would Jow help me?

[Kymus]

a few weeks ago my right wrist started to develop some poin around the joint. I figured this was because I used to crack my wrists a LOT when I was in Highschool. So this has happened a few times since I graduated and normally I'll just put a brace on the wrist and in a day or two everything will be fine. Well, this didn't go away even after a week. It was however, almost better I'd say. So I went bowling and of course that screwed it up again, and I did the same method as before. Well, this is going on 3 weeks now. Then a few days ago my other wrist started to develop the same problem! So the past few days, I've switched from a brace to a wrap, and I think it's working better, but still not by much. I've looked into sympotoms for arthritis, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel - none of which I have any symptom for at all. So I was wondering if Dit Da Jow (which I would be ordering from here: http://ancientway.com/Pages/MartialArtsHerbs.html )would help my wrist pain and possibly hold me over atleast untill I can afford to go to a Chinese clinic?

[herb ox]

Barring skin rash that sometimes occurs with Jow, IMHO I'd say it can't hurt - if your symptoms respond, then right on! If not, then we can figure the nature of your injury is not remedied by the jow. Seems obvious, but it's like the process of elimination.

good luck and hope you get better.

herb ox

[clfreptile]

My Sifu has had great sucess with the use of Jow to treat joint problems. I would suggest covering the area thoroughly, rub away from the heart and make sure to push hard to get the Jow to penetrate. If you can, using Qigong to push blood into your hand and increase your chi will help the Jow work.

Hope this helps

[Toby]

I used to work as a driller's offsider. Hard physical labour. I got sore wrists, just like you describe, mainly from the particular "exercise" I was doing. The driller swore by those copper bracelets that arthritis patients wear. I never tried them, but I did tape both wrists heavily with duct tape for about a month. After that, I guess my wrists got strong enough to manage without it because I stopped using tape and the pain stopped. My guess is you might need to do some strengthening exercises with something like this (http://www6.mailordercentral.com/ironmind/prodinfo.asp?number=1260&variation=&aitem=31&mitem=39) or this (http://www6.mailordercentral.com/ironmind/prodinfo.asp?number=1255&variation=&aitem=32&mitem=39) , or maybe just a sledgehammer or other heavy tools. Take it easy at first and build up slowly. Maybe do some strapping at first too to restrict the range of motion because you'll probably be experiencing the most pain when you push the range of motion (at least it was like that for me). I.e. keep it stiff if you can.

[herb ox]

Actually, it's much better to rub toward the heart - our lymphatic system which is responsible for draining accumulated fluid, wastes and the dead blood cells of the contusion is a passive system of tubules with one-way valves to push the fluid back into circulation. These one-way valves work only in the direction of movement toward the heart.

Massaging firmly towards the extremities may actually damage the veins & capillaries and push the clots to further constrict circulation. If it's circulation you're trying to improve, pushing the blood away from the extremities actually allows fresh blood to enter, thus increasing the desired effects of improved circulation.

Massaging LIGHTLY toward the extremities increases the flow of Qi to those distal areas.

Some citations:
http://www.mdadvice.com/library/sport/sport111.html
http://www.mdadvice.com/library/sport/sport146.html
http://www.kjartan.org/backrubfaq/section02.html

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/frontthigh/contusion/sports_massage.php

[Kymus]

thanks for the info Herb Ox. I was using the Wood Lock oil for a while and just recently switched to the Dit Da Jow. I don't notice too much of a difference between using the two offhand. My wrists are still having the same problem - just not as bad with the use of the oils. Ultimatly I need to go to a Chinese clinic once I get the money together.

[herb ox]

Brother Kymus -
After re-reading your original post, I realized your complaint of wrist pain in your right hand on the "joint" sounds like a pain I have experienced before. The pain originated from the bony protrusion on the rightmost part of the bottom of my wrist and spread throughout the joint. After several weeks of increasing pain and disfunction, I realized it was the position of my mousing arm. I was concentrating the weight of my arm on my wrist when working on the computer. I adjusted my desk setup (actually, I bought a new desk!) and my wrist feels MUCH better now. So, since you're a computer user (not just an assumption, right?) it may be worth checking it out.

Good luck

herb ox

[Kymus]

Well, it's been a little while, and now I think my left wrist is close to 100%. I don't wrap it anymore. My right is doing better also; but it's not as good as the left. I understand what you mean with the protruding bone and that could be a possibility. The discomfort I feel is similar yet different to what you described. The discomfort starts around that area. I use a "special" mousepad that has that whole padded wrist wrest thing. I used to play a lot of Baulders Gate and that's a mostly mouse-based game. Sometimes my wrist would get irritated (but no pain or anything close to what I experience right now) and I wonder if that was a sign at first..