Medical Problems of Pianists

[iogha]

I am facing surgery on my left hand thumb (carpometacarpal surgery).  I am a professional pianist and professor of piano and am wondering if any other performing pianists have had this operation, the outcome and satisfaction.

[spaciiey]

I cant say I have... but I am FAR from a professional pianist.

Hope that if you do have surgery, that it goes well.

[thalberg]

Well, before you have surgery I might try some other things.

Personally I'd recommend ART (Active Release Technique).  I've heard of these guys preventing people from needing carpal tunnel surgery.

 Go to activerelease.com to find a practitioner in your area.

It's painless and harmless-feels sort of like a massage as they press and stretch stuff gently.  They can break up scar tissue, free up nerves, and all sorts of absolutely magical things.

Like I say, it's painless and harmless and works sort of quickly--give it half a dozen visits and see what happens.  You have nothing to lose.  It can't hurt you.  It cured my friend's tendonitis and worked wonders for a nerve issue I was having.  All musicians need it I think.  Have him work on your forearms as well as whatever hand stuff.

[pianistimo]

has anyone heard the story of leon fleischer's career?  apparently he got focal dystonia in the rh and had to quit performance for quite a while and became a conductor - and then somehow botox injections for something else? (carpel tunnels?) because he was holding the baton too tightly - and it loosened up his wrist so much - he went right back to playing the piano.

i'm pretty sure this was leon fleischer.

[pianistimo]

https://www.ahsl.arizona.edu/about/ahslexhibits/musicianmedicalmaladies/musicians.cfm