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29 Oct 00 - 04:38 AM (#329640) Subject: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Eric the Viking I have it in both hands, but I am due to have my left(fretting) hand operated on Nov 8th. Anyone have any idea about how it will affect my guitar playing? (Yes, It might even improve-needs to) How long before I might be able to start playing again? How long before I see improvement if at all? Anything I should avoid, or do while it gets better? Any comments please. Cheers. Eric |
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29 Oct 00 - 04:59 AM (#329646) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Llanfair Eric, Simon, who did a couple of blues numbers for us on the Friday night, had his done about 18 months ago. Before, he couldn't play for long without the pain kicking in, but now this is much improved. I think his hand still gets stiff after playing a long time, but that's all. I can't remember him NOT playing after the op, but I'll ask him next time I see him. Cheers, Bron. |
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29 Oct 00 - 07:54 AM (#329685) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: The Shambles My wife's advice, which you have already taken, is not to get them both done at the same time, as she did. Also not to rush to use it to play. Take your time and it should be OK. Good luck. |
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29 Oct 00 - 08:13 AM (#329691) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: The Shambles What is carpel tunnel syndrome? There are some useful exercises on the site too. |
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29 Oct 00 - 08:36 AM (#329695) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Ma-K Eric.....I had both of mine done about 12 years ago. The frist thing I noticed was no more pain. What a relief!! My hands are not as strong as they were and I can't move wrists as far. Fingers work fine. You may have to change how you use your wrist some. Mine were so bad I couldn't squize a tooth paste tube or pick up a pan. Do what Dr's tell you to get healed and then get back to pickin. You learned how to play once you can do it again. It will feel different for a while. Try to keep from stressing that wrist or the carpel tunnel might come back........Good luck......Mary |
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29 Oct 00 - 08:44 AM (#329699) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Ma-K Shambles...That you those sites. Maybe I can get some strenth back in my hands...Mary |
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29 Oct 00 - 08:46 AM (#329700) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Eric the Viking Thankyou all so far, I'll take your advices. It does get really painful, so much so that towards the end of the Llanstock session I was in agony especially with the othere(right)hand that was holding the pick. cheers Eric |
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29 Oct 00 - 09:11 AM (#329713) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Troll I couldn't even close my left hand. No surgery; a shot of coritsone took care of it. Turns out it was caused by my resting my left elbow on the arm of a fairly hard chair as I read a book held in my left hand. Solution? Put a cushion on the chair arm. That was 9 months ago and I've had no more problems. It took about 6 weeks before I was up to speed tho. Good luck with the surgery, Eric.Hope you get it all back. troll |
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29 Oct 00 - 10:09 AM (#329723) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Sorcha I had my left hand done in late November 98. Had a huge padded wrap for 14 days, it was almost a cast. When that came off, Dr. said to wear a short, rigid brace for 3 weeks. She gave me exercises to do that were so similar to playing, I figured why not? I was playing in the wrist brace the day the padding came off. Not well,and not for long, but playing. Oh, I'm a fiddler, not a guitar player, that might make a difference. I was playing, but without the arch in the left hand, so no expression in the music. I wouldn't try an "F" chord for a while, tho! |
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29 Oct 00 - 01:26 PM (#329770) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Melbert I had my right hand done in June this year. I was playing again a fortnight later (just as badly as usual). Local anaesthetic job, in and out of hospital in a couple of hours. It's fine now: just a little tender when I put presure on it (e.g. rising froma chair). The tourniquet they apply during the operation is the most uncomfortable part! |
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29 Oct 00 - 03:22 PM (#329845) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: wysiwyg EtV-- 1. Yeah, it's awful. Mine woke me up at night with tingles and I didn't sleep right for over a year. 2. PM moonjen, I think she had a thread about this recently that is rleated, and ask her to post her as well as link that thread. 3. See my thread [Praise's Good News on Health] and check out the links near the end of it on adrenal fatigue. You have it or will have it, trying to deal with this, to some degree, and it is quite easy to incorporate the program to address that with whatever else you end up doing. PM me for details if you like-- specifics on what I did, vitamin mix, etc. Please DO NOT get cortisone without reading it and checking those links PLEASE. Cortisone is great-- just please get a deeper layer of info to run your body as well as possible. 4. Don't eschew any and every way of taking care of yourself. Be a baby about it. I know, you're a guy. Guys keep going. But do it for the sake of the world's need for your music, if not for your own sake. Do it like you'd do it for your kids. Your audience-- your spiritual kids, in a sense. Hey gang. Maybe we need a links section on illness and injury common to musicians? I don't see OSHA looking out for us. ~Susan |
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29 Oct 00 - 03:33 PM (#329850) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Liz the Squeak Haven't had CTS, but have had a cartlidge flushed - I lost the feeling in my last two fingers, right hand, luckily I'm left handed, but it was my banister gripping hand. When I slipped on the stairs for the fourth time I knew it was time to sort it out. I had a camera stuck in, and the cartlidge repaired, was in bandages for a week and a rigid brace for 3 months. Took some excercises to get it back to form, and it still twinges a bit when I pick up stuff too heavy, but that beats the heck out of falling off banisters and dropping scalding cups of coffee/precious pints of beer. Good luck with it, and take care. Don't be tempted to push the recovery though, and try and get into the habit of not gripping the guitar so tightly, used to do that in the car, and my steering was getting decidedly dodgy because of it. Got out of that habit whilst at the brace stage and haven't hit a bollard since... LTS XXX |
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29 Oct 00 - 08:05 PM (#330000) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: DonMeixner Eric, Spend forever in Physical Therapy. When you are so disgusted with it and the time and money it takes, consider it half done. Go as long as insurance will allow and take more time if you can afford. If anyone mentions cortizone shots, kill them on site and save a lot of needless suffering by others. :-) Don |
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29 Oct 00 - 08:46 PM (#330034) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: GUEST,Guest still I, like Troll, had a simple cure. I was told to stop sleeping with my hands up near my chest, -- instead to hold them down by my side. Also, use the computer mouse on a pad on your lap instead of on the desk or table. I am free and clear now and no operation needed. Thank God. Good luck. Gs |
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29 Oct 00 - 08:52 PM (#330040) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: The Shambles Not had this one but I have had other operations and regretted it. If there are other ways, do give them a bloody good try first. |
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29 Oct 00 - 09:20 PM (#330065) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Oversoul I had an ulnar nerve transposition and a carpel tunnel "release" performed at the same time, well, the same day. Both on my left arm. This was just about two years ago and I am very happy with the results. I was in such pain and feared surgery, but I just had to do something. Much to my neighbor's dismay, I can play the viola for hours, again. Best of luck. |
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29 Oct 00 - 09:27 PM (#330071) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Art Thieme HORROR STORY: PLEASE, go get at least 2 other opinions about whether or not you really do have C.T.S. even if that means two more nerve conduction tests. I was diagnosed as having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Two YEARS later, after all kinds of therapy and braces and icing of the wrists and exercises galore, I had enough of a break in my gigs that I was ready for both hands to be surgically repaired. The hand surgeon thought I had more going on. So he sent me to a neurosugeon. Shortening a very long story----- After another 7 years I have now had FOUR (4) surgeries on my neck and lower back to "cure" all those symptoms. In 1997 I finally got to Mayo Clinic and they told me I've had MS since about 1980. BOTTOM LINES: 1) Get a second opinion from a neurologist who looks at ALL of your symptoms.(How are your legs--bladder--bowel--balance and stability, eyesight, memory etc. etc. etc.?) 2) Maybe get a neurologist sponsored MRI of your brain and spinal cord. May need a spinal tap too. (MS seemingly is hard to diagnose.) What I'm saying is CHECK OUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES BEFORE YOU LET ANYBODY CUT ON YOU. I will never know if I needed all the crap done on me that was done. Really, the best of luck. They call it practicing medicine for some very good reasons. Art Thieme
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29 Oct 00 - 09:27 PM (#330073) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: GUEST,John Gray / Australia Had both my hands done about 2 years ago and now I wonder why I waited so long to do it. The result has been fantastic. About 2 weeks after the ops I could do everything as previous, except better. And you ask what to avoid. Well,I wouldn't be trying to masturbate whilst the stitches are still in, they are rather prickly. JG / FME |
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29 Oct 00 - 10:11 PM (#330101) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Troll I do not recommend stroids and I do not normally take them. They interfere with my anti-depressants. But, on the recommendation of my Orthopaedist, whom I have known for 20 years, I got the shot in my wrist.It did the trick and the side effects were minimal. If someone offers you steroids, by all means read up on them. They can be dangerous, especially if you already that certain other medications. My family still talks about the time they gave me Prednisone(sp?) to reduce swelling after surgery.It totally negated my "chill pills" and the nasty s.o.b. that I am without them came back with a vengance and I had to be committed until the stuff wore off. troll |
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29 Oct 00 - 10:43 PM (#330123) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Bearheart I'm amazed that no one has mentioned massage therapy. Even if what you have is carpal tunnel syndrome, proper massage by some one who knows what they're doing can frequently heal it completely-- and you will usually know in one session if it is going to help, though it may take several sessions. Advantages: Much cheaper (cost depends on the therapist, but $50 an hour is average in my area. And if a doctor writes you a prescription insurance will cover it) NO DOWN TIME to speak of. The therapist may want you to rest it, but you won't have nearly the recovery time. Also: what looks/feels like carpal tunnel can originate with spasms or chronic tension constricting nerves in the upper arm and torso. It's worth checking out other possibilities.
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30 Oct 00 - 10:30 AM (#330322) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Bat Goddess Is it truly carpal tunnel? Most repetitive stress problems are something else. Mine was forearm tendonitis brought on by misusing a computer mouse. Everyone I know who has had the surgery, has had problems recur because they did not correct the behavior that caused the problem in the first place. And after the surgery, you're basically screwed, because more surgery just causes more scar tissue and can't correct the problem. I've had several friends have to switch careers as a result. Before you even consider surgery, analyze what is causing the problem. Change what you can. (In my case position of the mouse so my wrist would be in a neutral position, and stop hanging on to it like I'd fall off a cliff if I didn't>) Do the therapy!!!!! And be patient. Soft tissue takes forever to heal, but it does heal. There is a very good book on the subject (which I'll post later) by a doctor who started out dealing with repetitive stress problems with musicians -- then discovered all the conputer user problems. But remember, he started out with musicians entirely. Bat Goddess |
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30 Oct 00 - 10:35 AM (#330326) Subject: RE: Help: carpel tunnel syndrome From: Bat Goddess The book I was referring to is: Repetitive Strain Injury by Emil Pascarelli, MD & Deborah Quilter. published by John Wiley & Sons, 1994 and costs US$14.95. And I just recommended it to my sister who just started therapy. Bat Goddess |