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
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