I have fallen three times, however: twice during the box-jump exercises and once while running when I tripped on an uneven sidewalk. On one of those occasions, I injured my right hand and on another my left hand. Both of those injuries have healed without any sort of intervention. In fact, I have learned that aches, pains, and even injuries are not uncommon. I have also learned that I probably have some osteo-arthritis, definitely in my hands and probably in my feet.
I visited a hand specialist recently about some pain that
persisted in my left hand. He identified
an arthritic bump at the base of the thumb on that hand and said the pain could
come from it. He also said I could simply have stretched some ligaments. He said that the treatment in either case is the same, and gave me a written “Hand Arthritis
Treatment Form.” This is what the form said to do:
1.
Heat (e.g. Paraffin Baths)
2.
Medications: (a) Tylenol, (b) NSAIDs: Ibuprofen (Advil), Alleve, Celebrex, (c) Glucosamine & Chondroitin
3.
Foods: (a) Cherries, (b)Blueberries, (c) Pineapple, (d) Turmeric, Flaxseed (oil)
4.
Creams: Capsaicin, Arnica, Voltaren
6.
Whole Body Exercise (Endorphins)
7.
Cortisone Injections
Except for 7 and 8, one can treat himself. With the first injury, when I fell off the box and injured my left hand, the physician's assistant fitted me with a splint (5). I threw it away after a day's use, and I got better anyway, although possibly slower. The physician did not encourage 7, because he said it was temporary. As to 8, he said that doctors like him have all kinds of things they can do, but said it in a way to indicate that I should stay away from surgery if I can.
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