A bit of advice please...

[alan]

$%^&!!!!!

Just when my training was going well I go and pick up an injury and it's taking it's time to heal. My own fault, I just pushed a bit too hard too soon.
Back in December I started training with the Dinnie rings. My first workout I lifted the small one up to 330+lbs either hand, no straps. Fine. Next workout rolls around and I have a go at the large ring working my way up to 422lbs (just!) with my stronger right hand and again no wraps. Cue dancing and whooping. This is waaay heavier than I've ever lifted before. A couple of days later I'm training back and chest no problem. A full week after the large Dinnie workout my right arm is in agony. The upper part of my forearm was hot and tender to touch. Any sort of grip work is out...I couldn't even pick up a bottle of juice. New Year was a nightmare trying to shake hands. I've used ice packs, ibuprofen, rest (to a certain extent) and it is improving, but so slowly. I could probably do a light workout with it now but I may just set back the healing. Grin and work through the pain, or sit back and wait for it to heal completely? You guys are bound to have collected your share of injuries and dealt with them. I'm frustrated and dying to get back training with them both again. All advice welcome.

[davidhorne]

Get a massage, it is probably just tight now.

Did you go to the docs?

All the other usual things though, ice, keep it warm with a tube, ibuprofen, rest. If the injury has cleared massage is your friend now.

You may have injured it when training your lats, what exercises were you doing?

David

[alan]

Is the massage something I can do myself, or best left to the professional? I didn't think it was bad enough for a visit to the GP at the time. TBH they haven't been much use in the past with my sports injuries so I tend to avoid them. I've got a pair of forearm wraps on order, so they may help with compression and holding an ice pack in place. My next workout after using the large Dinnie ring included T bar rows using a towel to work my grip. One workout too far I guess.
While the right arm has been healing I have been training my left one on the smaller ring with lighter poundages and using belt squats to build up hip and leg strength, so it hasn't been a total waste of time.
I've got to give these rings of yours a plug for anyone thinking of tackling the Dinnie stones. There is just no comparison between conventional gym equipment and the two replica rings when it comes to training for the stones. The issue with the small ring is not so much the weight, but the pain it causes on your hand even at lighter weights. I have had permanent bruises on my left hand since the first workout. What I have noticed is my tolerance to pain has increased with practice. After a couple of painful sets warming up the endorphins seem to kick in and it's almost tolerable. Maybe my body is learning to expect the pain and releases them sooner rather than later now? I've noticed that the pain in my right arm almost disappears after training my left one. They've been a welcome Christmas present (cheers Alison) and a great investment. Thanks David.

[davidhorne]

Alan,
I'm lucky enough to have Elizabeth who can massage me, which is lucky since I need massages every day.

Yes, you can't massage yourself, you just won't go deep enough. So find someone who can, and yes pay for it. I have in the past found some good masseuse, and for sports it's a life line to better results.

Most pro sportsmen get massages all the time.

When I trained for the Dinnies I had permenant blood blisters.

Why don't you come to the Peter Horne Memorial Grip comp since we have the Dinnie for reps?

David

[alan]

Ta, booked a session a sports injury clinic next week for a consultation & massage and see how that helps.

I spotted the Dinnie on the lists of events for the grip comp. I'm not up to the standards of you lot! Getting away from work for a while is a bit difficult. I'm self employed and it's more or less a 7 day a week job. I'll be watching for the results on the forum and having a go myself up here to see how I rate.

[alan]

I've had my sports massage and so far feel better for it. The diagnosis was a strained triceps insertion, but nothing too major. 7 - 10 days rest before I train with it again.

Last week I was so peed off with the injury that I actually lifted 150kg on the large Dinnie ring with it cold. I didn't feel any worse for wear but didn't want to push it any further.

I'm back on track!

[davidhorne]

Good to hear you got it seen to.