Well, my injuries are catching up to me.

Cpl Punishment

Cpl Punishment

Joined
Jan 28, 2006
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I've found (much to my dismay) that there are side effects to the hand surgeries I had a year or so ago.
One is that lifting weights in any significant amounts causes great pain and stiffness for several days afterward (I tried going light with 4 sets of 50 with 25 pound dumbbells -- barely breathing hard at the end).

More to the point, I took my CAK out for some yard work today, since it's been warm, but not too hot, and I've got a straight 40 hour week coming up, compared to the 12 hour days I've been working, so I thought I'd get caught up on a few things. My hand is absolutely killing me. I had to pop some of my Hydrocodone/APAP pills. My thumb and middle finger are also triggering. Before someone says it, I stopped as soon as I felt discomfort, but I'm obviously going to have to endure a few days of pain and hope the trigger fingers go away, as the doc won't give me any more cortisone shots, and I can't afford another month out of work after surgery.

I have a Tamang and a Sirupate I can use. Heck, maybe this was foreseen and that's why I had the dream about the Farm Knife (posted in the Dreams About Kukris thread). Anyway, it seems I must now use a separate slashing and chopping tool. So I guess I'm going to have to work out a tomahawk/long knife set -- both light tools -- and hang up the CAK.
Sad day.
 
Man, that sounds frustrating. Try working with snug-fitting gloves at first. The short unlined police gloves might do it. My Hatch gloves keep my hands from swelling.

Also, I use a cheap pair of fingerless padded palm gloves for working out with dumbells in the evening. Also snug, and they help a lot. I've fallen asleep with them on. :)
 
Our bodies are constantly changing.

Does the doc have any clue as to what is causing the pain? Is it good to stop the painful activity or to keep pushing the bounds of the pain?
 
Doc said I have to stop when I feel pain and just progress slowly. I had a tendon reconstruction among other things, so pushing through the pain would mean tearing things up. I'll get more ability as time goes by, but I'll never get back where I was..

Esasv, thanks for the suggestion. I already wear tight gloves almost all the time. I just have to get it through my head that I'm not a young, healthy strapping Airborne trooper anymore. I guess unwillingness to give up my past "glory days" means I'm officially old now, eh?
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Doc said I have to stop when I feel pain and just progress slowly. I had a tendon reconstruction among other things, so pushing through the pain would mean tearing things up. I'll get more ability as time goes by, but I'll never get back where I was..

Esasv, thanks for the suggestion. I already wear tight gloves almost all the time. I just have to get it through my head that I'm not a young, healthy strapping Airborne trooper anymore. I guess unwillingness to give up my past "glory days" means I'm officially old now, eh?
Click to expand...

No, it doesn't mean your old, it just means you have figured out good pain from bad pain and the wisdom to know when to push it.
I say this because if your old then I may be old and I'm not ready for that yet.:D:eek:
I did in my knee a couple of years ago, and I tried to "push it" to recover faster----- all that happened was it took a little longer to heal instead.
The knee recovered well, but I have learned my lesson.
Slow progress is better than no progress.:thumbup:
Hope your hand starts showing improvements.
 
I hope you get some relief, Cpl.
I've had some good hand smashes over the years and during the Winter I find that sleeping with loose, wool or Alpaca gloves makes for some happy hands in the morning;)

Take care,
Mark
 
Having injured my right shoulder in a basketball game made me dubious on wall climbing; It hurts real bad whenever i hang on to the cliff and i gave up the sports.

I do feel your frustration. At times i used my ASTK too much i felt a burn on my shoulder and realize i must be creative or used a lighter khuk. CAK is going no where but you might want to resort to using lighter khuks first- more like warming up.

Rest your hand and try some asian massages if you could. It helps with circulations. You want to get the areas warmer. The gloves will help.
Really you want to listen to your body.

:)
 
i am disabled due to lower spine and other bone/cartilage problems etc etc - i understand - i try to do things and then always pay for it later - i hope it gets better for you

seriously -- Eric
 
I know the feeling, Guys. Some of my old motorcycle crashes and work habits/events are catching up to me. Genetics isn't helping. Looked at my lumbar films Monday, and even as just a former Radiology Spec (AF), I can tell that there are some real issues with L4 and L5, as well as degenerative changes in all my spine. I have been noticing sciatica type symptoms for a couple years, and have just kind of sucked it up and continued to march. It isn't gettin' any better, I can tell you. Starting to notice arthritis symptoms in my hands as well. Ugg! I am going through the diagnostic process now, at the VA facility in Richmond, VA.. At least it is a Polytrauma/Spinal Rehab focused facility, that works in cooperation with VCU Med School.
My biggest fears are that I will have to stop riding my Harley, and will be limited in the activities I can do with my 11 y/o son and our Scout Troop. Sleeping on the ground isn't too bad, it's the next day that I hate! For now, I am gonna keep on marchin', slower, but determined.

Mark
 
I feel your pain. I severed a nerve in my dominant hand thimb. It has beed over two years, and I still have pain and occasional "shock" pain when I bump it.

My grip strength has diminished. I can still chop fine with most of my knives....thankfully.

I was supposed to get surgery on it, but never did.

One other side effect is that I have difficulty dropping my Glock mags out with the thumb.

I have found it easier to adjust and push the release with my middle finger, which is long enougt to "reach arround" and it is just as quick.
 
Been there Cpl, took a long time getin' to the point I could drive a nail or take the recoil of my 45. Just find the limit, stay back of it for a while then nudge it a little, then a little more. Doin' pretty good now.

Uplander
 
4 sets of 50 ?
A good set ought to be around 10-14.
You might want to try a heavier weight, go real slow and make sure you squeeze the weight so your fingers don't bear the weight too much.
 
10-14 is useless for me unless I move up to 80s or 100s. I was trying to keep my tone, not build.

It hurts to even life the heavy weights, much less curl or to presses and tri extensions with them. My hands can't keep up with my arms right now.

I'll just keep working at is as I can and bump things up as I'm able. If I go too gung ho, I'll either stop all progress or further injure myself.
 
I injured my shoulder really bad trying to scoot a 1200 lb round bale of hay. It's gotten better over time but I can't really use a khuk over about 25 oz or it really hurts the tendons in my hand and shoulder.

I still have a few heavy ones but don't use them.

So I have a Foxy Folly, Bonecutter, Ganga Ram, and even a YCS that are 23 to 25 oz. I think only the Bonecutter is 25 it's shorter so where the balance is not so far out it's ok.

Truth is even when you are young you should be careful with your body. It all adds up.
 
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