Excruciating wrist injury from left hooks

[DugzBoxing]

I can never stop going to the boxing gym less than three times a week because it is really annoying not to train. I take boxing seriously and have eaten clean, trained at home, extra cardio outside of the gym etc. since last September (decided to take boxing up properly a month later when I was fit).

The real issue is I can't not train because I just love it and as I started boxing later than other teenagers, I feel like now is the time to get stuck in.

I rested for two weeks over the Christmas period and briefly kept on top of cardio and that but my wrist still didn't recover fully, although it felt much better. I would have thought two weeks, however, would have been plenty of time for recovery - considering my age. If the pain is excruciating, I usually give my wrist up to 48 hours rest.

I am thinking should I continue training but not throw any left hooks? When I hit pads, the pain strikes there and then; the same occurs when hitting the bag.

Can anyone please advise? Thank you in advance.

[HeadBodyBodyBody]

Not wrapping your hands as a beginner is asking for trouble... it's the first thing you should learn.

You need to see a doctor. Especially if the pain is "excruciating". You might need a cast, or it might be something that will heal with a bit of rest, difficult to tell over the internet.

[Le_Grand]

When I first started boxing my wrists were acting up all the time. I wrapped my hands carefully and bought decent gloves but was still learning proper technique from my trainer. And even when I was punching correctly, my wrists were simply getting used to training several times a week.

Important question: Have you been wrapping your hands properly since October? Do you have a trainer who corrects your form?

Icing your wrists for around 10 minutes after training/before going to bed is also helpful. Helped me a great deal in the first weeks anyway.

As for excruciating pain, I once strained my right wrist learning how to throw uppercuts. At first I tried to train through the pain until it became too much. So I had to rest it for about 10 days ... what did we do for 5 training sessions? Focused on conditioning and only worked with the left hand! Hell of a workout and it meant we didn't have to stop boxing entirely.

Best of luck in your training - if the pain continues go get it checked!

[DugzBoxing]

Not wrapping your hands as a beginner is asking for trouble... it's the first thing you should learn.

You need to see a doctor. Especially if the pain is "excruciating". You might need a cast, or it might be something that will heal with a bit of rest, difficult to tell over the internet.

Yeah, surprisingly I didn't experience any pain until I learned how to throw a left hook. As soon as I felt the pain I knew it was time to learn how to wrap my hands and I have done ever since. Sadly the damage had been done though.

The doctor would just say don't box and put me on some useless medication I think but I'll try to get an appointment sorted. I have been using ibuprofen in the short term, unsure if it helps.

Thanks for your reply.

[DugzBoxing]

Thank you for your advice. I started wrapping my hands around a month after I had returned to regular training, so November. Sadly the pain had been an issue before I learned to wrap my hands and that is frustrating the more I think about it!

[them_apples]

for the first 2 years my wrists and hands took a beating. Now they are much harder though, even the wrist becomes more durable and the forearm gets stronger

[Eastbound]

You might want to get an xray to make sure it is not broken. Otherwise, lay off the left hook or any punch that will aggravate the injury until it completely heals. Shadow box and cardio, or anything else you can do to stay in shape. For Christ sake do not hit the heavy bag and mits with your left if your still feeling pain. Keep going and work around the injury till it heals. double end bag might be a good test and rehab exercise as there is not much resistance there. Also, make sure you are tightening the fist before impact

[Marchegiano]

Punch through the pain you pansy


I'm kidding, I really don't know what it's worth to you. I have wrist issues myself and I'm getting old so to me it's not worth the pain no more, but, when I was young I'd work through pain.

When fighters say they give themselves no excuses isn't that what they mean? Your hand hurts is an excuse....might be good, great, the best ever, but it's still an excuse.

[DugzBoxing]

I do work through the pain but it could prove to be a massive problem long term. I think I'll be heading to training tomorrow but will avoid using my left hook.

I haven't sparred often but when I do next time, hopefully I will be in a better condition. I find pad work and the heavy bag more of a problem than sparring. Punching the bag feels like a brick wall in the state I'm in!

Anyway, if I don't head to the gym over the weekend, I'll just play footy or something more cardio based.

[DugzBoxing]

If it was broken, I'm sure I wouldn't have come this far with the problem. I would have probably headed to the doctors even sooner and had left boxing for a while if there weren't any days where it felt better.

I will ease off the left hook for a while. I also have a free standing Everlast punch bag at home which is quite light to punch.

Either way, thanks for your advice, I've taken note.