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Originally Posted by KeithHandy  My left hand has felt cold about 60 - 70% of the time over the past several days, and it snaps when I gently rock it back and forth. I play guitar and I know it's related to playing a lot of barred chords (using the index finger to "barre" across all the strings while using the other three fingers to make the chord shape).
On some preliminary searches on the symptoms, I'm seeing a lot of "consult your doctor" - well, I don't have a doctor until January. So what is the doctor going to have me do, so I can bypass the middleman and start reversing the problem now?
Thanks ... |
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Originally Posted by KeithHandy Thanks. I already do more thinking/reading than actual typing while on the computer so that shouldn't be an issue, but quitting guitar for a few weeks will be really hard. I suppose I'll limit it to playing with a slide for now. |
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Originally Posted by Matt If you are careful, you should not get RSI just from playing the guitar -- or typing for that matter. A couple things to look out for is to make sure your technique is good; don't put unnecessary strain on your wrist, and stretch out the wrists and fingers before and after playing.
Good luck, I hope your injuries are not too serious.  |
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Originally Posted by Julie Donnelly Hi Keith,
I found your message because I'm taking a class with Steve Pavlina, the owner of this forum. My expertise (18 years experience) is in repetitive strain injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome and hand/wrist pain and numbness. I've worked with many thousands of people, including musicians, and I'm happy to say that you CAN learn how to self treat the muscles that are causing the strain on your carpal tunnel and the median nerve. The odds are your primary problem is a muscle called the pectoralis minor. This muscle inserts into a bone at the top of your shoulder and when it goes into a spasm it will pull on the bone and put pressure on the axillary artery (slowing circulation) and impinging on the median nerve (causing tingling and numbness). If it's tight enough it will also put pressure on the ulnar nerve and cause tingling/numbness in your ring and pinky fingers.
You can learn about these muscles and why they cause pain and numbness by going to Carpal Tunnel Treatment Center - Therapy for Repetitive Strain Injuries, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Finger, Hand/Wrist Pain and Numbness. and then looking at the section that shows the graphics of the muscles. There is text that explains each muscle and why it's a cause of pain and numbness. You can also read about muscles and repetitive strain injuries by going to Julstro - sports injuries, muscle pain, sports medicine and going to the section titled "Muscles and Pain" and then "What's Happening Really."
The bottom line is that you need to learn how to self-treat the muscles if you are going to continue to play the guitar. You're straining the muscles on a daily basis, you need to learn how to release the tension on a regular basis, and it's not difficult to do this.
Wishing you well,
Julie |
All this sounds good and great to have a few experts in on the question. (Don't forget that folks in training are probably in the expert milieau day in day out so have a lot to add...the rest of us may or may not keep up. Julie sounds she's one of the ones that is
)
I've a few suggestions from the internal medicine field:
1. The coldness is curious and if it doesn't go away, might certainly warrant a visit to the right sort of practitioner. Does sound vascular, but an overall look to see why may be in order.
2. The carpal tunnel splints of the sort that keeps your hand in "anatomic" or neutral--not extended position, used at night, are often helpful.
3. For directly after whatever exercise is causing symptoms: ice to the area of usual pain and possibly (if you are under 60 and don't have stomach or reflux problems)--ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory at double the OTC dose--not daily but episodically. Both to reduce inflammation.
4. And last something I just discovered for myself this weekend,( although I did molecular lab research on it 15 years ago!!) an over the counter product Capzasin-HP--its from hot peppers and blocks a neurochemical called substance P. Substance P is what hits pain fibers to cause pain (among its other functions, but it's significant in this role). Substance P also cause release of inflammatory factors (that was my research work
), so there seems to be a vicious cycle of inflammation causing pain, then pain leading to more inflammation.
In any case, this stuff will erase your pain I think. Now I don't know abt long term use and prevention which is more important long run and shouldn't be disregarded. I also don't know that it would be smart to erase the pain and then keep playing in a way that causes more pain
But it should give you some symptomatic relief. Have to be real careful to follow the instructions abt double washing your hands and not leaving around kids, get your hands in your eye and you'll think you're swimming in jalapeno juice!!
hope that's helpful, a slide sounds a good idea for the time being til you heal and most of these things seem to require first rest and then a different , more ergonomic way of doing things to prevent recurrence.
all best,