So three weeks ago I get home from work. I open the garage door, walk in and pass by the heavy bag (70 lb punching bag). Mind you, when I bought this heavy bag, I bought the “old man model”. It has been “crafted for athletes seeking a reduced impact, and more forgiving striking surface to help alleviate sore knuckles, wrists, elbows and shoulders”. So they make a bag for us old guys so we are less likely to damage our old bones and joints.

For some idiotic reason, I think it’s a good idea to take a couple swings at it.

Let me back up a few steps here. So I used to train a lot when I was younger. Back before the term Mixed Martial Arts was coined, that’s what we were doing, we just called it “all style”. So it’s not like this is the first swings I’ve ever had on a heavy bag.

I’m not getting any younger, and it’s been 17 years since I have trained at all. So I wrap my hands and wrists every time I go work out. I’m not as young, strong, or conditioned as I was. So the wraps are a necessity. I am religious about using them. I never, ever take a swing without being wrapped.

Back to the story, I just got home from work, still have a backpack on, no wraps on my hands (breaking my own cardinal rule) and as I pass by the damned bag, I turn and throw a six punch combo at it, with the last being a very solid low left hook (body shot). Mike Tyson would have been proud. I mean it was a perfect punch. Toe turned in, hip pivot was perfect, one of the most powerful punches I have ever thrown. Every ounce of strength, from my big toe, through the legs, back, shoulder, and arm, came together in a symphony of gloriousness to land the perfect punch. Well almost perfect. My aim was off by about two inches. And my hands weren’t wrapped.

When I connect, I was just a little too far back on the bag. My fist rolled in toward my body. Wrist hurts a little, but Nothing too terrible. I’m like well, son of a bitch, it’s sprained.

Almost ten days later I go see a doctor as it’s not getting any better. She gives me an anti-inflammatory and tells me to put it in a brace to immobilize it. If it’s not better in a week, call the orthopedist. Nine days later, I’m far worse than I have been. Severe pain, sometimes pain all the way up to my elbow, and last night into the tricep. Index finger is tingly, or completely numb.

I have an appointment with the orthopedist this morning. I’m really hoping this is fixable without any type of surgery. I don’t care if I’m in a cast for the next eight weeks, as long as it doesn’t require surgery, and I can get back to 95% or better. (Getting older I have realized that getting back to 100% is a myth.)

Sharing this with you all hoping that my description brought a little humor to your morning. I think we have to laugh, even if it’s a bummer situation. Better than being angry about it. You guys have failed me though. I don’t recall anyone here ever telling me that getting old kind of sucks.

Have an awesome morning gents. Be happy we are alive and can enjoy this beautiful day. Take care my friends, and I’ll update you later as to what the orthopedist says.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Beancooker,

Ouch hope you heal on your own.

I did something similar in high school punching a high jump pad that was standing on edge. Like a sprained ankle i re injured that thing as far out as 7 years after the original injury.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1s1k,

Ouch, sounds like some swelling is pushing on a nerve....hope they get it fixed for you soon.

Sorry to hear of your pain. Yes, us older guys have to remember we are not quite as spry as we were 30 years ago.

Age = Easier to hurt + longer to heal.
Mike

I'm 56. ANYTIME I decide to do something that I used to be able to do with ease - I remember (afterwards) that I'm no longer 20 or 30 (or even 40). It happens less and less often now, since I seem to have learned my lesson. Less stuff gets done, or I hire a teenager to do it :-)

Have some trees to cut up in the yard. I can cut just fine - but hauling the cut pieces to the woodpile is going to need some help.

Sorry for your pain and hope it isn't serious. Ortho guys should sort it out pretty quick.

Getting old sucks; youth is wasted on the young!

That said, I feel your pain; I needed to bring one of those really cool collapsible ladders into the house to get in the attic crawl and track down a leak. These things are amazing, but heavy. As I'm twisting it to maneuver around a turn, I get a "critching" sensation from my right hand, specifically where my middle finger meets the palm. No biggy, get done what I need to get done, put ladder away.

When I wake up the following morning, it hurts like the bajeezus to straighten out the middle finger. I figure I must have strained a tendon or some such. Or ligament. Or who the hell knows what, but it hurt. 2 days later its almost gone, but that little reminder from Father Time is never welcome.

Nobody's laughing at you.

If you're to old to punch, shoot.

You have my complete sympathy and understanding.

I wrecked my shoulder. Had shoulder fixed. 8 years later, wrecked same shoulder again.

But of course, that's not the end of the story. I've been careful, I keep it well flexed, and I haven't had any pain in months, so I tried to lift a window fan out of a window in my garage. Big mistake. Fan went no where, shooting pain through shoulder, crippling ache.

Then that little light went off: 1. I'm not 18 any more; 2. Just because it doesn't hurt, doesn't mean it's magically healed; 3. Magical healing doesn't happen, and unless I go for surgery, that tear will be there until I die.

Good luck. I hope you are able to mend without surgery.

I’m certainly not going to laugh at you for that; glad you have a sense of humor about it (assuming that’s genuine). Hope it heals without surgery.

quote:

Originally posted by KLGUY:
If you're to old to punch, shoot.

Even that can have issues with age. 71 this month, and left handed. Tried several of my DA revolvers several weeks ago, and was unable to pull the trigger in DA!
Single action yes, and right handed DA, is fine? See a Physical Rehab specialist on the 17th .
Luckily the pistols are functioning fine with my left finger! Old age is definitely interesting!!

Well, I got a story that might make you feel better. Last Saturday I was cutting out the inserts of my new A-Pillar Switch Pod for my Jeep. Knowing these can be difficult, my original plan was to simply use a small drill and drill around the insert and punch it out. I should've stuck with my original plan.

As I was sitting there looking at the switch pod, I decided to give it a go with my mini-Infidel. It was going well until my wife asked me to move so she could get a better camera shot (we were celebrating my daughter's first birthday). I get up, but of course I continue what I'm doing at the same time, which at that moment I had turned the mini-Infidel straight down and was pushing with considerable force. The knife slipped (I slipped), and I inserted the blade hard and fast into my right, upper thigh. I knew immediately what I had done and that the wound was fairly deep, at least 2 inches. So off to the emergency room I went.

Later I finished the job with the drill, which went fast and easy. Damn, that mini-Infidel is sharp.

You big dummy![/Fred Sanford]

Said knowing I do things at least that bad, if not worse. Hope it’s not a surgical fix bud.

I'm not going to laugh at your expense, I've made similar, but different mistakes. Push myself harder than I know I should and regret it for days or weeks later.

Hopefully you don't need a surgeon. Heal well friend.

I can't imagine laughing at you or anyone in your situation. I can't tell you how many times I have hurt myself, sometimes REALLY hurt myself, since I got out of my 60s.

And just doing some little thing, a turn, a kick (I'm pretty cool and athletic , so I always drop my undies down and kick them up and catch 'em in the air-most of the time, then jump-OK, step, into the shower), or a reach, a stretch, and ladders, I've fallen off or into all the ones I own, at least once.

So I sympathize with you and sure ain't laughing.

Bob

I broke four bones in my foot when I inadvertently kicked my shoe that was laying next to my recliner on the floor while making my way to the kitchen. So......there ya go.

Ouch. Hope you feel better! Perhaps you should have just given the bag a stern talking to instead...

that long of a time hurting doesn't deserve a laugh. Hope it goes well soon and with no surgery needed.

I feel your pain. I just did a 500 mile trip to pick up my new motorcycle. Did it in 12 hours.
And took 24 to recover!

Good luck....hope you heal....I once tore tendons in my hand that took 6 months... broken vertebrae last year took 8.....

I will say this and I know that there is an argument for the other....

In the real world if you need to do that 'six punch combo' are you going to tell the adversary to wait while you tape up? When I was young and into athletics I never understood taping up.... just seemed to keep the vital parts weak to me.

There is a heavy bag at my gym. I occasionally walk over and watch people who have no formal boxing/striking training inflict pain upon themselves.

I then educate them on what wraps and gloves are for.

There was a long bag (leg strike bag) hanging for a while - but the gym took it down because idiots kept trying to punch it and were breaking/injuring their wrists....