tendonitis -off the gym :( --

hi,

I got tendonitis in the thumb extensor tendon, I have read that this is common in young mothers, even though I am not a young mother :), I am an old father, my son has 9 months, but I also thing this is because I was doing bend dumbell rows with too much weight, it was OK for my back, but too weight for my hand and that was my mistake I think, so people take care of that.

I have been on month out of the gym, the day before yestarday I started again after some treathment.

Once in the gym, I did squads, seated rows and bench press, very light, I have terrible sore in my legs, but my tendom is bad again, so I thing I will go back to the doctor, and maybe rest for another month, I question is, what kind of diet should I follow, considering the I will have to be out of the gym for two complete months, and all what I got in my 8 months in is almost lost :(., anyway I think that once training again it should be mayby a month hiting the irons to recover my shape.

thanks a lot for your time, and any idea and suggestion is appreciated.

regards,

Guillermo.

Are you talking about the tendon that runs from the outside of your thumb joint back towards your wrist and forearm?  If so, I had a problem with this last year.

I didn't stop working out, just made some adjustments.  It's not bothered me in several months.  I just had to figure out what I was doing to cause it in the first place.

Key fixes for me were two things, really; First, I bought a sport brace that immobilizes the thumb only and keeps it in line with your wrist.  I wore that, oh, 60% of the time for about six weeks, especially when I slept.  Second, I quit working forearms for a bit and REALLY focused on keeping my wrists straight in pulling/curl/lifting motions in the gym.  That was when I first bought a set of weight gloves with wrist wraps which assisted me in keeping my wrists nice and straight.  I think if I HAD to pin down the exercise that messed me up, it was probably reverse wrist curls.  Hands down, weight from below, and flex your hands/wrists back towards your elbows while forearms are at 90 degrees.

The combination of those things cleared it up in about 8 weeks and I never missed a workout.  I'm back working forearms and have been full speed ahead since last fall with no pain in that area.

Using the internetz, I had basically decided MY issue was either "Intersection Syndrome" or "de Quervain's Tenosynovitis".  Info on those can be found here:

http://www.handuniversity.com/topics.asp?Topi c_ID=34

If this isn't similar to your problem, then I don't know.  Your doc's probably a lot better source of information than I am.  My advice on diet is stick with whatever you've been doing for maintenance and do whatever you can do, even if it's just cardio or something.  There's quite a bit of gym-related stuff you can do without involving a wrist or thumb if you still want to hit it.

Hi Pete,

Thanks, my doctor say i may need a surgery to be sure this is not going to happen again, I will try to go back to the gym for two or three weeks, doing some light excersice if this does not result, I will have to go to the surgery. :(.

Thanks a lot again!