Sprained hand- OUCH!

[Loki's Advocate]

I sprained my right hand last night... it's really, really sore. So far I've tried taking painkillers and anti-inflammatories, tried binding it, and tried keeping it warm- nothing is working. :cry:

(It's taken me 5 minutes to type up to this point...)

Can anyone suggest anything I could do to make the frigging pain go away a bit quicker?

[Teufelhunden]

R. I .C .E
Reast ... do not use the area injured.
Ice ... It is ok to ice that puppy numb a few times a day
Compression.. keep the bandage on, but no too tight
Elevation.. Keep it up so the blood can not flood the area making the swelling worse..

This is all you can do untill the inflamation goes down, pushing it will only keep it angry.... Unless you have cortico steroids you can not force it to heal, and if you do the downside is bigger than the accelerated healing..
Teufelhunden

[Loki's Advocate]

The odd thing is that it isn't swollen much at all- it's just really sore. Can't really move my thumb much without getting twinges.

(That will teach me for sticking up for my mates! :D )

Thanks for the advice, Teuf.

[Gwynyvyr]

You definitely want to elevate it...that will help a lot. Ice for the first 24-48 hours, after that heat for pain relief and to get back flexibility.
suck down some major doses of Vitamin C. Helps you heal faster.Orange juice and the vit C pills, either/or/both.
If you have an arthritis type cream with capisain (sp?) in it, rub it in. If not, take one small dried hot red pepper (seeds and all) put in a blender with about a quarter cup of any decent hand cream or face cream. Whirl that mess up until the pepper is nicely smushed and ground up. You can also use fresh HOT peppers for this. Store in fridge. That will help for pain.
(On the other hand...for folks with sunburn...whirl a cucumber up with a little lotion of choice and store in fridge...takes out the *burn* and reduces blistering or chance of same)

[Loki's Advocate]

You definitely want to elevate it...that will help a lot.

Yeah, that did help a lot, along with keeping it compressed. Not too inducive to doing much of what I was supposed to be doing during the day, but oh well.

It's been a bit over 24 hours since I injured it, and it doesn't hurt anymore. It is more swollen than before, and it is itching like nobody's business, though. That's a good thing; that means it's healing already.

(Although I did get virtually booted out of bed for tossing and turning too much, and have received very little sympathy around here generally... :D)

Speaking of itchy appendages...

One night, an amputee was lying next to another in the hospital. The first one says, "Why are you tossing and turning so much?" And the second, who's just had an arm off, says, "My thumb's itchy!"

"So scratch it then! You're keeping me awake!" And the second replies, "It's the other god-damned thumb!"

[Athelstan]

Greetings Loki's Advocate,

Sorry to hear about the sore paw. First off Teuf's R.I.C.E. regimen is really good sound practical advice, so stick with it. That you've still got significant swelling suggests a couple of things:

1. Ice the area more frequently

2. You MAY have caused more extensive ligament damage beyond the run-of the-mill sprain. If it's still really swollen after two days from now, get it checked out by a medic - preferably one who knows something about sports injuries.

In the mean time here's some things that may help get you healing faster. Wander down to your local Herbalist shop, and ask about the following:

o Comfrey Cream - The Comfrey plant's old folklore name was 'Knitbone' and was well earned; Rich in Allantoin; Encourages rapid cell regrowth in skin, connective tissue, ligaments and bones; breaks down red blood cells in bruised areas. Even more effective if used with Vitamin E oil applied topically. NB. Never apply to unclean open wounds because the rapid healing can trap/seal in matter that cause infections.

o Arnica Cream - Promotes healing by aiding reabsorbtion of internal bleeding in bruises and sprains.

o Devils Claw Tablets - Potent anti-inflammatory comparable with Cortisone in potency (but natural)

o Astragulus capsules - Boosts the body's immune response and repair systems; particularly noted for increasing white blood cell production (healthily). Useful for most minor recuperative situations (both post trauma injury and infections)

Speedy recovery matey, :thumbup:

Frith,
Athelstan


Yeah, that did help a lot, along with keeping it compressed. Not too inducive to doing much of what I was supposed to be doing during the day, but oh well.

It's been a bit over 24 hours since I injured it, and it doesn't hurt anymore. It is more swollen than before, and it is itching like nobody's business, though. That's a good thing; that means it's healing already.

[Loki's Advocate]

Speedy recovery matey

Thanks! :)

I've taken ginger-root, gingko tablets, glucosamine tablets, and chilli (as in... cutting up a dried chilli and swallowing it with a glass of water).

I feel like a walking pharmocopeia, but the swelling's gone down a bit. At least, now I can see the blood vessels and the tendons on the back of my hand.

[Teufelhunden]

Just keep an eye on it, and watch for any sharp pains or "popping" feelings.
and keep up the RICE.. mostly the Ice. If as stated before if it does not improve in about a few days, swelling gets worse or pain shifts to sharp, get toa doc asap, could be the sign of a tear, or stretched ligament.
heal soon :)

[Don vonMilikowski]

If all else fails, take a sledgehammer to the tip of the big toe on your left foot..... You'll forget the pain in your wrist.

You got it wrapped?

Did you see a Dr? If not, IS it sprained or did you hyperextend it?

Next time you are in a fight, make sure to lock your wrist at impact or just use your elbows. Elbows and knees there is a reason they are outlawed in most full contact fighting.

Last of all, if you did do it in a fight, stop being such a baby about it, it is what happens when you or one of your friends, some other guy, or you do when you run out of words and a witful retort. We can talk pain one day - I know pain.

[Loki's Advocate]

You got it wrapped?

Yes.


Did you see a Dr? If not, IS it sprained or did you hyperextend it?

No. It's healing already. I think it's just a mild sprain.


Last of all, if you did do it in a fight, stop being such a baby about it, it is what happens when you or one of your friends, some other guy, or you do when you run out of words and a witful retort.

My friend was chased for ten minutes by arseholes with bricks, because he 'wouldn't give them a cigarette, brus' (he doesn't smoke). To right outside my doorstep, virtually.

I could think of nothing 'witful' or clever to say to that.

You're right though, I should stop whining.


We can talk pain one day - I know pain.

This isn't 'pain', not how you mean. This is bloody annoying when you've got reams of typing to do.

(Does getting flogged with electrical cables count as pain? Because if it doesn't, man, I'd rather not talk about it. Not to be impolite or anything. ;) )

[Biorn]

How did you sprain your hand anyway?

[aud_friggsdottir]

Ok coming in way late, but here are my suggestions from having children do these things like this in the various sports and activities they do....

1. Teuf's excellent advice, but replace ice with onion slices...yes onion slices :). Works better than ice for ANY inflamation...I have several years of tried, tested, and true on several people...infant to adult. :D!

2. Comfrey tea. VERY healing (will heal twice as fast) and very nutrious....even can use poultices on the affected area, just not as convenient as onion. It is a good internal anti-inflamatory.

3. Cayenne rubs (as Gwyn has suggested), except add cayenne powder (readily available in any grocery store, since you aren't ingesting it, shelf kind is ok) to a cup of hot apple cider vinegar (apv) and allow to steep for....I say till you can use it on your skin without burning yourself. You can mix it with any cream as well...but apv is cheaper.

4. LOTS of water and, as Gwyn said, Vitamin C....it speeds any healing.

I know you are probably well now...LOL...but for future reference....onion is alway my first treatment because it works so fast and so good...people poo poo at its smell...but once you have seen it in action...smell will no longer be an issue.

[Athelstan]

Greetings aud_friggsdottir,

Intresting post. My family's used Onion slice as an anti-inflammatory on insect bites and nettle skins for years (advice handed down) but never for swellings from sprains, bruises etc. Similar thing with the Comfrey, the family's been using it in a topical cream since the year dot especially with vitamin E/Cod liver oil applied topically (See post #6 above), but not as a tea.

How did you came by these usages? I am not disputing their effectiveness at all - just curious. Family tradition like mine or something else? Really interested to hear more. :)

Frith,
Athelstan.

ps. Loki's Advocate - glad to hear you're on the mend! ;)


Ok coming in way late, but here are my suggestions from having children do these things like this in the various sports and activities they do....

1. Teuf's excellent advice, but replace ice with onion slices...yes onion slices :). Works better than ice for ANY inflamation...I have several years of tried, tested, and true on several people...infant to adult. :D!

2. Comfrey tea. VERY healing (will heal twice as fast) and very nutrious....even can use poultices on the affected area, just not as convenient as onion. It is a good internal anti-inflamatory...