FINGER PAIN - ADVICE APPRECIATED

[richard]

Hi Folks,

About a month ago I started to experience a lot of pain in my left (fretting) hand index finger. I can play but there are certain things that are giving me a problem. Mainly, full barre chords. I'm a thumb over the neck player and there are only a couple of occasions in the band's set where I need to barre a full E shape but at the moment it's impossible for me to do this because it is WAY too painful.

I'm also experiencing pins and needles in my ring finger and pinky.

This is scaring the hell out of me.

I'm thinking of going to my GP but they tend to be dismissive of things like finger pain - " It hurts when you do that ? Don't do it then. "

Any advice for me ?

[Twinfan]

Go to the Doctors.  ASAP.

[Ian Price]

What Dave said.

[Frank]

What Dave said. And don't take medical advice from guitar forums.

[dave_mc]

guitar advice from medical forums doesn't work too well either. look at tgp.

(sorry that was awful)

but yeah see the doctor.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

it sounds like tendinitis....

that's how mine started, is it a pins and needle sensation running from the tips of your fingers up to the elbow? I had the more severe form Carpial Tunnel Syndrome where the tunnel around the tendons get inflamed, you want to use a pack of cold peas 3 times a day and for exactly 3 minutes on the wrist. This gets rid of the inflammation until it eventually heals. Anti-Inflammatory drugs don't really heal the damage from my experience, then when it comes back the pain is even worse.

I got this advice from a private physio therapist after being really annoyed with DR's because it just wasn't healing at the time.

Change your posture as much as possible and try learning the Alexander technique or at least google it, the worst thing you can do is keep playing through the pins and needles/weird pain sensations because it will make it harder to heal

[Fourth Feline]

Get to the Doctor,  but it sounds like the brief 'attack' of Carpal Tunnel syndrome I once had due to ( medication induced ) fluid retention in the extremities. I hope the Doctor  finds something relatively minor, Good luck !

[gwEm]

What guitar and gauge strings are you using, out of interest?

I'd be straight to the doctors also, your a guitarist and you don't want to mess around with those fingers!

[richard]

I'm very grateful for your responses. Here's a thing - I've never used acupuncture and am rather sceptical about it. I did some digging on the net and came across a site that shows how to perform acupressure on yourself for carpal tunnel problems. . So I followed the procedure and today things are much improved. I've still got the pins and needles but I can fret a barre chord which I found impossible to do yesterday. It still hurts a bit but nowhere near as badly.

I think I'll postpone contacting my doctor for a few days and see how it goes. Thanks again.

And Gwem - I'm playing a Gibson Firebird studio (with RYs) and I use 10 - 46 D'Addarios. This guitar has the 'slim taper' neck which I found really difficult to get used to after playing a chubby necked SG for 25 years. I nearly sold the guitar because of it but eventually acclimatised. I've been practicing some stuff that has stretched me a bit and think I may have overdone it. I'll keep you informed.

[richard]

I was just given this link by a friend on the SD site. Of interest to anyone having problem with the ring/little finger pins and needles.

 http://www.ehow.com/how_5199086_relieve-fingers-left-hand-right.html

[gwEm]

taper' neck which I found really difficult to get used to after playing a chubby necked SG for 25 years. I nearly sold the guitar because of it but eventually acclimatised. I've been practicing some stuff that has stretched me a bit and think I may have overdone it. I'll keep you informed.

Wow, sounds like a pretty standard set-up! Guess it can strike anyone - hope it clears up.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Good to hear that it's improved but dont ignore seeing a doctor about it - even if it's just a low level tingle.

Also you can try Arnica Gel to reduce inflammation

http://www.avogel.co.uk/herbal-remedies/arnica-gel-atrogel/

This works really well!

[dragonfire709]

Kind of similarish-our bass player had problems with chronic cramp in his left hand. It would literally cramp up in the middle of gigs and he was in real pain. He now drinks some kind of aloe vera gel every day(it tastes rank) and it seems to have cured it for the time being.

Cheers

Roy