HELP! I think I've injured myself, but what is it?

[dinosaurtales]

I tried to accentuate a note with my right fourth finger the other day, and felt a pop in my wrist.  Since then my wrist and hand has felt "hot" and kind of hurts.  I can played ok in my lesson, but then my wrist hurts afterward.  I took advils, but I am really worried I popped or pulled a tendon (?)

what else could it be?  what do I do over the weekend?  do i need a doctor?

[bernhard]

Yes, you should definitely see a doctor (or someone knowledgeable about these matters), but you must make sure that it is a doctor who knows about this stuff, and not the kind who will prescribe antibiotics and painkillers.

Most importantly do not take painkillers. The pain will protect you from doing movements that will make the condition worse. If you take painkillers, the pain is gone, but not the condition, and you will think things are all right and continue to do the movements that caused it in the first place.

Without painkillers to mask the pain, you may even be able to work around your injury by using movements that do not cause pain. In this way you can use your pain to guide you towards the correct movements.

What do you do over the weekend? Have a break. Rest.

Good luck.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[dinosaurtales]

Thank you Bernhard.  I will take the weekend off of practicing, something I have not done in over a year.  At this point I am actually scaring myself.  I am worried I have actually done something that will be permanent.  Can I change my greatest fear on that post?

[bernhard]

In this life only death (and perhaps amputation ) is permanent. All injuries eventually heal, but it may take longer or shorter depending on the knowledgeable (or not) care one gets. I suggest you google Leon Fleisher and read about his injuries (I am not sure if has forgiven the medical profession yet )

In any case, it does not sound too bad (are you in permanent umberable pain?)

Get well soon,

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[kaveh]

I realise I'm a little late in responding but perhaps this will help if your injury recurs/ hasn't settled.

It's always a good idea to see a doctor - emergency medicine/family medicine doctors generally have a fair grasp of soft tissue injuries.

Likewise, the simple acronym RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) works like magic.  That is all the majority of soft tissue injuries need.  If that is consistenly applied in over the first 48 hours, recovery can be improved dramatically.

Also - no disrespect to Bernhard - but painkillers are a good thing.  Particularly anti-inflammatories (i.e. ibuprofen, nurofen, diclofenac etc.).  Taken in the acute phase of an injury, these decrease inflammation and accelerate healing.  Assuming you are actively resting your hands you don't need to worry about 'pain being masked'.

I hope this was useful, if belated.

[xvimbi]

I hope this was useful, if belated.

A doctor is in the house! I hope you'll stick around. You may find, though, that we are a pretty critical bunch

[kaveh]

A doctor is in the house! I hope you'll stick around. bunch

Still a while before I can call myself a sports medic (about 4 years), but I've dealt with my fair share of injuries working in ER.

So much still to learn, but happy to give simple advice.

[dinosaurtales]

Thanks, guys! The grand visit to the orthopod is tomorrow.  I hope he will just confirm that I am not just in denial.  I definitely "popped" something, and my whole hand went numb for 2 days.  fortunately (? really?) I had had a flexo tendinitis many years ago that causes the same symptoms, which was AWFUL and took 3 YEARS to heal!  But at least I figured the numbness was due to inflamation.  So I lived on Ibu's all weekend, didn't play the piano (!erg!), and did ice for the first day.  After that, it was all heat.  I have been playing more in tiny bits all week, and I am MUCH better today!  I could actually play most of the stuff I am working on - not much legato stretchy stuff yet, though.  Not the coda in the g minor ballade yet!  I really think at this point I just pulled a tendon orsomething that is close to some nerves and made everything go haywire.  We will see.  If I had to give up the piano, I would have some kind of meltdown.

[bernhard]

So, what happened? (The suspense is killing me )

[dinosaurtales]

Sorry about that.  I forgot all about this post! 

Nothing broken that has to be "fixed" - (sigh of relief)

He suspects that one of my tendons is "rough" and, caught at the wrong angle, thumped the big nerve coming into the hand.  The way he described it I picture it being like a rubber band going "fwap" onto the nerve and sort of bruising it.  It sure did act weird for a few days!  And then it felt better each day. So that today I could play that g minor ballade again (ok to the extent that I can!)

It has the potential to happen again, and my theory prof (giving me the proficiency exam) remarked that if I kept playing the way I do I was going to injure myself one day.  I almost fell out off my bench! 

So now I suppose I should start another post - Stiff wrists, lack of proper wrist action - who teaches such things - because my teacher really doesn't.  Know anybody - Portland area?

[leahcim]

So now I suppose I should start another post - Stiff wrists, lack of proper wrist action - who teaches such things - because my teacher really doesn't.  Know anybody - Portland area?

Good luck finding one - lore seems to suggest your Doctor should do it

I know I've reached the "stick it on Ebay" stage now. Pain in my arm, lack of progress and the lack of good teachers mean it's not worth it.

There are the various books mentioned in umpteen threads though - I'd ask your theory prof if he knows someone.