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edibca
Dec 11, 2004, 5:15 AM
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I was doing pull ups, and felt something crush under the palm of my hand. Thought it was the concrete pull up bar, until I got down and saw my palm all blue and slightly swollen in this one area. It's been 2 weeks and hasn't gone down yet, feels like there's a marble under the skin, between the pinky and ring finger towards the centre of the palm... It's slightly swollen and hurts when I poke at it...
I really don't know what to do, my family doctor here actually told me that it's permanent, like arthritis, and not to worry about it!
What a crappy first thread eh? :-/
Cheers to whoever replies :(
Eddie, New Zealand
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beercanclimber
Dec 11, 2004, 5:30 AM
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In reply to: I really don't know what to do, my family doctor here actually told me that it's permanent, like arthritis, and not to worry about it!
uhhhhh, i'd say get another opinion. i'm no doctor but that guy just sounds like a moron.
"hmmmm so, that bone seems, to be stinking out of your skin, bah, don't worry bout it, i'm sure it'll take care of itself."
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chrisparedes
Dec 11, 2004, 5:32 AM
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I would see anthor doctor. A doctor who specializes in climbing injuries would be great. good luck finding that doctor hah.
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edibca
Dec 11, 2004, 5:52 PM
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Cheers guys... I'll keep posting here to let whoever's interested know my progress, in case something like this happens to somebody else...
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graniteplanet
Dec 11, 2004, 6:03 PM
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Yeah, I agree with the get another opinion consensus. Never heard of anything like that before, however, a good book about climbing injuries is One Move Too Many the name of the author escapes me at the moment but a google search should take care of that. Who knows, it might help relate things to that second doctor. Good Luck.
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rplocek
Dec 11, 2004, 6:11 PM
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Based on the way you are describing you injury it almost sounds like you tore a tendon. I would recommend having X-rays taken, to check for broken bones, and if they are negative the next step would be to get an MRI, to check for soft tissue injuries. Also, you might try talking to an athletic trainer; they deal with way more sports injuries then your average MD. Good luck and heal quickly!
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ikefromla
Dec 11, 2004, 6:40 PM
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why the hell would you not act immediately in this kind of a situation? like immediately get xray and mri? this kind of thing could ruin a climbing career if it didn't heal properly.. i would've had a heart attack.
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dingus
Dec 11, 2004, 6:49 PM
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Take time with a wounded hand
Cause it likes to heal
(I'm half the man I used to be...)
I tore a tendon in the center of my palm dude. One of the most vexing injuries I ever sustained. Took over a year to heal and may two or more before I stopped worring about tearing it again. My hand was at like 50% for a long long time.
You likely did something bad to your hand my friend. You'd best get a referral to an ortho that specalizes in hands. There may in fact be nothing you can do though, short of an operation. They cut, or they prescribe... or both.
I'm just warning you, if its anything like mine, you will be dealing this for a long time to come.
And remember:
Take time with a wounded hand
Cause it likes to heal
DMT
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phillygoat
Dec 11, 2004, 7:05 PM
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In reply to: And remember: Take time with a wounded hand Cause it likes to heal |
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jakedatc
Dec 11, 2004, 8:07 PM
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In reply to: Based on the way you are describing you injury it almost sounds like you tore a tendon. I would recommend having X-rays taken, to check for broken bones, and if they are negative the next step would be to get an MRI, to check for soft tissue injuries. Also, you might try talking to an athletic trainer; they deal with way more sports injuries then your average MD. Good luck and heal quickly!
the mechanism is all wrong for a torn tendon.. i dunno what kind of pull up bars you are using but usually you wrap your fingers around them thus making it almost impossible to tear a tendon in your fingers
if you suspected a tendon injury why would you want an xray for a broken bone?
original poster.. as the only advice given here that is correct, go see a orthopedic doctor or hand specialist and find out what it really is..
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just4fun
Dec 12, 2004, 1:43 AM
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Where are you in NZ? That Dr sucks go to the ED and have an xray, I think its Broken!
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yomomma
Dec 12, 2004, 2:44 AM
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Edibca,
I just developed the same mysterious ailment. I was hoping to get some insight from this thread, but no one who has posted so far knows what the hell they're talking about. Anyway, I have the same marble-like thing between my pinky and ring finger, toward the center of my palm. I too developed it doing pullups, though I didn't hear anything pop like you did. I just got on the bar one day, felt some pain, and saw that little knob there. It's not really that painful or bothersome, though it is kinda tender. Hasn't affected my climbing at all. I noticed it about a week ago. It has gotten less painful but the swelling hasn't gone down much, if any. I think it's just a bruised tendon.
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jtt
Dec 12, 2004, 2:48 AM
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I think you could have ruptured or irritated one of the sheaths over a tendon in your hand causing a synovial cyst. In the wrist these are called "ganglion cysts," but it could happen in the hand. This cyst could be compressing nerves in your hand causing the pain. There are possible treatments, but they sometimes go away.
I'm just a first year med student, so I don't know much, but I'd like to be knowledgable about climbing injuries, as I am a wannabe climber.
Anyway, check out this website.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/...ncysts/op089102.html
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brad84
Dec 12, 2004, 3:15 AM
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from what it seems (and that only picked up from a few typed words not any kind of examination...) i would have to agree w/ jtt & the synovial cyst.
bummer dude.
have a real live person check it out if at all possible.
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livingtheedge
Dec 12, 2004, 4:09 AM
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yeah... i was going to say that it deosnt sound like a broken bone or a torn tendon. To me is sounds like a fluid build up of some type.
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edibca
Dec 13, 2004, 12:17 AM
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Hey guys,
Well, right now I'm in Toronto Canada for the holidays, where the injury happened at an indoor climbing gym, wanna get this sorted before I get back to NZ in January as it's gonna be summer and I wanna go climbing on our slabs of lava again...
The pull up bar was one of those special rock climbing concrete or composite slabs that have all sorts of holds depending on how fit you are, I'm sure you've all seen one before in a gym or in someone's house...
So in my case, I was doing the pull ups with my palms wrapped around this slab, I'm not at the level of doing pull ups just with my fingers...
I'm going to see a general practician tomorrow so that I can be referred to a specialist (orthopedic like some of you suggest) and we'll see what they say...
Thanks for all the info guys, JTT that web link is pretty interesting, and yomomma, that's pretty crazy that we both got the same thing from doing pull ups... It feels EXACTLY like you describe it, "not really that painful or bothersome, though it is kinda tender" and that knob is really pissing me off... I've been trying to "massage it out" but I don't know if it's doing anything...
Off to the doctor tomorrow then...
cheers guys
Eddie
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yomomma
Dec 13, 2004, 12:34 PM
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Hey Edibca, post up when you find out what it is.
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wingnut
Dec 13, 2004, 1:29 PM
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I agree with jt. That sucks. You should teally think about getting another doctor. Ouch.
________________
I refuse to accept your reality and substitute my own.
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phitty
Dec 13, 2004, 3:09 PM
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I had a ganglionon my wrist once - it is the sheath of the tendon, irritated by something and it bulges out. In my case from paddling. It looked like a had a squishy marble under my skin.
Seriously, there was an old saying about hitting it with a bible - meaning, put your hand on the table and smack it with a heavy book. the bulge will painlessly pop and you're back in business in a few minutes.
Well I was worried this was a crock of bs but eventually I gave in and smasked my gangleon on the edge of a table. It popped first try, no pain or gross-ness. the bulge was there one minute and gone seconds later.
P.
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johnhemlock
Dec 13, 2004, 4:33 PM
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I would see a doc that has gone to medical school in the last 35 years. And beware medical advice fleeced from the web - people will either quote Stone Temple Pilot lyrics or tell you to whack it with a heavy book, like the Old Testament.
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edibca
Dec 13, 2004, 6:46 PM
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No worries yomomma...
Doctor's appointment is in 1 hour, will ask to be refereed to an orthopedic and/or have Xrays done.
Be back later...
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maldaly
Dec 13, 2004, 7:00 PM
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Sounds like what you have is a Dupuytren's Contracture. Check out some general info at: http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/-818610171.htm . I have them on both hands and, on and off, they bug me. Mostly when I've been climbing on open-handed holds. It's scar-tissue build up in the palmar fascia.
DC's usually run in the family (recessive gene so look at your grand-dad's hands) of people with Irish lineage. They can get so bad that they'll retract your pinky and ring finger right to your palm, making your hand useless. There have been some positive results from accupuncture, bee-sting therapy and steriod injections but usually they require surgery. Even then, they may come back. Ran into an old rancher in the Black Hills who had bad ones in both hands. Got them both operated on; one stayed away, one came back. So he had his pinky and ring finger amputated. Hand worked pretty damn well for only having a thumb and 2 fingers.
John Sherman and Jim Donini have both had operations for Dupuytren's.
Good luck,
Mal
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omerdimsum
Dec 13, 2004, 8:08 PM
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I had a ganglion cyst. It looked like a marble under the skin. It formed on the back of my hand, after a friend tackled me in football (causing a broken metacarpal/base of thumb).
I had orthpedic surgery for it in Boulder, Colorado. However, it later returned in the same spot (albeit smaller). Now, I just ignore it, seeing how there is no pain or discomfort. I would probably have it removed again, but there is approx. a six week down-time (means no climbing). Plus, it is the perfect size for scratching my nose if/when I have an itch. :lol:
The web prgram in that previous post was excellent. However, I noticed the web demo depicted formations on back of hands, not on palms?
I have also heard the book smasking theory, although I beleive that was for "calcium deposits".
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sentbyme
Dec 13, 2004, 8:34 PM
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Here is an article on rock climbing hand injuries. I was referred to this guy, he is somthing of an expert. You could try sending him a letter or at least give his name to your doctor.
http://www.physsportsmed.com/...997/05may/jebson.htm
Email: curtis-steyers@uiowa.edu
He may not help if you're in NZ, as he works in Iowa.
In reply to: "There is precious little in civilization to appeal to a Yeti." Sir Edmund Hillary |
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edibca
Dec 13, 2004, 9:20 PM
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Well I just got back from the doctor's. Diagnosed me with, as many here said, Dupuytren's Contraction.
Referred me to a physiotherapist to get ultrasound done... She doesn't know if they can help, but I'm hopeful. I told her there's no history of DC in my family and we're definitely NOT from Irish or Viking decent as is true in many cases.
She said that I could have got it simply from over doing it and exercising/climbing too much...
Will keep posting as I go see the physio and get the ultrasound results...
blah.
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