises the opposing muscles of the hand, to the ones that are generally used when gripping a hammer. (the latter ones make the fingers and fist clench). The finger tip expansion exercise counteracts the, more-used, muscle-clenching ones. The expansion exercise should be done regularly. Also check out illustrations of suggested hammer grasp. Placing the thumb along the top of the handle will eventually cause a world of hurt. The thumb should almost touch the other fingers when the hammer handle is properly grasped. Good luck with those suggestions. I hope that clears up the problem in a few weeks. Regards, SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 DANGER there are a lot of joint/ligament issues that YOU CANNOT WORK THROUGH trying to do so can cause major damage requiring surgery to get a *partial* recovery. I suggest you read extensively on carpal tunnel syndrome and get to a Dr that works with sports injuries (or computer geek injuries). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillion Brian Grant Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 Slag, that is the exact grip I use, my thumb wrapped around to almost touch the other fingers And Thomas, as far as the computer geek injury u basically described me lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Read up on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ASAP!!!!!!! I personally have more issues with "blacksmith's elbow"; but working in IT I've known quite a few folks ending up having surgery because of it and them trying to work through it. (It helps that I am not a touch typist; rather an old fashioned "pound it into submission" typer evidently that is easier on the hand.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillion Brian Grant Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 Well, tbh since it started hurting so badly last hunting season I have been reading up on it, and from the symptoms I have found I have all of them heck, my hands going numb right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Dillion, I suggest to first get a proper diagnosis. At 17 pain that stops you from a few hammer blows is not normal. There are many things that can be done if in fact it is carpal tunnel syndrome something we don't know. The first suggestions are usually losing weight and stop the activity that causes the pain or change the way you do them. Best course of action see a doctor that is interested past suggestions of a wrist band. Just as an illustration, acupuncture was proven effective in some research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 I get tendinitis in my tong elbow, lol. But I am in withe the others, too much XBox, see a compitent doctor. When he twists your hand to the inside and palm up and thumps the arm about an inch above your rist and you peal your self off the ceiling it's a good bet it's carpel tunnel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillion Brian Grant Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 Actually Charles even tho most kids my age do play a lot of video games I do not really play them much at all really I just use a computer alot for school work and to research things that peak my interest but other than that I am mostly doing stuff outside, like working in the yard, working in my grandads garden(may as well call it a small field lol, and forging of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Maybe it's the guitar playing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy k Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 If your fingers/hand is going numb, it could be a simple chiropractic adjustment to your neck to fix it. But you should check further than a blacksmith forum for your medical needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotshoein4 (Mark) Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Go see a good orthopaedic surgeon. Get an MRI done. Not worth messing it up more. Find the problem and fix it. You're to young to live with that pain. Maybe early enough physical therapy could help. Maybe to late and might need surgery. I am NOT a doctor, just a guy that's had a lot of joint issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Reference: Science-Based Medicine While manipulation of any kind has the potential to cause injury, stroke caused by neck manipulation is of greatest concern. Risk must always be weighed against benefit when upper neck manipulation is considered. Risk of stroke caused by neck manipulation is statistically low, but the risk is serious enough to outweigh benefit in all but a few rare, carefully selected cases. If you are interested, you can read the rest of the article (Reference: Science-Based Medicine), or use google and search for more information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 HTSH., I respectfully disagree. A surgeon would be my third or fourth choice of a physician for a joint problem. (also backs, especially) I strongly urge the young gentleman to seek a good sports medicine doctor first. They deal with carpel tunnel and other joint problems on a weekly basis. Contact an experienced nurse to get the name of the physician. They know the great doctors from the mediocre ones.Surgery should be the choice of 'last' resort. Why? Because when there is surgery all other options disappear. I come from a medical research background and my sister is a seasoned physiotherapist, who is well worth listening to. Sometimes carpel tunnel can be treated by exercise. Sometimes a hydrocortisone shot will solve the problem (probably with further exercise). Much less often will surgery be necessary. Hope this post helps the discussion. Regards to all, SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4elements Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Dillion, please, please see a competent doctor. Carpal tunnel may be likely, but isn't the only possible reason for pain and numbness. I had a herniated disk in my neck which caused similar problems. A chiropractor wouldn't have been the right move. Get an accurate diagnosis so you have accurate and informed choices of treatment. We can guess all day and not help you any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John in Oly, WA Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 And while you're waiting to get in to the doc, STOP all activity that even comes close to causing the pain. The problem can't go away if you keep making it worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Don't you love Dr Google? Dillion, if you really are 17 and do not play computer games and use a computer, not a laptop or tablet or phone ... I am confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillion Brian Grant Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 Well I'll try to be careful but I can't stop completely, to do that I'd have to sleep all day and night and do nothing else and I intend to see my doctor and see what he says Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 what an excellent time to work on your ambidexterity! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillion Brian Grant Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 Lol tbh Thomas I actually do that lol, I'll use my right hand unless I'm doing the final straightening blows on a knife ect... But wait wouldn't you just be monodextrous then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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