Sensitivity of fingertips

[j_tour]

I've noticed over the past year that my fingertips -- just from piano and, to a lesser extent, probably doing a lot of computer-jockeying -- have pretty much callouses that could put a string player back in their place.

Anyone noticed this?  I've never heard anyone talk about pianists getting callouses.  Pretty evenly distributed, given obviously, you use all ten fingers (or less if you had a bandsaw accident).

Another thing, part of this new straight job I picked up includes helping out people on a warehouse floor -- THAT really has deadened my fingertip sensitivity, such that they're basically stumps.

I know a lot of great jazz guys were, you know, boxers, or manual labor types.

It kind of is dispiriting to not be able to feel as directly the keys, BUT I think it is probably not as much a problem as I suspect.

The nerve damage from getting handcuffed and thrown in the drunk tank a few years ago was far more of concern.

Anyway, just soliciting anecdotes or opinions from others.