Any tips on dealing with a bruised knuckle?

Hello guys and gals.
I've this year got back into boxing to help after a recurrence of a back problem. The backs going OK i know what to do there and the trainer at the local gym has actually had the same problem. I've only been able to go there once though due to family stuff and the back flaring up. I have a gym here at work and a bag at home which I have used 3-4 times a week. I use 12Oz leather training gloves on the bags. I seem to have bruised the knuckle on my right hand above my middle finger (the one the kids call the "Rude Finger")last week sometime. It was quite sore and a little swollen to the right of the knuckle with only a slight change in colour. I have iced it a fair bit and not done any bag work since last Thursday and the swelled part has reduced but there is a small amount of pain when making a tight fist or if i hit it, like i friggin accidentally did on the bathroom door. So my questions are - should i persist with the ice each day and when should i resume the bag work do you think?

Thanks.

Use "MEXICAN" Hand wraps and address the knuckles carefully. The e;asticated hand wraps really help and anyway the more u box thetougher the knuckles will become and the less likely they will b to bruise

Arnica cream!

aside from that, keep off it for a few days and try rapping your hands different/bigger gloves.

More benificial for protecting your hands... but also fitness... I train in 16ozs and when I compete in 10s or what ever they are... it's like there's nothing there.

Thanks for that. I use the 3M wraps all the time but as my hands are big perhaps the 4M length might be better do you think? And I have a good pair of 16Oz gloves too so will start to use them more often. Have not heard of Arnica cream. How is it meant to help?

Its very often a case of putting bandages on wrong, putting to much over the palm of the hand so you cant make a proper fists and it springs the joints.

Scrap, do u use any additional padding around the knuckles or do u simply use the wraps?

A lot of my lads use sanitry towels cut in half

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Originally Posted by Scrap

Its very often a case of putting bandages on wrong, putting to much over the palm of the hand so you cant make a proper fists and it springs the joints.

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Thanks Scrap. I will keep that in mind. I'm going to have a go at the bag with the 16Oz gloves today and will make sure i wrap well. A CC from me. Thanks guys.

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Originally Posted by Scrap

A lot of my lads use sanitry towels cut in half

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good advise. I use an old tube sock, cut it in half. roll it up and place accross the knuckle before the wrap. works great.

Would that not feel very uncomfortable? I'll try it to be sure but i donno if that will suit me...

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Would that not feel very uncomfortable? I'll try it to be sure but i donno if that will suit me...

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you can always buy some knuckle guards mate.. put them on before the wrap... presto.

One of the important aspects of protecting your fist is in making a proper fist. You don't want anything that prevents you in doing so, this also applies for gloves as well.

It's important to wrap your hand's correctly, like Scrap says you don't want too much wraps going over your palms. It's just as easy to add extra hand wraps over your knuckles if it's long enough, or adding some preprepared bandages or towels over the knuckles. Tape can help to hold the wraps, and add strength to the wrist, but I'd be careful in how mine are wrapped because of the various official regulations. A good trainer usually knows best, and if they know the various regulation that differs from place to place that in itself can give you an extra advantage.

If you're knuckles are still sore but the swelling is gone you can start applying heat to speed up healing. You can use a bucket of hot water, or a hot damp towel. Don't keep it in there too long as to hurt yourself, and gently massage to help the blood circulate there.

Cool...Thanks Lords CC

Another little tip, fighters always try and get there hands as far down the glove as possible. Not a good idea gloves come with a bar on the palm for a reason, to wrap the fingers round use it.

It helps for making a better fist.

Hey thanks guys. I appreciate the tips. I've used the 16Oz gloves and paid more attention to wrapping and i've had a session each day this week except today due to attending a funeral and no problems. It's (the knuckle) almost back to normal. Thanks for the good advice. ;)

That's good. You take good care of it and don't get it banged up anytime soon. A boxer is nothing without their hands.

Thanks Chris.

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Originally Posted by Chris N.

That's good. You take good care of it and don't get it banged up anytime soon. A boxer is nothing without their hands.

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Amen to that