Help - major fret hand problem.

[zeegler]

I was at band practice yesterday, and after going through maybe 15 songs, I noticed a weird feeling in my left hand. I played a few more songs, but eventually had to stop because my ring finger and pinky were dragging a little. I'm a little worried. My ring finger feels like it is swollen. It has that tight feel too it, and hurts pretty bad in 2 of the knuckles. It actually kinda feels like it's been hit with a hammer or something. I can't even make a proper fist because of how stiff it is. It looks completely normal.

What can this be?

[UFORocks]

From my experience I would say it's either RSI (repetative stress injury), Arthritus, a pinched nerve, or possibly a circulation issue. Have you been playing more than usual lately?

I get pains and twinges in my hands all the time from arthritus and RSI, which can turn into carpal tunnel if you dont take care of your hands by taking frequent breaks and stretching.

I'm no professional, so I could be completely wrong. But it sounds like similar feelings I get in my hands if I dont take a break from playing every once in a while.

Later,

Steve

[Rage]

Hi zeegler,

I am a newbie to the forum and haven't intoduced myself as yet but I saw your post and thought I would try to help. It could be a number of things like ligament strain or a nipped nerve. You may be surprised but the way you stand when you are playing, the weight of your guitar or any tension in your hand or wrist all can contribute to this sort of complaint. Do you have any back or neck problems? Have you ever had any problems with your elbow or shoulder or between your shoulder blades? How do you stand when you're playing guitar? I have a lot of experience with problems like this stemming from a long term injury to my back, you would be amazed at how many things can be affected. The main thing is don't worry there is usually a very simple answer. You need to analyze everything that you were doing at the time this started to happen... even (if not especially) the things that you always do without thinking. Some people might say that you should see a doctor, my own opinion is that your first port of call maybe should be an Osteopath or a Chiropractor to make sure that postural abuse is not contributing (common with guitar players). These guys can often tell if your injury is a symptom of something else... or not.

[SEEGERMANY]

nipped nerve

That's almost as good as Mustaine's claim to "Saturday Night Palsy."

[Rage]

That's almost as good as Mustaine's claim to "Saturday Night Palsy."

There are some advantages to a numb arm and wrist (I'm led to believe) ... but that's surely for lonley people and possibly another forum

[Super_shredder]

now zeegler i have had this problem before and it went away after a while just lay off the fast stuff for a while but dont stop playing completly

[danastas]

I have had those symptoms before, it got very bad, I had it checked out, and the doctor said I'd pinched my ulnar nerve. be very careful, it takes a long long time for it to regenerate and heal. If it is an ulnar nerve, I bet it's not your guitar playing that's doing it. The ulnar nerve's most sensitive point is at the elbow, and if you lean on your elbow for any extended period of time, you could be pinching it.

The fact that it's your pinky and the finger next to it is a dead giveaway that it's an ulnar nerve problem. Try this, grip the fat part of your hand under your pinky and if it's numb, number or less sensitive than the fat part on your other hand, that's an ulnar nerve problem.

[zeegler]

I did play a lot of Ace Combat on my PS2 earlier that day.

It finally seems to be easing off a little bit today.

[Tashtego]

I'm going through this right now as well. I've put the guitar down until the grip improves and forearm soreness goes away, icing the elbow from time to time and just tryinig to let it rest. I'm hoping 3 weeks will be enough. From everything I've read it isn't something to try to play through. In the mean time I'm getting my guitar fix by finishing a refret job I started 20 years ago. The time is ripe.

[atomic charvel guy]

warm up slow, stretch slow, etc.

[Ripley7t]

I totally gave up video games. Game controllers are not good on the hands. I also had a problem with my hands, wrists and elbows. Turns out that I was doing some pretty weird stuff at night when I was sleeping. That plus the game controllers were killing me. I wore braces that kept my wrists and elbows straight at night for a couple of months and finally was able to get back into things.

[skorb]

I did play a lot of Ace Combat on my PS2 earlier that day.

no fuckin wonder

and here you had everyone all worried and shit

[jrnic]

There are some advantages to a numb arm and wrist (I'm led to believe) ... but that's surely for lonley people and possibly another forum

That's a good one. I believe Andrew Dice Clay did a routine about that very topic. Something about laying on your arm all day to get it numb so you could.........well lets not go any further!

[jrnic]

I'm going through the same exact thing with my left ring finger. I believe I strained a ligament in it. The other day, all of a sudden, my finger started throbing and getting swollen. I realized that my wedding ring was starting to cut off the circulation to my finger because of the swelling. I started to get really worried, I was about to try to cut my ring off but I put my hand in ice water (ouch! that hurt!) for awhile which brought down the swelling enough to get my ring off. I cut the top of my knuckle doing it but I figured it was the lesser of two evils.

It's been a few days and it still hurts and I have not been able to put my ring back on. It still hurts when I push on the base of the inner finger before the first knuckle and is still stiff. I can't make a complete fist yet either. Sounds similar.

[zeegler]

no fuckin wonder

and here you had everyone all worried and shit

I'm dumb!:ROTF:

Honestly, it didn't even occur to me until the next morning.