Ian

I suppose you have to do what you think is best. But I’ll say this: professional boxers always wrap their hands when they work out, no matter what they’re planning to punch.

Gloves stop you from bruising your knuckles, but they don’t really do anything to stop the bones in your hand and wrist from shifting around under the impact of a punch. With handwraps, your hands are like a club, but without them, they’re like a collection of separate pieces loosely held together with connective tissue.

I’d advise wrapping your hands. All you have to lose is a few minutes time and $10 for a pair of handwraps.

Good luck!

There is a truism in boxing (and other sports): if you push through an injury, you will eventually come to regret it.

I’m surprised that your gym lets you train without handwraps. You really should wrap your hands every time you hit something; it’s the only way to avoid long-term impact damage, even when your technique is perfect.

Heat will not help, but ice may. Normally, I’d say to speak with your coach about the problem, but since he lets you train on the heavybag without wraps, he might not be very experienced. So, give your left hand time to heal and just work on your right hand power.

In this exercise recovery article, there is a bit of info about heat and ice, and when each is appropriate therapy after exercise or injury.

Good luck.