Joint pain

[furtwaengler]

I've had mornings in the past year where the joint at the tip of left hand middle finger has ached, but then the aching disappears in the day. The past two days it has not gone away, and it is even a persistent pain. Playing on it in certain situations has been like trying to run on a broken ankle. My first concert of the season is a week from today, and this is beginning to worry me. Has anyone here experienced anything similar?

[go12_3]

It may sound like an rheumatoid arthritis which is a chronic condition that is characterized by inflammatory changes in the joints. And there is no treatment for this.  Unless you happen to strain that finger in some way.  I don't know your age but the arthritis is caused by age and the wear and tear of the joints.  Is there any kind of swelling or redness on the joint?  If so, it will probably progress.  And hopefully not continual pain.

I know of a 57 year old lady that plays piano and she has this particular disease in her first joint of her pinkie of her right hand and also the redness and swelling is beginning on the first joint on her left index finger.  Although she has no pain, but playing the piano is the best treatment for this condition.  Eventually she will have all of her fingers swelling in time as she gets older.

I don't know if seeing  doctor would help , but then you would know what you are dealing with.   Take pain pills to relieve the pain.  You may have to play more soft on the keyboard.  Another suggestion is to put a bandaid around the joint of your finger then perhaps you can still do your recital.  Good luck!   

best wishes,

go12_3

[antoniomatthews]

Ok ... But in india The ayurvedic doctors give "Karpura Tailam" for joint pain

[imbetter]

What are you playing for your tour? That could be important.

[furtwaengler]

Well, I'm "only" 28 and also I no longer feel pain in the joint, though it feels slightly weak. I don't know what it was or when it will again appear, but I'm glad its nothing I currently notice.

No tour, Yourbetter, I am merely an accompanist at a college - a small college at that. Said concert was a faculty trumpet recital, Arban's Carnival of Venice, transcriptions of Mozart's 3rd horn concerto and a John Williams clarinet diddy, the Gershwin-Dokshitzer Rhapsody in Blue, Leroy Anderson's "Bugler's Holiday" and other stuff. Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! 

Thanks for the replies.

[go12_3]

Well, I'm "only" 28 and also I no longer feel pain in the joint, though it feels slightly weak. I don't know what it was or when it will again appear, but I'm glad its nothing I currently notice.

No tour, Yourbetter, I am merely an accompanist at a college - a small college at that. Said concert was a faculty trumpet recital, Arban's Carnival of Venice, transcriptions of Mozart's 3rd horn concerto and a John Williams clarinet diddy, the Gershwin-Dokshitzer Rhapsody in Blue, Leroy Anderson's "Bugler's Holiday" and other stuff. Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! 

Thanks for the replies.

Glad to hear  the joint isn't in pain,   

[furtwaengler]

Same problem. It's really been bothering me lately. 3rd finger, left hand, the joint at the finger tip, and same hand, the thumb...and my knees are horrible.

(Not seeking advice...just lamenting the moment.)

[pollydendy]

I first want to recommend that you see a professional about this.  An MD. Then see a chiropractor, one that uses and activator, not one that cracks your back.  Then, if it doesn't get better, I have used grapeseed ectract for my arthritis.  I have it in my 1 and 2 of both hands.  I take capsules a directed on the bottle and I start to have relief in a couple of weeks.  You can also so a "wax dip"  this is a hot wax treatment that provides relief that you can have done at a physical therapy place OR at a fancy salon that does massage and other therapeutic stuff. Good Luck 

[keyboardclass]

Same problem. It's really been bothering me lately. 3rd finger, left hand, the joint at the finger tip, and same hand, the thumb...and my knees are horrible.

(Not seeking advice...just lamenting the moment.)

What kind of touch do you have?  A stroking motion may be better and use arm weight.  The same thing on the same finger happened to me when I spent time practicing on a Beatles medley - all that trying to play the LH like an electric bass.  I went back to playing it like a piano.  

[furtwaengler]

Thanks for the advice. It has not been bothering my playing lately. The thumb does sometimes, but not too badly.

[fleetfingers]

I have recently experienced the same thing - only it was the third finger of my right hand. Same joint. It happened about two weeks ago and lasted for a few days, then went away. I am 30, so only a couple of years older than you, and yeah, I didn't think I was old enough for something like arthritis. I hope it's not that. I have NOT experienced any redness or swelling.
I've been practicing more often than usual, so hopefully it is an overusage issue. 
If you find anything out, or if anyone else knows what the pain could be, please reply.

[furtwaengler]

Well it could be a stretched tendon which runs across the top of that finger. This could be a stress and overuse issue. I don't know...in my case, this joint has always been kind of funny in a genetic way. I doubt it has much to do with playing piano at all.

But...29 now, and with more and more nitpicking aches in my body! (Some get old faster than others).

[ladybug10]

If it's arthritis you could get rid of it by making changes in your diet because it's all food-related. and you would need to excersise regularly. Have a look on amazon, there are several books there on arthritis and food. That would give you a general idea.

[furtwaengler]

I'm feeling fine right now. It's been a good fall.

[ladybug10]

I'm feeling fine right now. It's been a good fall.

I hope it remains like that!