Pain in first knuckles. Should I take a break?

I have been climbing for about 7 months and I am very careful to not climb if my joints are in pain. I boulder about 90% of the time and I recently sent my first V4+. At this point my hands can tolerate twice a week (or every other 3 or 4 days) of vigerous bouldering. Due to a busy month (I moved) I have only climbed twice this past month. Now I have an occassional sharp pain in my middle first joints and sometimes the first joints of my pointer finger. I climbed about a week ago. Before this climb I had the same symptoms and I haven't noticed any worsening in my symptoms after that climb. When they hurt, it is slightly uncomfotable to type or tap my finger on a hard surface. Does anyone know if this is a sign of overuse and pending injury? I'd like to keep my healthy record.

Thanks!

In general, pain is telling you to stop. Listen to your body, grasshopper, and take a few weeks off. If it's not better by then, see a hand doctor or orthopedist.

drfloat....what Frank said....persistent pain is not a good sign. Time to take a break. Also, as you've only been climbing for 7 months you might take a step back and try some cross-training or multipitch climbing as it takes time for your tendons to strengthen and catch up with your rigorous bouldering routine, if you're into bouldering and climbing for the long term.

Do you crimp a lot? If you do, try stepping down in grade and open handing and see if that hurts or not.

Mathias wrote:Do you crimp a lot? If you do, try stepping down in grade and open handing and see if that hurts or not.

+1 The hardest thing to learn is when to step back, take it down a notch or 3, rest and recuperate.

FrankPS...grasshopper?! How many of us know that one? HA!

Muscrat wrote: FrankPS...grasshopper?! How many of us know that one? HA!

Only the most geriatric (like me) would understand that reference and that TV show.

58+....and i suffer w/ya.

Jake Jones wrote:If I listened to my body, all my gear would be for sale.

Funny. Note: "Listen to your body" only applies to people under 39 years old! Not old people 39 and up. Yeah, I'm talkin' to you, Mr. Jones! :)

Jake Jones wrote:If I listened to my body, all my gear would be for sale.

+1k!!
OMG yes, everyday.
I've been diagnosed with PTSD...from climbing! HA!
When you see the Neanderthal at the crag, the limpy gimpy ones, with the hands that don't quite close, the arms which don't quite bend, or unbend, the ones who didn't sell their gear, that's what'll happen to you if you don't listen to your body.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!