Carpal tunnel syndrome

[Mary Smith]

Dear List,

I have a somewhat medical (though tuning-related) question for y'all. 
I am developing some pretty serious aches and pains in my left 
shoulder/arm/wrist. Also, tingling and numbness in my left fingers. I 
had a pretty bad pinched nerve in my neck throughout January (left 
side), but that has been helped tremendously by a physical therapist. 
Now this darn arm and wrist stuff flares up every time I tune a 
piano! I have switched to using a "bonker", instead of my fingers, 
for test blows. (The "bonker" is a piano hammer set in a short, 
papier-mache handle, that I can cradle in my left palm. It takes most 
of the impact of a test blow, though I still feel some shock in my 
wrist.) The bonker, plus some new stretches my physical therapist 
gave me, are helping the situation, but I am wondering if there is 
anything else I can do. Have other folks had experience with this 
problem? Any suggestions? Growing old is such a bitch, but 
considering the alternative, I guess I'm stuck! Thanks in advance...

MarySmith@maill.utexas.edu