strange piano-related injury

[pobeli]

Hi,

I'm not sure where the best place for this post would be, so I'm putting it here.

Back in March, I managed to overpractice my hands into the ground, and they are showing no signs of recovering.  I've been to several doctors, and none of them has been able to figure out what is wrong.  Searching the symptoms on google hasn't taught me anything either, so I thought I'd ask here.

I'm fairly convinced that there is more than just one problem.  One of the doctors I went to seemed fairly convinced that tendonitis is the problem, but I don't think that it's the only one.  The tendons in my wrist do hurt from time to time, but my fingers hurt all the time, and in several entirely different ways.  Sometimes, the sides of my fingers turn red and blue veins stick out, which is usually accompanied by burning and itching.  That happens most commonly in my left index.  I thought that might be the result of burst capillaries, but I really don't know.  The most inexplicable symptom, though, has been a series of ridges that have appeared near the tips of my left thumb and middle finger.  It seems that most people have little ridges there, but the ones in those two fingers are more prominent than usual and are accompanied by a number of smaller ridges, and if pressure is applied to a specific spot on either, I get a really sharp pain in the finger.  Also, the pains seem to move around, which leads me to wonder if the problem might actually be a nerve in my back or neck rather than my hands.  A few weeks ago, my tendons hurt the most, and my fingers felt OK.  Yesterday, the side of my index finger was acting up, but the tendons didn't hurt too much.  This morning, it was my middle finger, and now, my thumb is burning.  There's usually at least a dull pain in all the afflicted areas, but only one or two will flare up really badly at a time.

Right after my hands first started hurting, I took a month completely off from piano, then practiced for a couple of days at the end of April for my piano jury, and then took a few more weeks off.  Over the summer, I've practiced a little bit off and on, but my hands haven't really gotten any better or worse since I first hurt them, including the time I was resting them.  I'm a music major, and piano is a very big part of my life.  If anyone has any ideas what could be the problem and what to do about it, or any general advice, I'd greatly appreciate it.  Also, I'm not sure I've done a great job explaining the symptoms, so if you need clarification, I'll try my best.

When my hands hurt too much to practice, I've been studying the scores of both the pieces I've already learned for next semester and the ones I'm still planning to but haven't actually started practicing yet.  I think it's been a bit beneficial, but if anyone has any advice for off-piano practicing and learning pieces without a piano, I'd be glad to take that too.  I've heard that Glenn Gould actually learned pieces entirely without a piano, and only first played them shortly before a performance.  Maybe that was just an innate talent of his, but even if I couldn't learn a piece entirely in my head, I'm sure I could benefit greatly from the right kind of study without using my hands at all.

[alpacinator1]

That really sucks, but I don't have much to tell you.

But you could have just hurt them playing too much, it happens.

When Gershwin first performed his "Rhapsody in Blue", the keys were covered in blood when he was finished because he was playing it so hard (or so I've heard)

[rachfan]

Hi pobeli,

Where you've been to a few doctors, what I would suggest is that you get a referal specifically to a hand specialist at a major metropolitan teaching hospital.  These doctors are generally the best in their field.  I don't know where you live, but, for example, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, there is a group physicians specializing in the hand and often treat pianists including touring artists with injuries.  Good luck with that!   

[chopinthemaestro]

Hi there.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. That must be tough!!!

I suggest you try and find a specialist that has experience treating other musicians with similar RSI type injuries. In my experience, the ordinary doctor does not appreciate the psychological impact that such a situation has on a musician!!

When I injured my right hand from over practising many years ago, the doctor I saw said "Just give up playing the piano and your hand will get better.!!" 

A bit like telling someone to give up oxygen !!

[thierry13]

When I injured my right hand from over practising many years ago, the doctor I saw said "Just give up playing the piano and your hand will get better.!!" 

A bit like telling someone to give up oxygen !!

Dude like, you got tuberculosis, so, you know ... stop breathing, your lungs will get better 

[chopinmozart7]

thats not so good

[pianistimo]

rachfan and everyone else who suggests specialists here are probably right.  they'll be able to tell you if it is also related to your back, too, or what.  do you think posture sometimes defeats the nerve connections (ie when a person slouches a bit).  maybe you don't slouch.  but, i've heard that keeping an eye on your shoulders - pushing them back rather than forward like many pianists do - is best for keeping the spine straight.  if you practice for many hours - it's hard to hold. 

ok. my advice (as a novice dr. here) - soak your hands every day in something soothing (even dish soap).  just nice warm water.  dry them gently while rubbing at the same time the parts that sort of hurt or itch.  then, use some anti-itch creams on the fingers  - and some really good arthritic cream on the arms.  daily do this and see if at least you can keep your problem at bay until you see the doctor.  they are likely to want to operate - which is a good and bad thing.  some people see huge results.  others wish they never got operated on.

my mom went to a chinese doctor when she has some arm problems -and this particular doctor used natural methods of massage and massaged things that weren't in place into place - in the back, arms, fingers.  just depends upon how which route you want to start with and how much money to spend.  i don't think insurance covers doctors like this - but it's too bad because sometimes they are very effective.  my mom was told she would never have full mobility of her right arm - and she does! 

[teresa_b]

I'm so sorry you're having this!  As a dermatologist, I would say you might have a form of carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs sometimes through overuse of the hands in piano playing.  The problem is a result of inflammation and swelling of the fibrous ligaments/bands in the wrist, which compresses nerves in the hand.  You generally get symptoms like you describe in the thumb, 1st and 2nd fingers. 

I can't say for sure, but that's my best guess.  See a physician--preferably a hand/wrist specialist (orthopedist), or a rheumatologist.  They can treat this with splints, anti-inflammatory agents, and even surgery if that becomes necessary.  (Hopefully not.)  Anyway, get it checked out.  Good luck!

Teresa

[thine]

you could avoid these things if you know how to discipline yourself.

[dan101]

It sounds like it could be carpal tunnel syndrome. I would also suggest a referal to a specialist. Perhaps composing is an option in the meanwhile. Music has so many paths...

Best of luck.

[t-rex128]

wierd..................

are you sure its from piano playing?

[mrba1979]

Two other suggestions in accompanying the advice of seeing a specialist.  It may take longer than a month to recover if you have done some serious damage.  I have a friend who had to take off nine months from playing due to tendinitis.  He has a Doctorates in piano performance and probably does five to six large events a year. 

The other suggestion would be me wondering if this is from playing the piano.  Did any of these symptoms happen before you said you overplayed.   When you are not playing is there  a pattern to when these symptoms occur, such as i.e. it is cold out side? Are there other activities that cause your hands pain?  Perhaps there is a common catalyst which could be identifies to help in the healing process.

I unfortunately can not answer your second question well.  The only way I know how to practice is to practice at the piano.  If I were laid up from playing I think I would spend more time watching movies. LOL!   O.K. no seriously. I would find and foster other interests and watch only a few more movies.

[jinfiesto]

I would let practicing go for a while. If you absolutely need to learn rep, have a look at frederic Chiu, he's done tons of seminars on memorizing music without playing it. Apparently he was stuck in a crappy studio apartment in france for a couple of years with extremely limited access to a piano, so he learned to learn away from the piano. He's also ridiculously good. His prokofiev is stunning. He did a seminar recently at the World Piano Pedagogy Conference, and you can usually buy dvd's of the different seminars at their website.

Best of luck.

[ptyrrell]

I think a lot of us are prone to practice excessively.  I try to practice for 20-25 minute blocks then stop for 15 min rest.  Sometimes I find this difficult to do however but I just have to force myself to.  However when I get back to the piano I feel refreshed.  This can have an effect on avoiding cramping that sort of thing.
cheers

[j.s. bach the 534th]

I'm so sorry this happened. You really should go to a specialist and see if they can fix it

I also have a problem stopping myself from practicing too much, so every 20 minutes or so I try to switch to a softer or slower piece so I don't hurt myself. You should try that.

[alexalin]

Yes,I agree with you it happens some times.I think we should inform the before it self.