A few years with wrist pain
Hey!
I've had a problem with my wrist for about 4 years and it has affected my ability to do so many simple things which I would love to be able to do in training - like pushups and pullups. It is just a dull general pain which increases significantly as I put more weight more frequently on it.
I used to be very into swimming, and we often did land training which involved the regular stuff like running, sprints, pullups, etc. At some point, something happened to my wrist. I don't remeber how or why or where or what specific point in time, but I remeber one week declining to do the pullups becuase of a slight pain in the wrist. Around the same time, I stopped lifting myself up out of the pool as most people do, and would sort of have to roll out to avoid putting the weight on the wrist. It was no big deal, it just didn't feel right and I didn't want to strain it. Since then it has never been the same.
It is basically just a very mild pain which increases according to how much weight is put on it. There is no specific area, not sharp or tingling or anything. I could probably do about 3 pushups if I wanted, but after each one it hurts more and more until it feels stupid to try for more. It hurts after biking, etc.
What have I tried?
1. RICE! Initially, but after a couple months no change.
2. Went to a phsyiotherapist. She said my wrist was smaller and not as strong as the other one, but it was the left one so that is normal. I got an X-ray and that was all normal. She gave me several exercises for my wrist to do many reps (like 50) of each every day.
a) Palm up, Holding a light (3lb i think) dumbell just basically moving, slowly and controlled, the wrist up and down.
b) Same thing but with the palm facing the floor.
b) Same dumbell, but moving it up and down in a vertical position so your hand is grabbing it more like it is in a fist.
Also she gave me this blue putty thing that I was supposed to do some pressing motions with....I forget.
Anyways I did that relgiously for about a year and sporadically for about a year after that, all the while not doing pushups or burpees or any of those fun things that most people do when training. Zero change.
3. About a year after that, I went to an acupuncture guy. I was only in the area for a few days so I could only go to 2 sessions. But they made a HUGE difference, I was actually able to do pushups no problem for about 2 weeks, then it came back. The acupuncture doctor said it usually takes about 6 sessions if I want it to be fully better but I didn't have the time.
I don't live anywhere near this guy so I haven't been able to go back, and to be honest I'm a bit afraid to go to anyone else...as though he and he alone is capable of this magic. So another year has passed and my wrist still sucks.
After that novel, any advice? I miss working out like a normal person.
|