Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Q

[steve jones]

Iv recently sustain an, errr, injury I guess on my LH ring finger. I had a swelling appear across the top of the middle joint. There was no pain at all, but it got very red and itchy when warmed (in the bath for example). It also caused my finger to stiffen significantly (due to the swelling, not joint stiffness). This has persisted for about a week and is finally going.

Very odd, I initially thought is was a bruise, then an insect bite, then Chilblains...

THEN, I read something about CP syndrome, and it said one of the inital symptoms is swelling on the ring finger. I have an appointment to see my doc thhis week, but I just wanted to get some advice from you guys until then.

The only strenuous thing Iv been doing with that hand has been some stretchy chords and arps. Occassionally I feel some tension in my wrist, but I stop as soon as this happens. I dont get any pain, no fatigue after playing, no stiffness... nothing! I certainly didnt think I had overdone anything thats for sure. If anything, its my RH thats been getting all the work.

What do you reckon? Can you develop CP from actively stretching the palm (ie wide 5 - 1 chords) with in reason?

Thanks guys, appreciate your help on this one! 

[steve jones]

Saw my doc today. He didnt seem to think there was any problem with my finger other than some inflammation. He told me to get on the Ibuprofens and let it rest for a day or two.

Looks like I have dodged the bullet this time, but for anyone reading this, be careful as this really did sneak up on me!

[gilad]

good to hear that it wasnt serious, docs advice sounds sound.
hope it recovers quickly

G

[zheer]

Am going to try something new, am going to run my hand under hot water till my hands go red, then practice for half an hour, once i have don that i will run my hands under freezing cold water fot 10 minuts, and not play the piano for half an hour, this may prevent injury.

[pianistimo]

i think i'm posting too much on topics i don't really know alot about (since i'm not a doctor). ..but, i personally think (supposition here) that stretching too much sometimes does make the hand very sore and could lead to CP.  i tend to like to play more bach, scarlatti, schubert, beethoven, etc. and sort of 'avoided' chopin, debussy, etc. in the past.  but, with the teacher i had at wcu - he showed me the 'zip technique' (yes, not again ) and it really made a difference in how my rh especially felt.

i have always had a bit of difficulty with playing my left hand as evenly as the right.  maybe i'm sort of stunted in piano a little bit - but, i still believe the key to playing large leaps and stretches is to use this 'zipping' around.  it leaves your hand in a comfortable mold (like around  a ball that has gone slightly flat) and for me give me the comfort as one gets with an arch in a shoe.  if you walk around completely flat footed all the time, you get sore.  so, maybe the combo of a little give and take (with arch) and zipping - you have some techniques to try.

*i have yet to find on the internet an explaination of this technique as good as my teacher explained.  it is basically playing the lower note and then moving the hand sideways very quickly to the next note.   you don't stretch a lot.

the warm and cold water might just be a good thing - but only after a 1/2 hour?  was wondering about that?  1/2 hour of exercises or something?  i do a LOT less exercises than i did before.  basically, they wear your hand out when you're old like me.  i want to save something for my pieces - so i just start in on difficult places and work them a few times.  overdoing anything (sports, etc) seems like it does have it's hazards.

i like to play difficult passages for a while (before major tiredness of the hand) and alternate with easier stuff that doesn't require a lot of stretching.  this alternating back and forth helps, too.  playing lighter helps. 

[zheer]

This hot and cold water thing is probably a bad idead, and would not try it unless you are a mavric like. I truly believe that it is possible to play the most difficult piece of music 24 hours a day every day, and remain injury free pain free and not lacking in any strengh.