Wrist device - finger pain?

[coachkapps]

Bought a Robbies II and WOW, the extra room I've created is awesome! One small problem is it's causing some pain in the middle finger joint, not the tip joint but the one closer to the palm. When the ball comes off my hand, the thumb's coming out great but it puts a bit of extra (unfamiliar) stress on that joint cause it pushes against the solid part of the device. Make sense?

Is this normal? Will the pain eventually go away as I get used to the device?

[billf]

I know exactly what you're talking about. The fingers get pushed back against the device and it hurts! Seems this only happens to those of us who come out of the ball very hard. It's why I don't use the brace unless I have to (like when I break my wrist). If they made it go past the fingers when they are extended then this wouldn't be able to happen.

[coachkapps]

I re-measured my hand (from wrist to tip of finger) and have decided to buy a Robbies III in the larger size. We'll see if this helps. I'll also try wearing the device slightly farther up my wrist. The only limitation with this is that wrist Velcro strap may not completely allow it. I've also tried applying a little athletic tape on that joint to limit hyperextension.

BillF, I usually don't use a wrist device. In fact, I just recently bought this one. When I used it yesterday I was in awe of how much more my ball turned (more rotation/tilt). I was 8-10 boards left of my normal spot. I'm going to keep going back and forth to see if I can learn with the device and use the feeling without the device. I normally break my wrist and my hand ends up on top of the ball and in a real weak position.

[billf]

That's what they were originally intended for, training the wrist. When I said break my wrist though, I meant literally. Had to finish the season two of the last three years with a brace due to breaking my wrist at work. I've also started using a compression sleeve on my elbow to help with the pain while bowling with an entrapped ulnar nerve and ruptured bursa sac in my elbow. Good thing I only bend my elbow at the start of my stance or the pain would be much worse.

[classygranny]

That's what they were originally intended for, training the wrist. When I said break my wrist though, I meant literally. Had to finish the season two of the last three years with a brace due to breaking my wrist at work. I've also started using a compression sleeve on my elbow to help with the pain while bowling with an entrapped ulnar nerve and ruptured bursa sac in my elbow. Good thing I only bend my elbow at the start of my stance or the pain would be much worse.

What kind of compression sleeve do you use? I can't find one I am happy with, but I am going to need one soon, as I injured my left elbow (non-bowling arm) and it really hurts after bowling...??? Can you tell me brand and what to watch for when purchasing the compression sleeve?

[billf]

I bought mine at the sporting goods store. It covers from mid-forearm to my arm pit. I don't recall the brand name but it was $25, well worth it too.

[Tampabaybob]

What kind of compression sleeve do you use? I can't find one I am happy with, but I am going to need one soon, as I injured my left elbow (non-bowling arm) and it really hurts after bowling...??? Can you tell me brand and what to watch for when purchasing the compression sleeve?

A couple of guys I bowl with have gotten one of the "Tommy Copper" brand compression sleeves. They both swear by them. On guy got one for his knee and a couple of weeks later I asked how he was doing with it and he told me he takes little or no Motrin compared to what he used to. Anyway, here's the link: http://www.tommiecopper.com/product/elbow-compression-sleeve Good luck let us know what works for you, as it's good to pass along that type of information.

[Stormed1]

Some wrist devices give the effect of stretching your span about 1/16" and that can cause pain too

[Tampabaybob]

Bought a Robbies II and WOW, the extra room I've created is awesome! One small problem is it's causing some pain in the middle finger joint, not the tip joint but the one closer to the palm. When the ball comes off my hand, the thumb's coming out great but it puts a bit of extra (unfamiliar) stress on that joint cause it pushes against the solid part of the device. Make sense?

Is this normal? Will the pain eventually go away as I get used to the device?

If you're having pain in that joint, let me recommend something that I bought that did the trick.. It's called "Steel Fingers", kind of a strange contraption, but I'll be dammed if it didn't work. For 20 bucks, you can't go wrong. I've also loaned it out and the guy I loaned it to , ended up buying his own. My pain went completely away almost as zoo as I started using it. You won't be disappointed. http://steelfingers.com/store/page0.html

[billf]

Bob, I bought a set of steel fingers off of your recommendation. They work great! Really helps with the arthritis is my fingers while bowling.

However, if I understand what Coachknapps is saying, the pain is from where the brace hits that joint on the back of the hand and the fingers bend backwards slightly as you rip out of the ball. The steel fingers combined with the brace did not help that situation.

[billf]

Some wrist devices give the effect of stretching your span about 1/16" and that can cause pain too

Great point! I had my span shorrtened a 1/16" for this reason and it helped with the pain in the back of my hand.

[coachkapps]

Bowled today. Yuck! That middle finger knuckle has some swelling in it which was still painful and my finger tips also didn't fit well into the grips today. The middle finger especially was tight/too small, I'm guessing because the swelling sort of extends throughout the finger. I'll give it a few days and I bowl again on Wed night. We'll see how it goes.

[Tampabaybob]

Bill, for most people, you can actually get away from using the wrist guard and just use the steel fingers. In some case that will do the trick. The question is, do you bowl with pain and use the wrist guard or do you use the steel fingers and once again enjoy the game ?? Personal decision. I used my "fingers" for about 2 months, pain went away and haven't had to use them since. That was about 2 years ago.

[billf]

Bob, I stopped using the wrist brace a few weeks ago. So far, so good. Tonight I warmed up without the steel fingers. The start of the pain reminded me to put them on lol

[Tampabaybob]

Funny how that happens. I've done the same and it's like.... DUH !!

[GoodGravy]

I'm not a doctor, but I play on in TV......

Working through a fairly significant wrist/hand injury right now, I have been working with a lot of Orthopedic specialists lately, so my pathophysiological knowledge of the mechanics of the hand has improved drastically over the past few weeks....

There is a big difference between your finger/knuckle pain due to rubbing against your support device (repetitive contact irritation), and the potential extensor tendon damage that may be occurring. I actually had a Neurologist tell me last week that he has seen cases where carpal tunnel like pain was the result of cervical nerve root damage in the neck. Just for the record, I am using a combination of athletic taping (stuff I learned back in college when I was majoring in Sports Medicine) and a Mongoose wrist brace which works great for me right now until I finish up with my hand rehab.

Basically, standard good advice: If whatever you are doing and/or using is causing you pain, stop doing it until you can figure out what is going on....

[billf]

There is a big difference between your finger/knuckle pain due to rubbing against your support device (repetitive contact irritation), and the potential extensor tendon damage that may be occurring.

Repetitiveve contact irritation? A 15 pound ball bending your fingers backwards with that weight plus momemtum against a metal object that won't move is more than an irritant. It can cause bone bruising a nerve damage also.