I’ve been playing the low whistle now for over three years . . . virtually every day. But due to an aggressive virus I’ve been unable to play for going on three weeks now and have started to develop intermittent pain in the fingers, especially the smaller fingers. Any ideas if the two are related and that the lack of use of the fingers is causing the pain? It worries me a little as does how much ground I will have lost when I start playing again.
Ask a doctor.
Sensible reply but sadly right now I have a list of things I need to see the doctor about and finger pain is not a priority. I was wondering about other people’s experiences of pain if they’d not been playing for a while.
Mike, if you wonder why Mr. Ed’s answer is the only one you’re likely to get here, Please re-read CCCP Rule #10 - (No) Medical Advice: https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/c-f-consolidated-concordat-on-policy-cccp/78337/11
Little aches and pains are sometimes a normal part of playing instruments. There’s nothing in the situation you describe that would suggest a problem, but who knows? It might be nothing, or it might be serious. If it persists, see your doctor. Priorities yes, but you wouldn’t want to risk permanent damage. Good luck!
Thanks MTGuru. Understood.
This is standard practice, recommended by physical therapists, and can’t lead to complications. Not ‘medical advice.’ Before you play, soak you hands in hot (but not too hot!) water. After you’re finished, ice your hands, especially what hurts. Lots of professional musicians do this. If you do finally see a physician, let me suggest you see an orthpaedic hand specialist.
Thanks, Jim. Helpful thought. I’ll follow that advice. Regarding my present pain though, I’ve noticed a swelling on my little finger and think I’ve probably started with arthritis.
I’ve had a ganglion cyst on my left wrist for like forever, from 50 years of playing guitar and bass (especially bass). It comes and goes, shrinks and grows, and sometimes it causes overall but minor pain in the hand. Considering the other physical demands of guitar playing, it’s often the least of the pain problems, but it’s there.
Here is approximately what my doctor consultation sounded like:
Me: I’ve got this thing.
Doc: It’s a ganglion cyst.
Me: Oh. Is it dangerous?
Doc: No. Does it bother you?
Me: No, not usually, not really.
Doc: Good.
Me: Good.
There’s nothing in particular about the physical demands of whistle playing on the hands and fingers that should cause any pain whatsoever, whether you’re playing every day or only occasionally. It’s one of the least painful instruments there is. Unless: 1. You’re doing something wrong (bad position, death grip); or 2. There’s an underlying problem.
#1 you can assess yourself, of course. If not that, then you should consult a medical professional about #2, if only for reassurance.
Mike, lots of us live with arthritic fingers… as I have for years now when I’m a fair bit younger than you. And that’s not CCCP-breaking ‘medical advice’ but just statement of fact!
Or 3. you’re doing something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP25ATzN0nA and shove the thing round the wrong way… Can see how that would put a damper on things. Not to mention time spent declogging the poor dear whistle afterwards!
Cheers
Thanks guys. I don’t have any pain playing the whistle. Nice to know I’m not alone though in cysts, ganglions and arthritis (I have cyst on one knuckle though it doesn’t cause pain). I guess it wouldn’t do any harm to get the new lump checked out by my GP. But I can imagine the conversation being similar to the one you imagine MTGuru!!
I should add that the doctor did offer to treat it right there, by draining or surgical removal. But there’s some risk of complications, and recovery time. And the reason I was seeing a specialist was that my other wrist (entire hand and forearm, actually) was immobilized in a cast after breaking it in a very bad car crackup. The possibility of having both hands out of commission would have been … interesting.
Funny, the Wikipedia illustration could be my hand exactly (but it’s not).