Numbness in outside edge of index and pinky

thebender · #1 03-21-2018, 12:36 PM

This is crazy. I am a lurker and post rarely. I am 63, have a desk job and am just beginning to notice that the outside tips of my index and pinky fingers are developing a numbness related to stretching my arm, even slightly! I am a finger picker not confined to the first three frets and while not a virtuoso, I do get up and down the fingerboard. It is screwing with my "touch", especially when stretching the pinky. Is it related to carpal tunnel? I don't have any wrist or other problems. I use a roller ball mouse with my right hand and because of my guitar playing, can make it do about anything. I hope this is not too screwy, but I would hate for it to spread. Touch is everything. Don't know how I could play without it. Thanks for any advice.

Realbluesman · #2 03-21-2018, 12:54 PM

I suggest you consult a medical professional. Better safe than sorry! Best of luck.

jaymarsch · #3 03-21-2018, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Realbluesman

I suggest you consult a medical professional. Better safe than sorry! Best of luck.

I would second this. I began having some hand issues and went to a hand specialist and was able to find out what was going on and have a course of action. It took 5 months to resolve and I made the decision to give up golfing but that was 4 years ago and I have not had a recurrence of the issue. I do a lot of computer work, play guitar and was also golfing so my hands were not getting a lot down time. Something had to give and it wasn't going to be my job or my music.

Best of luck to you and I hope you recover soon.

Best,
Jayne

Blasted Coyote · #4 03-21-2018, 01:57 PM

Agree with getting some medical advice. I also have some pinky & ring finger weakness/numbness, I think it's most likely this:

https://www.pthealth.ca/blog/is-this...-finger-numb/#

Stretching throughout the day has helped me a lot.

thebender · #5 03-21-2018, 04:10 PM

Thanks for the excellent help. I know to check it out with a MD. I just wondered if any brother guitarists had similar issues. Many thanks!

JohnC88 · #6 03-21-2018, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jumpin' Jeff

Agree with getting some medical advice. I also have some pinky & ring finger weakness/numbness, I think it's most likely this:

https://www.pthealth.ca/blog/is-this...-finger-numb/#

Stretching throughout the day has helped me a lot.

Having needed surgery to correct my cubital tunnel, I strongly suggest you see a hand specialist. If the problem persists for too long without proper treatment, it could be irreversible.

FeliceTaylor · #7 07-05-2019, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnC88

Having needed surgery to correct my cubital tunnel, I strongly suggest you see a hand specialist. If the problem persists for too long without proper treatment, it could be irreversible.

I hope this isn’t to dated a post for me to reply but I recently have developed a mild form of cubical tunnel syndrome - I have a little numbness in my fretting hand’s pinky (right hand since I’m a lefty) - if I may ask, did your symptoms Appear all of a sudden or did they get worse in time until you required the surgery ? Was the surgery a success - can u play as well now as prior to the nerve compression?

jgottsman11 · #8 07-05-2019, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeliceTaylor

I hope this isn’t to dated a post for me to reply but I recently have developed a mild form of cubical tunnel syndrome - I have a little numbness in my fretting hand’s pinky (right hand since I’m a lefty) - if I may ask, did your symptoms Appear all of a sudden or did they get worse in time until you required the surgery ? Was the surgery a success - can u play as well now as prior to the nerve compression?

Very interested as well. I am 22 and have cubital tunnel and my ring finger and pinky hurt pretty bad when playing most things now. They pop and crack at the knuckles when i try to stretch them as well. I have another Dr. appt on monday for it.

jricc · #9 07-05-2019, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebender

This is crazy. I am a lurker and post rarely. I am 63, have a desk job and am just beginning to notice that the outside tips of my index and pinky fingers are developing a numbness related to stretching my arm, even slightly! I am a finger picker not confined to the first three frets and while not a virtuoso, I do get up and down the fingerboard. It is screwing with my "touch", especially when stretching the pinky. Is it related to carpal tunnel? I don't have any wrist or other problems. I use a roller ball mouse with my right hand and because of my guitar playing, can make it do about anything. I hope this is not too screwy, but I would hate for it to spread. Touch is everything. Don't know how I could play without it. Thanks for any advice.

Does it happen at night? I have similar numbness...mostly at night when I sleep. Went to hand Dr and he said ii is mild carpal tunnel. Gave me exercises to do. If u are interested pm me your email and I will Send u pics of the exercises.
Wish u well

JohnC88 · #10 07-05-2019, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeliceTaylor

I hope this isn’t to dated a post for me to reply but I recently have developed a mild form of cubical tunnel syndrome - I have a little numbness in my fretting hand’s pinky (right hand since I’m a lefty) - if I may ask, did your symptoms Appear all of a sudden or did they get worse in time until you required the surgery ? Was the surgery a success - can u play as well now as prior to the nerve compression?

My numbness just kind of slowly showed up over a very short time. After waiting for it to get better on its own (which it didn't) I finally went to see a hand specialist. It's important to determine the exact cause of the numbness. My hand Dr sent me to a nerve specialist to test the nerves and identify the exact problem which was identified as cubital tunnel. There is no one cause for the problem. I was given a soft cast to wear at night and told not to bend the elbow any more than necessary during the day.

Everybody is different and no two people should expect the exact same treatment. But in my case the doctor told me that if rest did not fix the problem within 3 months, he would recommend the surgery. In my case there was no improvement and I had the surgery. The nerve was rerouted and the actual cause of the pinching was found. It's been absolutely fine ever since. Now I just have other medical issues from getting older. :-) It never ends. LoL!

The important thing to know is that inured nerves may or may not ever heal. There is no guarantee that things will get back to normal if the damage goes on for too long. I was fortunate in that I already knew this doctor because he had done prior hand surgery on me and I fully trusted him. He is one of the best at what he does. When he laid out the facts and why he recommended the surgery, there was no doubt in my mind that it was the right decision for me. YMMV.

Graham H · #11 07-06-2019, 01:57 AM

Just a little Carpal Tunnel syndrome, and old age creepin' up on you, if you do a lot of driving and use your left hand, you'll start to get it there too !!! Nothin' major they can fix it, but make sure your insurance will cover you !!!

D. Shelton · #12 07-06-2019, 03:38 AM

Surgery will always be a last option with me, and this attitude has fostered a mentality of preventative maintenance, and allowed me to ...well, prevent (and fix) quite a few repetitive-stress-related trouble areas. The main thing is to have good people show you how to work on yourself (but no self-chiropractic

). It's a long saga I'm not getting into here, but I do lots of targeted exercise, deep tissue work, and stretching (in that order, always) plus nutrition. Works for me, along with hard-learned lessons of load management.