Carpal Tunnel :(

[flipfloplover]

 Hello! I have been playing piano for between a year and a half and two years and several weeks ago I started having pain in my right arm. I went to the choiapractor and was told I have carpal tunnel. He said I need to come there two times a week for awhile and take a break from piano for like two weeks However he said I may play with my left had as it may even help my right. I will be going back on tuesday and then it will be a week already since I'm not playing and was wondering if anyone thinks that he would give me anything to wear in order to be able to practice some? Is there something that would help enough to be able to practice? I'd love to hear from anyone else that has had the same or simulair problem!!

[lostinidlewonder]

If the carpal tunnel is giving your problems because of the piano then you must consider if you are playing the instrument correctly. Carpal tunnel in the hands occurs when a nerve is pinched in the wrist so a wrist that is like stone, unnecessarily moves or inclines/declines at wrong angles while playing could cause this problem. From students I have met personally who suffer carpal tunnel from playing piano I find that incorrect expansion and contraction (or lack of) of their outer fingers (1st and 5th) are major culprits for their problems (which is often noticed by incorrect angle of the wrist while playing). The only solution is to rest your right hand until the symptoms almost completely disappear, get your doc to teach you some massage routines you can do on your wrist and wearing a wrist immobilizer may help. Also it may help you to stretch and exercise your hands and arms before you even consider to lay your fingers on the keys.

[flipfloplover]

Thank you for your help. I think my teacher knows some about this problem so I will mention what you said to her and see what she says.  Also you mentioned wearing a wrist immoilizer. My doctor didn't metion anything about that but as i mentioned i think i'm going to ask him what he thinks as i have heard that they help a great deal. Thanks for your help.

[alysosha]

I personally wouldn't trust anything a chiropractor told me. You do realise that it is an "alternative" form a medicince with no scientific basis.

I used to overpractice alot with bad technique. I also used to have a "no pain no gain" philosophy to progress. But I learnt the hard way, months away the piano loaded up on antihistamines. Now if I feel any stain comming on I just move onto something else. The thought of long term permanent damage is just too much to bear.

[daro]

You say you have pain in your arm, but at best that would be a secondary symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome, and is not always present. The primary symptoms are numbness and tingling in the fingers, and pain in the wrist and palm. If you are experiencing those, then carpal tunnel syndrome is likely, but if not, and the pain is only in your arm, then your chiropractor sounds seriously misinformed. And if you really do have carpal tunnel syndrome, please see a physician, preferably an orthopedic specialist to discuss treatment, not a chiropractor.

[richard black]

Another vote for consulting someone other than a chiropractor before reaching any fixed conclusions.

[rmbarbosa]

I do agree with Daro. Carpal Tunnel syndrome affects only the thumb and de 2º finger, not the others and not the arm. It`s possible you may suffer of tendinitis. See a doctor. Best wishes.

[flipfloplover]

Thank you all for your concern. I know there are lots of people who do not agree with choiropractors but my family has and great sucess with this choiropractor. I also do not agree as to the person saying it has 'no scientific basis' as I beleive that choiropractors are studied up in the way your body works together more then many doctors. I do understand what you al mean about the pain being in my arm rather then wrist but I have been having some in my hand and wrist more then I did in the beggining which helps me to beleive that he is right. also I didn't metion that I do have numbness and tingling in my hand and fingers, which I failed to metion.