Hands

[Thebull]

I can't remember if I read it here or elsewhere recently but there was a piece about a neat pain telief trick where if you stub your toe squeezing the area can help ease the pain as the pressure signal overrides the pain signal. While you're still sensitive from the shingles flare up I wonder (if the glasses are strong / thick enough to do it safely) whether you could try picking them up more firmly, that more pressure might override a sensitive pain signal in the same way?

Wonder if there's any kind of specialized glove you can use until things settle down? A pair of white gloves might look quite natty in your line of work!

Definitely wouldn't squeeze the glasses so need to worry Monotonic. I did see the mention of doing it safely Alada :). want to avoid gloves if possible but I'll see how I go.

I wouldn't know about the shingles or the general issue mentioned but for basic hand care i think Shea Butter based moisturisers - L'occitane is a respected brand - and perhaps a few drops of lavender essential oil mixed with it to help with the repair aspect of it (they may have a formulation with it already added but it wouldn't hurt to add more).

Lavender is very useful for burns and helps regenerate to the damaged skin. For a more intensive treatment you can leave a thick layer on and put on some gloves - i think even rubber would be ok as you don't need to leave them on for more than 10-15minutes.

As others have said though, there may be a more pressing issue you need to address; from my recollection shingles was at least made worse by stress.

Added: i mention the moisturising aspect because my mother has used these 'intensive' creams since she does a lot of lifting and deals with hot food and so on, and they're often pretty poor in both formulation and results, so just incase it helps.

I've been using a heavy duty moisturiser that tbh is made for animals called bag balm. I'd read on reviews that it was good for certain human skin conditions and I had bought it for a friend with excema. I'm looking in to other options now as maybe not a wise choice as didn't research it and gone on my gut instinct.

I wouldn't say stress has been the cause of this. I had a severe 24 hour sickness bug and shingles showed up about 4 days later. My chiropractor had mentioned that my immune system would have to be very low to get this so could of stemmed from the bug.

Sounds like you should go to the doctor.

I saw the doctor about a week after seeing the rash the rash was in a small area on the left hand side of my Back. The nerve pain I felt was only localised in that area. He did say at the time he thought i was healing and they would of only prescribed anti viral drugs in the first 3 or 4 days of the rash appearing.

Have you tried doing the iodine protocol?

[pI did the protocol for about 2 months and I dropped the bottle of 15% lugols and smashed it it. At the time I had dropped my dose as I was struggling a little with my up and down reaction to th iodine. I do intend to take it up again but not sure when.

Hi Thebull

How's your diet in general? Are you ketogenic?

I'm wondering if it has something to do with the myelin sheathing of your nerves? Do some searches for ketogenic diet, myelination and fatty acids. Aside from essential fatty acids and ketones, this link gives some other supps and nutrients and talks about how building good myelin sheaths can at least prevent one from getting shingles, but maybe approaching from this area might help? It certainly couldn't hurt.

My diet is balanced but I do eat carbs some weeks more than others. I was ketogenic previously for around four months which would be over a year ago now. Some more supplements to look at interesting information and suggestions TC.

Sorry it's late now so I'll try and respond over the next few days to all the other responses. Some good advice for me to ponder thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[Thebull]

An update to say my hands have improved slightly using my heavy duty moisturiser on a night after work. There is sensitivity there still though it's been more bearable thank you for all the suggestions.

On another note last Sunday I tore my bicep lifting a barrel. The barrel was empty though it's an 18 gallon size and just an awkward shape to handle. I felt it pop/tear and it was very painful. I had a couple of days off work after it happened (my days off) and had X-rays at the hospital and was given a sling to wear. I havent worn the sling and using ice packs on a morning has brought the bruising out and most of the movement in my arm has returned though there is still swelling. My bicep has dropped and it's been quite a strange feeling as haven't been able to lift really light objects.

I do weight training regularly so could be wear and tear injury and i also used to play cricket so throwing won't have helped. I would say that I push myself but don't try and lift stupid size weights.

Sorry to post but the injury has got me feeling down and I just wanted to get it off my chest. Maybe my body is telling me to pay more attention or slow down! Usually during my life when I have had more severe injuries like this it's been a sign I need too look at something in me or in my life. Presently I'm clueless to what this can be. Again sorry for the noise I feel quite despondent and frustrated.

 

[lilyalic]

An update to say my hands have improved slightly using my heavy duty moisturiser on a night after work. There is sensitivity there still though it's been more bearable thank you for all the suggestions.

On another note last Sunday I tore my bicep lifting a barrel. The barrel was empty though it's an 18 gallon size and just an awkward shape to handle. I felt it pop/tear and it was very painful. I had a couple of days off work after it happened (my days off) and had X-rays at the hospital and was given a sling to wear. I havent worn the sling and using ice packs on a morning has brought the bruising out and most of the movement in my arm has returned though there is still swelling. My bicep has dropped and it's been quite a strange feeling as haven't been able to lift really light objects.

I do weight training regularly so could be wear and tear injury and i also used to play cricket so throwing won't have helped. I would say that I push myself but don't try and lift stupid size weights.

Sorry to post but the injury has got me feeling down and I just wanted to get it off my chest. Maybe my body is telling me to pay more attention or slow down! Usually during my life when I have had more severe injuries like this it's been a sign I need too look at something in me or in my life. Presently I'm clueless to what this can be. Again sorry for the noise I feel quite despondent and frustrated.

Sorry to hear that Thebull, it does sound very painful.. I did something similar when I was very young, and there's no describing that pain!
Don't worry about posting about it (definitely not noise!), it's understandable why you feel down in the dumps. Maybe your body is telling you to slow down, I would suspect so if I'd torn a muscle!

Go easy on yourself, cold therapy, hot baths, maybe purchase some Krill oil for your injury. :)
I wish you a fast recovery, and keep us updated!

 

[nicklebleu]

Hi Thebull,

Sorry to hear what you are going through at the moment!

I certainly concur with Lylialic that this may well be a sign for you to slow down. I know from personal experience how difficult that can be, when you are 'on a roll'. In my case it has forced me to have a look at my MO, that seems to have been a constant all my life. And this can only be beneficial in the long run, so I'd like to invite you to see, if something similar is happening in your life.

Apart from that I wouldn't worry too much about the torn biceps. It looks funny having a big bulge there when you 'flex your muscles' but the arm is capable to compensate for the lost function of your biceps once the injury has fully healed. Give it some time and some mild training (once the swelling and the pain have dissipated) and over time you may find that the function will return to near normal levels.

All the best!

 

[MusicMan]

Thebull, my son who is a serious athlete, recommended that for a torn bicep, you need to wrap it firmly with a pressure bandage, but not so tightly that you cut off the circulation, and splint it so that your arm is held straight, this will help your bicep to heal.

For pain in the hands, this has not been mentioned so I will:
1. Try pinching the webbing between your thumb and forefinger (with your other hand).
2. Pinch the earlobe on the affected side.

This may or may not work for you.
I would suggest you use 'intent' as you do this.

Best Wishes.

 

[Thebull]

Thanks lilyalic, Nicklebleu and Musicman for your support and suggestions it is much appreciated.

Nicklebleu I'd like to confirm what you mean by this?

I certainly concur with Lylialic that this may well be a sign for you to slow down. I know from personal experience how difficult that can be, when you are 'on a roll'. In my case it has forced me to have a look at my MO

Sorry if this is a ridiculous question but I'm not 100 % sure what MO is abbreviated to mean is it my own.

MusicMan I will try your suggestions. I had especially bad night at work with my hands so let's hope next time your tips can help.

Had a thought that pulling the hand pull beers could have helped to cause the tear. It is the bicep attachment to the forearm which has torn. The action could of been a repetitive strain injury of course with the help of the weight training.

Lilyalic I use the cold therapy showers though I'll look into the krill oil as never heard of it or what it does.

 

[Alada]

MO is the abbreviation for Modus Operandi, meaning: a particular way or method of doing something.

Sorry to hear of your further injury. Maybe the torn bicep is symbolic of you're 'carrying too much' at the moment in a general sense?

 

[Thebull]

MO is the abbreviation for Modus Operandi, meaning: a particular way or method of doing something.

Sorry to hear of your further injury. Maybe the torn bicep is symbolic of you're 'carrying too much' at the moment in a general sense?

Thanks for clearing that up for me Alada. Yes it's maybe time too look at my life.

I have been working longer hours and this has maybe led to some strain in my relationship with my wife. This hadn't felt unusual though as I'd just put it down to the usual relationship stuff. Maybe much more for me to consider?

I haven't practiced EE for a while so I think that's a great place to start.

 

[Gaby]

I haven't practiced EE for a while so I think that's a great place to start.

That is a good idea! I would also do some dreamwork.