Owwie

[filkertom]

If it ain't one frickin' thing, it's another.

Sprained my left wrist yesterday. Can't type too well. Worried about playing guitar this weekend at my biggest non-fannish gig ever. Could've been much worse, but.

Gotta pay August bills. Gotta go to NASFiC.

Any good thoughts for wrist flexibility without pain would be appreciated.

ETA: I can fret my guitar.

Typing actually hurts more right now. Curling the hand down toward the wrist... not so much.

I think I'll be okay for Saturday. Still not gonna push it.

Comments

[ladypoetess.livejournal.com]

< nursemode >
The standard RICE advice - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation to start with for a day or two, then do some very gentle stretching and range of motion movements. Don't overstress it too soon or you'll make it worse. Ideally you'd rest it for at least 1-2 weeks, but I understand that's not really feasible here. Don't do more with it than you need to, in any case. If you can get a neoprene wrist brace - one of the flexible ones designed to support but not one of the ones with metal or stiff plastic bars in it - that can help prolong the usage you'll get out of the wrist before it tires too much and you start hitting the red danger territory again. Also, anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen will help - just do not mix them, and if you are on any other medications, make sure that there are no interactions with any pain/swelling reducing meds you want to take (a quick call to the pharmacy should be sufficient for that).
< /nursemode >

Good luck at NASFiC!

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

All covered. Got the wrist brace from the ER, got the ibuprofen right here, no aspirin or naproxen. And I have discovered that frozen pizza dough makes a hell of a cheap reusable ice pack. ;)

[ladypoetess.livejournal.com]

Excellent! And, very good idea. :D

[janedit.livejournal.com]

I usually use a bag of frozen peas. Though once I used a can of cold beer inside a cotton sock. Not that I think you would have that available. Except maybe the sock.

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

Ow!! Hope it feels better in time to be able to play, but either way I hope it gets better soon so you feel better!

*hugs* and good wrist no pain thoughts pointed towards you!

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

Don't strain it, leave it to recover, possibly soak it in warm/hot water, and get advice from someone other than me, as I'm not medically trained!

Drop Dr.Jim an email perhaps?

[realinterrobang.livejournal.com]

No, no, no warm/hot water! Do *not* do this. It's an inflammatory response causing the problem, so you want *cold* on it. You need to be icing a sprain for at least three *weeks* (no word of a lie), at least twice a day, for good healing. Putting heat on it will just make it worse and increase the damage.

I also recommend multiple-times-daily applications of Voltaren Emulgel, which is a topical anti-inflammatory and can be used in conjunction with other oral anti-inflammatories (I use it all the time on the advice of my doctor, and I'm also on Celebrex).

Thank you!

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

Yes you're absolutely right. Thanks for catching that, I usually double-check my "facts" but didn't this time, doh!

As I said, don't listen to me, I'm not a doctor!

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/rehab/a/rice.htm
R.I.C.E.
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation

[maiac.livejournal.com]

Damn. What rotten timing!

[wingus.livejournal.com]

Looks like folks got the advice covered, so here's some well wishes for a swift recovery and not overdoing things!

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

Owie. Good thoughts your way.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Oh Ow ow ow. I won't twll you the drill. Will a hug help?

[terriwells.livejournal.com]

Ouch! Ummmm...maybe you can get a filk song out of it? (Seriously, here's hoping you get better soon, and I'll see you at NasFic if we don't both get lost in the crowd!).

[hms42]

Speedy recovery and good luck on the event this weekend.

[lariss.livejournal.com]

Right before your gig, soak your wrist in very hot water with as much EPSOM SALTS as you can dissolve in it.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Get better soon. If you have a splint, wear one at night. You can buy carpal tunnel splints at the grocery store.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

Ouchie! Feel lots better soon.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dear. And I have to respond to your e-mail....

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

Yes, but not until your wrist feels much better. I'm about to go on vacation (until August 8th) so you can rest up.

*hugs*

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Slow, gentle movement, and a lot of it, makes sprains go away fastest. Gentle rubbing helps too.

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

Ouch - rest up and feel better. Maybe talk to thnidu about good hands-free typing?

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Ow! Be careful... hope it heals quickly!

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

Much sympathy and empathy. Sprains are a bitch, and we both make our livings with our hands (I'm an admin assistant, so my life revolves around my computer).

Hope you heal quickly and completely.

[catalana.livejournal.com]

*thinking good thoughts for you!*

[janmagic.livejournal.com]

sending you healing thoughts. I like the pizza dough for ice pack.
make sure your getting it cold enough and reach all the sprained spots

the epsom salts "should" work even if the water is not too hot.

something else to consider.

Ice works because it chases away the blood, the healing come in when the ice is taken off and the blood returns to the area.
try this before your concert day.

ice wrist completely, really really cold for 10 min minimum. then as soon as the ice is removed, do the most challenging guitar work.

by doing this, you are re-educating the body by using the injured part as the blood returns. this works for a lot of strains and pains.

[ladyskada.livejournal.com]

Okay, I see that you already have gotten info about icing and wearing a wrist brace. Woot!
I'm not certain what type of brace you've got, but ideally it should be the type with firm bracing from your forearm to just about your palm, on the "underside" of your left wrist.
You've been icing for at least 24 hours now, heading onto 48 hours. Compare the sizes of your two wrists. Is the left badly swollen? Discolored? If there is only minor swelling, then gentle wrist massage on the injured arm could help. Work gently, stretching the muscles in your "underneath" forearm down towards your fingers & the "overarm muscles" (back of your hand) up towards your elbow. This will help improve circulation but also help your wrist naturally counteract the overuse done to it by a sprain.
This will help:
http://www.nwhealth.edu/healthyU/liveNaturally/sm6.html

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

I hope you get better soon, Tom! *hugs*

[hms42]

Speedy recovery and I hope you are feeling better ASAP. Good luck at the faire.