Thumb injury - Has this happened to you?

[John Dutton]

I know several flute players that have had carpal tunnel surgery for this
symptom.  I have known many others-flute, trumpet, violin, horn-that had
similar occasional numbness that turned out to be pinched nerves in the
shoulder/neck area.  On one occasion it took a month to diagnose and as it
turned out was a combination of things. The individual typed on a laptop on
the couch for hours a day (posture! was unaware of hunching the shoulders)
and then of course had the added repetitive stress of performing/practicing.
For this person it resulted in minimizing laptop use on the couch even
though the symptomatic result (tension build up in the neck) only 'showed
up' when playing.  Yoga and attention to posture while on the computer ended
up fixing this one.

 

I would go see a doctor/chiropractor/acupuncturist.  Be honest about
anything that might lead to an impacted nerve or chronically tight muscle
group.  I would also evaluate my posture when tuning.  Keep the shoulders
down and relaxed and use the whole body to turn the lever and not just the
wrist or forearm-kind of like taijiquan.

 

Of course this advice and $1.65 will get you a cup of coffee.

 

John Dutton

Billings, MT

 

  _____  

From: Michelle Smith [mailto:michelle at smithpianoservice.com] 
Sent: Friday, 20 April, 2007 07:10
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: Thumb injury - Has this happened to you?

 

Greetings everyone.  I'm wondering if any of you have had the following
experience.  Yesterday I was tuning a piano that was over 100 cents flat
with very tight tuning pins.  I tune uprights left handed so a great amount
of stress is placed on the inside of my hand when raising pitch.  About
halfway through the pitch raise, the end joint of my left thumb went "to
sleep" and has been that way for almost 24 hours!  Yikes!  The only thing I
can guess is that I've somehow damaged a nerve.  An impact hammer may be in
my future.

 

This may seem like a small thing but I also teach flute and piano and I'm
worried.

 

Thanks for any advice/experiences.  Have a good one! 

 

Michelle Smith

Smith Piano Service

Bastrop, Texas

(512) 466-0238

michelle at smithpianoservice.com

 

 

 

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