Still not sure about finger...

Ok, so i still haven't figured out what up with my finger...a couple weeks ago i thought i could have re injured my pulley in my middle finger, but the symtoms are a bit differant this time...

First off, let me start by saying i've been building an addition on my house for the past few weeks, and although i climb pretty hard...My hands have been wrecked while doing the construction. I'm guessing it's because it's a daily thing(not a few times a week, with recovery days like climbing) and I have a desk job now(haven't worked in construction for e few yrs.)...

My whole hands are pretty sore every morning(usually just my hands, not forearms), and that finger is twice as sore to the touch, in the C2, A4, and C3 area(but mostly closest to my joint near C3)...but there is no pain when climbing or training. Occasional popping in the joint(maybe just from gas pockets?).

So, almost done with the constuction(so the hard labor is done, and we're finishing up sheetrock). Haven't had a ton of time to climb while workin on the house(can squeeze in some after work climbing or a hangboard and campus session)like once or twice a week.

Was thinking a pulley strain, stress fracture, capcilitis???(just stumbled onto this the other day, not sure how common it is?)

Oh yea, figured i'd ad this in...cause someone is gonna ask "have you gone to the doctor?"...I have VA coverage, so you have to jump through hoops, and the wait time is super long, so no i haven't yet.

Any thoughts or input would be appreciated, thanks.

Dave

I've had great success with acupuncture for chronic nagging middle knuckle middle finger pain and stiffness. Injuries I had been nursing for 3 years, even with as much as 4 months time-off for healing, recovered in just couple of weeks of treatment...this was even in the midst of frequent bouldering. Good luck!

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but acupuncture has been shown to be no more effective than placebo. Don't shoot the messenger! :-) saveyourself.ca/articles/ac…

Sorry Dave, don't really have any advice to give you, but good luck with the recovery.

popping is bad.

I would stay off it for 3 weeks and ice often.

Then 3 weeks of very easy controlled loading, like a hangboard with feet on the ground.

It sucks, but for the longterm you are better off letting the joint recover properly.

staying off it for a few weeks is a good idea, but returning to activity when it 'feels ok' but isn't necessarily better could set you back again. (3 weeks might not be enough if there is significant joint, or ligament damage).
It also could just be a bit arthritic from overuse, and climbing on it and laying off the hangboard could help it out... for now id say NSAIDS (aleve, motrin, I.Bbroken) will be your best friend and if its serious enough, consult a physician (i.e hand specialist)

ya I've been out for months/yeras on end due to finger problems... best thing is really to take is super slow... and if you think you're taking it slow enough... double your slowness. One bad pull could screw you for years... forget weeks and months.

Its all placebo...the thinker thinks and the prover proves.

Go spend 7 dollars on some power putty and squeeze it non stop for two weeks. Also, a bucket of sand/rice for extension is helpful for building a pump (thus getting fresh blood into the area) without exacerbating the injury.

I'm doing ice baths with that hand every night before bed...i guess ill try the rice in the bucket - i've heard decent things about that. And i've got the putty, i'll have to bust that back out.

I still find it kinda odd that there's no pain, that's what made me so unsure.

Go see a doctor.

Steve Williams wrote:Go see a doctor.