And no, I WILL NOT go see a doctor over something like this.

Wise... specially since you had tendon issues on those same fingers.

I'm wondering is if anyone else experiences this? Is their any way to prevent my knuckles from swelling after I climb? The tendons feel fine on the palm side of my hand. Are there tendons up above as well?

And the first a$$hole steps up to the plate! Good job.

I already saw a doc and he told me to stop climbing.

If you can't answer the question, don't respond to my post!

Mmmm'kay, would you BOTH please chill and play nice?

Thanks,
Martha

I don't think anyone likes to stop when they get injured. But unfortunately sometimes that's what you've got to do, or it keeps gettings worse.
Sorry, I didn't mean to piss you off that much.

I have the same thing going on and have had for 20 years. I can tell how long it's been since I climbed just by how easy or hard it is to put on my wedding ring. When I climb hard I can't get my ring on. When I haven't climbed for a couple of weeks it almost slides off my finger. I can sympathize with you, but I can't really offer any advice other than saying that advil seems to help.

do you warmup and warmdown thoroughly, msheep?

Here's a link that gives some uses for epsom salts.

http://www.care2.com/...s/solutions/self/290

But I don't know my own body enough to know even if there are tendons in that area.

That's the usual method but another exercise is to stretch the fingers out like a fan and hold for ten seconds, relax, then make a fist and hold for ten seconds. Repeat 5 to 10 times or whatever feel comfortable.

Human Anatomy, Lesson 2: The Fingers.

Around the joints in the body is a fibrous sheath that is called synovial tissue. This tissue is more-or-less uniform and contains a small amount of fluid, much like a lubricant. This fluid is called... synovial fluid. (See how easy they make it? That's so simple minded folk like myself can understand it.)

A thickened part of that synovial sheath is commonly known as a ligament, by the way.

Now, the purpose of the synovial fluid is to lubricate the joint, so that when you bend your fingers, you don't get friction (which can hurt -- See "Human Disease Pathophysiology, Lesson 95: Arthritis.")

"Cracking your knuckles" is no more than creating a small opening in that sheath, and thereby releasing the pressure within the joint. Hence, the "pop" or "crack."

After a long day of climbing, where you repeatedly bend/straighten your fingers (unless you're climbing at Indian Creek, where straight fingers and hand jams will get you through,) you've released a bit of that synovial fluid. The body, in an attempt to compensate, will make extra synovial fluid. This extra fluid, combined with fluids released during the inflammation process, causes swelling.

There's really no sure-fire way to stop this from happening. It's gonna happen, and all you can do is treat it when it does.

The standard therapy, in the immediate moment, is application of cryotherapy (cold) to the area. An ice bag, applied to the hands for about 15 minutes, after climbing, will help limit swelling, and facilitate reduction of the inflammatory process (histamine release, hyperosmolarity of cellular fluids, etc.)




HOWEVER!




Since it is rare that one has a bag of ice cubes handy after a long multi-pitch route, one must find a suitable, and more logistically feasable alternative.

Try this (it works for me...) Get thee six bottles of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Keep 'em cold by immersion in Boulder Creek. After climbing, plunge your hand into the creek (the technique is straightforward, if complicated... knees bent, back straight, feet shoulder-width apart, etc.) and grasp the individual bottles one at a time. Hold said bottle until it becomes warm or emtpy, whichever comes first, and repeat.

One set of three grabs per hand. May be repeated as needed, but such repetition may make one so fatigued as to be unable to safely operate a motor vehicle, so make arangements beforehand.

Oh, and take two aspirin and call me a week before Thanksgiving, so we can discuss your progress. Wouldn't want you hampered at Red Rocks.

That is all.

"Nurse? Can you call the next patient, please?"

HAHAHAHAAH! Reno, you're the bestest in the westes!