hand problems

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 6:19 am

I'm getting a numb, tingling
feeling on the right side of my
right hand, including the pinky and
the ring finger. Feels like that part
of my hand is falling asleep. But
regular strength and dexterity.
Been playing a lot , as ever. Anyone
know what this might be? Thanks.

StevieJ · Post by **StevieJ** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 6:39 am

Pinched nerve in the neck, maybe.

Or maybe your wife has been beating you about the head too hard in the boxing ring.

Seriously, see a physiotherapist. I have had similar problems involving two fingers. If it's a nerve they can tell which nerve is being pinched by which vertebra based on where you feel the numbness. Then find a good osteopath.

amar · Post by **amar** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 7:33 am

Jim, the nerve responsible for the tingling feeling you are describing is the ulnar nerve, this is the nerve mostly called the "funny bone" we all know the uncomfortable sensation in lower arm and pinky+ringfinger when you bang your funny bone. Don't know if it's got to do with your playing technique, maybe not at all, but then again you might be tense in the area of your right elbow..? This could cause the discomfort you're experiencing.
Cheers, amar.

NancyF · Post by **NancyF** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 8:55 am

The ulnar nerve is also compressed in the wrist when you hold yourself up with your hand with the wrist bent back. The fourth and fith finger numbness is common among distance bicyclist. Are you perhaps doing something that could put load on your wrist in this position?

DrRichard · Post by **DrRichard** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 9:16 am

Having gone through just this, you might want to see a Neurologist to check the condition of the nerves in your arm (wrist and elbow). Not serious (so don't worry), but if you've compressed a nerve it is fixable and comparatively non-serious, but not something you want to ignore forever.

Richard

PS: I'm not that kind of Doctor, so your mileage may vary - just my $0.02 worth.

dd · Post by dd » Mon Apr 01, 2002 11:43 am

Jim........this sounds like it could be radial ulna nerve damage, and the symptoms could be a form of carpal tunnel even though the pinkie would be unusual...it can happen. There is a VERY good hand clinic through St. Louis University. They have neurologists and micro-vascular surgeons who do NOTHING but hands and lower arms. They saved the use of my left hand after a particularly nasty fracture and joint fusion. HECK I can STILL play guitar even though the first four orthopedics said that was out of the question.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: dd on 2002-04-01 12:45 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: dd on 2002-04-01 12:46 ]</font>

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 11:44 am

Thanks, gang! I checked the web about
carpal tunnel. Apparently pinkies aren't
involved (Mayo Clinic).
So this stuff about the ulnar
nerve seems hopeful. Very grateful
for your info. Jim

Bretton · Post by **Bretton** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 12:12 pm

I've had the same kind of trouble when I play tunes with rolls on E.

When I was learning/practicing Morrison's Jig and playing it over and over and over, my 4th and 5th fingers and right side of my hand stared getting tingly and painful.

I would mainly feel it when doing the tap of an E roll. This was when I was mainly playing a Copeland, and I think the extra bit of stretch to tap the bottom hole may have contributed to it. I'm mainly playing cylindrical whistles now and I don't notice it as much.

-brett

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 12:49 pm

I'm going over my life seeing where
I flex my rt elbow. Apparently I sleep
with it very bent, my wife testifies,
so maybe that's a problem. No bicycle
riding--but I'm a bit
nervous that boxing may be involved.

DD, our
messages leapfrogged--I made an
appointment at Barnes Jewish, which
has a department that corresponds to SLU's;
hope it's as good! For now I'm going with
the ulnar hypothesis.

To all, all of this info is really helpful.
Much better to have an idea of what
may be going on.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Tue Apr 02, 2002 2:00 pm

I slept last night with a towel wrapped
around my right elbow (secured by an ace bandage). This prevents one from bending the
arm into a fetal position. Also with
an Ace wrist brace on my right wrist;
which prevents the wrist from
bending forward.
Symptoms much reduced this morning--
hopefully a connection.

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Tue Apr 02, 2002 2:40 pm

Good luck, Jim. Hope this clears up quickly.

If you still find yourself flexing wrists and elbows at night, try a wrack. I am sure your wife would enjoy that.

Best!

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Tue Apr 02, 2002 2:57 pm

On 2002-04-02 15:00, jim stone wrote:
I slept last night with a towel wrapped
around my right elbow (secured by an ace bandage). This prevents one from bending the
arm into a fetal position. Also with
an Ace wrist brace on my right wrist;
which prevents the wrist from
bending forward.
Symptoms much reduced this morning--
hopefully a connection.

I should try that - I know I sleep with my arms very bent, particularly my right arm. But I read that you aren't supposed to sleep with an ace bandage on (referring to wrist rather than towelled bandage) because it cuts down circulation...?

Jim W · Post by **Jim W** » Tue Apr 02, 2002 5:53 pm

Jim - you are on exactly the right track with the elbow "brace". I've been dealing with ulnar nerve problems since last August (at least), and have two purchased elbow soft splints that do essentially the same thing. The ulnar nerve passes through a very narrow spot at your elbow called the cubital tunnel; this is evidently the place where the ulnar nerve most usually gets "pinched." Guyon's canal (the wrist, as mentioned by Nancy) is the second most likely spot. As already mentioned also, it is possible that it originates up in the shoulder or neck area. As a general test, although not highly accurate, try bending your right elbow and hold it there for a while. If the numbness / tingling recurs, the elbow's probably the culprit. Resting your elbow on hard surfaces can also cause this, as can excessive forearm pronation (turning your hand so the palm is down, as in typing on a standard flat keyboard) and forceful flexing of the wrist (bending to the palm side.) Both of these movements involve muscles that originate around the cubital tunnel, and can "choke" the nerve. Also - moving the fingers with the elbow bent can aggravate this; you couldn't possibly be involved in any activity that involves this, could you?

I believe (but don't know for sure) that using a thumb rest on whistles would lessen the strain on your right hand. If you're interested, I have noticed several other things (including driving) that seem to aggravate my nerves. BTW, I work as an occupational therapist, and have seen several people besides myself with this condition. Kudos for seeing a doctor at a fairly early stage!

Jon C. · Post by **Jon C.** » Tue Apr 02, 2002 6:39 pm

Jim,
I have had this problem, and found that ist was a pinched nerve in the neck. I used to wake up with my fingers asleep. The "pinky" is effected by the nerve in the neck being pinched by constricted musules or neck out of adjustment. Jon

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Tue Apr 02, 2002 6:51 pm

Avanutria, the wrist brace I'm using
doesn't restrict circulation. The brace
has a plastic splint inside it which
holds the wrist straight so one
cant' bend it down and in.
These are for sale
at Walgreens and so on.

The towel arrangement doesn't
stop circulation, either. It goes
round the arm at the elbow. The ace
bandage is loosely wound round it
to stop it from coming off.

Jim W, thanks so much for all this
info. Anything more from you or anyone
else is welcome. I'm word processing
lots and I really don't know how to
do it right, I think. There are
no sharp wrist angles, but the
heels of my hands are wresting
on the base of the key board.
I think that's not so good.

Maybe we should compile info about
this sort of thing, as I suppose
many people will need it sooner
or later.

Thanks again.