Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[green]

Numb index fingers, both hands, seems actually to have been brought on from using my computer. What to do aside from the obvious? (stop using the com./keyboard..)

[squinchy]

Well, the health channel says that yoga is a remedy to carpal tunnel syndrome, but I don't know if you enjoy breathing while stretching or holding a variety of poses..I don't.

I don't have full blown carpal tunnel syndrome [yet], but my fingers do feel slightly clumsy on the piano after typing up a few essays. I solve this by practicing some viola [my other instrument], which seems to do beneficial things to the wrists. On the other hand, it could just be the power of suggestion, since I've grown to think that it helps [and therefore does].

I would suggest maybe getting ergonomic keyboards/wrist rests/mouse pads/various accesories. Since flat wrists reduce the chance of getting carpal tunnel, having some support may help.

[Bob]

I've done some wrist exercises that help loosen things up.  Play every other white note, but use your wrist to control the notes, not fingers.

Try this -- very,very,very slowly move your fingers into and out of a fist.  Take a deep breath and relax all the muscles in your hand.  Or, if you're tensing up the muscles only tense that ones absolutely necessary to move -- let the others relax.  When you release a deep breath, it's easier to relax.  

I've had pains that took about 6 months to go away.  The ultimate solution was to slowly work up to that level.  I was pushing too hard, too fast.  After 2-3 days of hard playing, my hands felt stiff and I started regressing and got a lot less accurate.

[Shagdac]

I've know quite a few people to have CTS. Most of them that have been seen by a physician have been given a wrist brace that they wear most of the time, especially at night when they sleep. This prevents them from sleep with their wrist bent up. A common aggravator. Some have had surgery, if it has been sever enough, others have managed quite well with physical therapy and wrist/hand/finger exercises. As stated above, it is important to make sure that you using ergonomically correct apparatus' when typing, using the computer/mouse, etc. Hope this helps.

Shag