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I hurt my ring finger about two weeks ago climbing in the gym. I had felt a little something in the finger before while climbing, but it never really hurt. Finally one night, it gave in. I took a week off without climbing at all, but it's so frustrating not to be able to climb. It still bothers me a little bit, so I'm still taking it pretty easy and climbing on jugs only.
I'm going on a trip soon and want to be able to climb, so I know I should probably rest; but then get weak. So I feel as though I'm in a dilemma.
Any suggestions on how to heal fingers fast? I'm not sure if it's a nerve/tendon/ligament etc. But it hurts in my joint/I can feel something pull in my forearm.
Anything more I can do besides take some ibuprofen? (and does that really do any good anyway?)

thanks!

I'm certainly no doctor... but I've climbed through a WHOLE bunch of minor injuries, and here's my take...

If it hurts when you squeeze the joint just below the knuckle, then its probably a pulley issue. I've climbed through about 20 of them. In my opinion they heal faster if you climb moderately on them. Increases the blood flow, which increases the healing. Just don't do tweaky moves.

If that isn't the case, then maybe a stretched or tweaked tendon? I've had the "feel something pull in my forearm" sensation, and again, climbed through it. It went away after a couple weeks.

Ibuprofen doesn't heal... it just hides. If you use it, be sure not to make it worse while drugged up.

Ditto on what Kris said about pulley issues, with the addition that I've found glucosamine/chondroitin can be helpful in promoting both healing and maintenance of tendons. I've never been able to go back after only a week on any tendon problems, it's always been more like 3-6 weeks, and going back too soon can definitely promote re-injury. Take it easy, and stay off of the crimpy stuff, or routes/holds that are similar to what you injured it on, if at all possible. Don't worry too much about getting weak from rest, it's better to be a bit weaker and have to rely on muscle memory than have a debilitating injury that sidelines you for 2+ months.

taping your injuried finger to the middle finger while healing (during workouts) may help you

FujManiac wrote:Any suggestions on how to heal fingers fast?

Cut them off and cauterize the open wound. Then take lots of painkillers and climb like a fiend.

I have some kind of hand injury...amazingly i do not think it is from masturbation, but instead, climbing. anyway...

it hurts the most when i squeeze the top and bottom of my middle finger, near the base of the finger where it meets the hand/palm. i don't notice any swelling or bruising. i bouldered on it last night, and it was hard to close it this morning. right now, i think it hurts the most when crimping, but it also hurts in open hand positions. however, it does not hurt at all when using only the 1st digit in an open handed position. what's wrong with me?

shake out before texting- although I have heard this injury is endemic to the southeast asian sex trade workers as well