Any orthopedic experts on here?

[the_lone_wolf]

For those who weren't there I had a couple of stacks mountain biking in N.Wales two weeks ago, and I think I've done something to my thumb

My grip is normal, and I can force it side to side, but if I put my thumb under the fingers of the hand and squeeze it it's incredibly painful. Doesn't manifest itself during normal routine so hasn't really bothered me...

Has been like this since that weekend, not something that would normally bother me as I'm always injuring various body parts, but it doesn't seem to be improving - two weeks on and it's about as painful as it was the Monday after...

Any ideas what I've injured? I know I could go visit my GP but tbh it doesn't seem like a worthwhile enterprise if all he's likely to tell me is what tendon/muscle I've injured and to not strain it until it's better

[benji106]

Had a similair injury after my brother rugby tackled me coming out of a club back in May, was painful for weeks afterwards, its still not quite right now :( nowhere near as painful as it was so I never bothered getting it checked out. doesnt help you much I know.

[Sally]

A bad stave?

[the_lone_wolf]

A bad stave?

Haven't visited Iceland recently...

[sv4me]

Painful cuticle? ;)

I had a similar pain a few years back after getting up close and personal with a tree on my crosser, wore 1 of them wrist braces that compresses for about week and it went. I was the same cba going to the doctors

[BernardBikerchick]

so sorry hun no idea but i did a similar thing whilst climbing and my middle fingers never been the same since :(

oh and much as i love ya your avata scares the willllys out of me !! even though clearly i haven't even got one never mind lots of them !!!

[Quiff Wichard]

is it yer Wa**ing hand Mark?

if not .

what's the worry ?

[davepreston]

how did you get across morocco you big wuss
MTFU


but yea its a stave

[the_lone_wolf]

Doesn't seem to fit with the symptoms of a Bennett's fracture, supposedly that is accompanied with some degree of dislocation, nothing seems to indicate that that's the case. Plus, it's the wrong metacarpel - Bennetts is on the first, the joint that's in pain is the first to second metacarpel. Also, no reduction in the pinch grip

Hmm, if we're talking fractures I spose I better drag myself off to the doctor and get him to have a look...:-?

[thulfi]

im a med student so don't trust a word of this ;-)

Do you remember which stacking caused the thumb pain, and how you landed on your thumb?

What do you mean by the joint that hurts is the first to second metacarpal? The first metacarpal is the first half of your thumb so to speak, and your second metacarpal is the first third of index finger.

Your thumbs metacarpal is joined to one of your hands carpal bones called the trapezium via a joint called the carpometacarpal joint.

http://rehabstudents.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/FileCarpus.png

E is the trapezium. Does it hurt when you press on that area? Which area does it hurt exactly. Try relaxing your thumb, and move it with your other hand in every direction possible and see if any hurt.

You can still move it well apparetly which is promising, but the only concern would be that the pain is the same level as it was when you first did it. Perhaps you are not helping the part that needs to heal very well by moving it about and trying to use it as normal. Personally mate I'd get it X-rayed seeing as its been 2 weeks and no improvement.

Sounds like a minor one tho, sure you'll be awlright in no time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carpus.png

[the_lone_wolf]

What do you mean by the joint that hurts is the first to second metacarpal? The first metacarpal is the first half of your thumb so to speak, and your second metacarpal is the first third of index finger.

Thanks for the reply - I should know the above having smashed the fifth on my other hand...:rolleyes:;)

No idea how I landed, but it's a fair assumption I hit the ground hard whilst holding onto the handlebars of the bike

No pain if I grab the base of the thumb with my other hand and move/rotate it

This diagram should make it clearer, If I move my thumb under my fingers, rotating it at the joint marked in yellow, then apply pressure at the location and in the direction marked in blue, I get pain in the area marked in red:

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr243/ktm_wolf/misc/FileCarpus.png

[thulfi]

Those last to bits of unshaded grey on the diagram are your phalynx bones (phalanges).

You might have a minor fracture on your first phalynx. Here's a decent site that gives reliable info on thumb phalyngeal fractures. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1287814-overview

You might need a cast for four weeks perhaps to help it heal if it turns out to be fractured. Obviously this may not be the case, but as the pain hasn't got better in 2 weeks, I reckon an X-ray would be well worthwhile just in case.

[the_lone_wolf]

You might need a cast for four weeks perhaps to help it heal if it turns out to be fractured. Obviously this may not be the case, but as the pain hasn't got better in 2 weeks, I reckon an X-ray would be well worthwhile just in case.
I'll make an appointment to see the GP then

Hope it's not a fracture, there was zero pain or swelling, unlike the last time where the hand basically doubled in thickness - No pain this time even if I apply pressure around the area:rolleyes:

[thulfi]

Just pop down to A&E mate on a monday morning if you can, probably the quickest time you'll get seen (if you can't be bothered with weekend wait times).

Seeing the GP next week, getting reffered etc won't be worth the hassle. He'd probably just end up telling you to go to A&E anyway.

Mornday morning A&E's are usually pretty empty.

[the_lone_wolf]

Mornday morning A&E's are usually pretty empty.
Hmm

Monday morning is a bit busy, May well just brace myself and go tomorrow early morning - or is that just going to be a bad idea?

[thulfi]

Well it'll be better than Sunday morning that's for sure, lol.

Prob your best bet though tbh.

[Biker Biggles]

Have you tried sucking it?

[Bluefish]

you want a mr man plaster and some one to kiss it better, there there who's mummys little soldier then :D

[the_lone_wolf]

Have you tried sucking it?

you want a mr man plaster and some one to kiss it better, there there who's mummys little soldier then :D

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr243/ktm_wolf/misc/12119040961631.gif

[the_lone_wolf]

Well, it seems to be a bit better today - whether it's psychosomatic as a result of a fracture basically ****ing me over for career plans or whether it's actually improved, I dunno... But I know the joint is able to click again now, which is usually a sign that normality is returning after I've smacked something...

I'm in town on Monday anyway, if it gives me more gyp by then I'll stop by A&E and see what they say...

[-Ralph-]

I had hand and wrist issues for a lot longer than two weeks after my highside earlier this year. It's the reason I couldn't ride the GM, and one of the reasons I headed back early at the AR. I landed face and hands first, then slid down the road on my belly, dragging my knees and feet along behind me. Still got some problems with all the fingers on the left hand if I have to do a lot of clutch work (traffic, etc) and and one of the fingers on the right hand still hurts if I bend at all the way closed.

Hands are very complex and fragile, I wouldn't go assuming it's serious just because it still hurts, as two weeks isn't a long time at all with this kind of injury/strain.

Do you spend a lot of time typing with a keyboard? This won't help your healing time either. I had to set up voice recognition on my laptop to give my hands a chance, and it works OK once you get used to it and it learns your voice.