Thumb pain.

[ZRock]

Ok so i have this one nerve right in the center of my thumb when my palm is up. My first few shots of the night are fairly painfull but after that my thumb swells a bit and covers the nerve. Does anyone have any advice on how to accelerate the numbing/swelling process? Or ideas on how to stop the pain altogether

[Zothen]

Have the thumb hole checked! You might need to stop squeezing the ball or you might need to bevel the edge of thumb hole. I suggest going to pro shop for a thumb hole check 1st.

Zothen

[ZRock]

The nerve has some pain just to the touch though. Without any regard to putting my thumb in the ball

[striker12]

have you tryed to ice your thumb before you head to bowling i have had to do that to my leg before and it works

[billf]

Did this nerve hurt before you ever started bowling? The owner of my local alley was telling me that he had to have his span shortened to alleviate the pain. His was years worth of build up on the nerve from bowling.

[ZRock]

Did this nerve hurt before you ever started bowling? The owner of my local alley was telling me that he had to have his span shortened to alleviate the pain. His was years worth of build up on the nerve from bowling.

I never NOTICED it before bowling, but I went from bowling none to bowling 20-40 games a week, so it was kind of a drastic change. The nerve is permanently exposed now and usually after a few balls the pain goes away, but I just don't want to lose out on any potential revs on the ball or speed by screwing up the span. I'd rather take the pain like a man than hurt my game.

[billf]

Maybe bevel the edge and use some tape at the base of the thumb?

[scottymoney]

There has to be something with your span or thumb hole effecting your thumb. Or could be something in your swing causing pressure on your thumb. Have seen a bunch of guys with thumb trouble and most of them are related to coming over the top of the ball.

[Greenday]

There has to be something with your span or thumb hole effecting your thumb. Or could be something in your swing causing pressure on your thumb. Have seen a bunch of guys with thumb trouble and most of them are related to coming over the top of the ball.

I used to always just come over the top of the ball. Now that I don't do that anymore, my thumb sure doesn't have any problems anymore.

[ZRock]

I don't believe I'm coming over the top at all. I'll take a video some day during practice.

[Rdmonster]

If you truly are putting pressure on the nerve.....numbness is going to be a possibility...be careful

[ZRock]

But I'm ok with numbness, would rather have numbness than pain.

[Tampabaybob]

Ok so i have this one nerve right in the center of my thumb when my palm is up. My first few shots of the night are fairly painfull but after that my thumb swells a bit and covers the nerve. Does anyone have any advice on how to accelerate the numbing/swelling process? Or ideas on how to stop the pain altogether

I have the same problem. It's just a nerve that has been moved out of place. If I swing my ball a few times before practice starts it usually will go away. Nothing to worry about unless you start having sever pain throughout the whole 3 games. Nerves will, and do, get moved from use.

[ZRock]

That's good to know bob! My pro shop guy told me we could try a different drilling but I don't know if I'm up for changing it!!

[Fishhawk]

My first ball would do that to me by the third game. We ended up filing the thumb hole opening just a little bit and the problems went away. It was just enough to further round off the sharper edge on the top side of the hole opening. I notice the pain sometimes when I have a weaker grip from the fingertips which causes a tighter grip from the thumb resulting in added pressure on the nerve.

[Rdmonster]

you do not want numbness in your thumb.....constant irritation of the nerve in the palmer aspect of your thumb can lead to troubles. The nerve sheath can become thickened and fibrous. This thick fibrous growth can then invade the actual nerve. this can lead to numbness that will not go away with rest. Numbness in the thumb can affect your ability to use it on a daily basis.

The description I just provided is known as bowlers thumb and is usually a result of a less than optimum fit..or trying to put to much on the ball.The general treatment is rest...a change in technique....surgery is required in extreme cases. If you are actualy pinching the nerve...be careful.

[Tampabaybob]

Mine never bothered me until a couple of years ago. I figure that it was something that occurred in the way I changed the release and it's been with me ever since. As far as surgery goes, my wife's pinky went numb a couple of years ago, googled it and found out that it was the ulner nerve in her elbow. Long story short....had it operated on and the surgeon moved the nerve back in place. Three years later pinky is still numb. I wouldn't suggest the surgery unless it get's really bad.