Help... this sucks, what can i do?

[moejoe]

Thanks for your replies...I definately do not want any long term hand problems... i really hope its not scaphoid... i can't imagine i'd hit hard enought to break something, but i guess its technique too. Yeah i tend to wonder about my left hand too... sore pinky knuckle (i'm a mess)... i have always wrapped my hands; started wrapping in between my knuckles and more on the wrists after initial soreness... does anyone suggest using sports tape on the wrist first for added support or is it better just to strengthen and develop technique? Also wondering how much of this could be attributed to using old bag gloves. Is there anyway to test for scaphoid without an xray? there was never any visible swelling or bruising on my wrist or thumb area, and it doesn't hurt to push on where the scaphoid is, but i've heard it can sometimes present like a sprain, and not always have lots of swelling etc... I also have an preexisting thumb injury from last summer; i got it jammed really back not sure if i torn something or broke something as i never got that checked out and its healed a bit weird whatever it was; we'll see i guess... i'll post when i get back from the dr today with an update...

[moejoe]

Arrrrgh!, went to see sports physio today; said nothing broken- no xrays... not tendonitis... he said i did something to my thumb joint possible torn or whatever, and now i'm stuck wearing this stupid thumb splint/brace for 4-6 weeks! totally bummed... guess it could be worse though...lesson learned however; i wish i'd splinted last year when i initially hurt my thumb and decided to just treat it on my own instead, cuz it never fully got strength back or mobilty as i kept using it...rest unfortunately is the best medicine.. i hope i can start hitting things again in 4 weeks... i'll be dying to for sure ...

[Rocky Balboa]

I had something like that with my elbow, its hard but just try to train strength and conditioning around it. Also, with what knuckles do you punch?

[moejoe]

Yeah, i'm going to do as much cardio etc as i can... think i'm going to go and run some hills today; but i can't even lift weights or anything, or even skip i doubt with this splint imobilizing my thumb... 4 weeks is going to feel like forever... i think i must have caught my thumb when i was chasing in the ring during a punch or something, and dr said the pain can move into the wrist and down the arm...as i said i'm a beginner, but i've been told to punch with my ring and pinky... dr. looked at my left pinky too as its knuckle has been sore for weeks and said nothing bad there nothing broken...probabaly just need to toughen up there... i have no probs with a little pain... i wrap and thats all good. Any words of wisdom... further suggestions?

[AdamGB]

If you have acsess to a gym with a cable machine you should be able to attatch the pulleys to your forearms and do your resitance training that way.

obviously not as effective but better than nothing.

[moejoe]

Thats a good idea... they have one of those at the boxing gym i believe... i might try it... at least i'll have some great cardio and my abs will be ripped by the end of the 4 weeks... i'm hoping that after 2-3 weeks i can at least do weights and skip - though i guess that would involve removing the splint... mostly i'm just afraid of going through all this time not being able to train and then it getting reinjured as soon as i get back... any suggestions on how to protect your thumb... i know how to wrap it but it was wrapped when i injured it... maybe some better sparring gloves... can you get ones that have good thumb protection... whats this about attached thumbs in gloves? the gloves i was using were the big puffy ones and they were probably too big as my wrists are pretty small...

[Youngblood]

. at least i'll have some great cardio and my abs will be ripped by the end of the 4 weeks....

Don't be expecting some great buff 6 pack abs, unless you are plan on changing your eating habits. But yea, as others have said, use the opportunity to work on other areas of conditioning.

[CGM]

... at least i'll have some great cardio and my abs will be ripped by the end of the 4 weeks...

Not to mention a killer left jab

I remember reading about Larry Holmes developing his trademark left jab while his right hand was all busted up.