#16
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number one would be to see your doc.
i do stretching exercises prior to playing guitar. i stretch my shoulder, elbow area, wrist, hand and fingers. makes a world of difference. think of it as an athlete warming up prior to the event. play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |
#17
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When I was about 40 years old, I would start playing and about 15-20 minutes in my left hand became weak, and I'd lose dexterity. Turned out the heavy guitar and thin strap combo was pressing a nerve in my left shoulder and causing my hand-crazyness. Got a 3'' sheepskin padded strap, sold the heavy guitar and it took care of it. Don't know if this relates to you or not. |
#18
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I am an expert, and you won't get a physical correction on the internet.
These problems are almost always due to cervical spinal problems, (decreased disc spacing C-5 to C-7) or anterior neck muscle hypertension, (anterior scalene hypertonicity), or forearm/elbow dysfunction, or wrist/carpal bone dysfunction. I'd find a chiropractor who practices Applied Kinesiology, or conversely, I'd design a series of exercises to exactly reverse what you've been doing, and add rest, icing (frequent), and avoid your guitar for a period of 7 to 10 days. My bill in NOT in the mail, and Happy New Year. If you haven't done anything stupid, like sleep on your forearm/wrist, you should recover steadily. |
#19
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John,
Lots of good suggestions from forum members. I had the same thing happening in both of my hands over the past few years, and it kept getting progressively worse, especially in my left hand. It got to where my playing (never spectacular by any stretch) was getting worse by the day, with lots of numbness, tingling, and loss of sensation. I had a lot of difficulty even buttoning my shirts or doing anything mechanical. I went to a neurologist on the advice of my family physician (he suspected carpal tunnel). He was right; after the nerve tests were completed I had a very severe case of carpal tunnel, which required surgery to prevent permanent damage. I'm happy to report that things are much better today and the problems I was having have been alleviated 95%. Best advice I can give is have it checked out and then you will know what to do. I almost waited too long. Regards,
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Tony 2011 Webber Roundbody - Reaction Engelmann/Quilted Honduran Mahogany 2015 Webber OM - Bear Claw Sitka/Fiddleback Honduran Mahogany 2016 Webber OO - Engelmann/Figured Cocobolo 2019 Webber L-OO - Bear Claw Engelmann/Old Growth Figured Brazilian Last edited by AJGorman; 01-02-2014 at 01:35 PM. Reason: misspelled word |
#20
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#21
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Not going to offer any medical advise, simply relay my own experience.
20+ years ago I developed CTS in both hands. It was worst in the right so I had surgery by a general surgeon at a teaching hospital. Not long after the left go so bad I couldn't feel the strings or get the fingers to go to the correct frets/strings. It got so bad I gave up guitar (traded off the Martin OM-21 I had). The left just got worse and the right started coming back. We had moved in the intervening years and when I went to my PC doctor he referred me to a hand surgeon. That excellent specialist operated on the left hand and cured the problem. Two years later, when the right got so bad I couldn't sleep, the same surgeon operated on the right hand. Every thing I have heard or read says second CTS surgeries are not successful, except in very few occasions. Despite the odds against me this second treatment of the right hand was completely successful, thanks again to the hand specialists. Point of all this? Get to medical professionals for an evaluation and if you need surgery find the best specialist you can afford in your area. Not everyone plays the guitar well and not every surgeon is as expert as the best. I spent 18 years away from guitars before the hand surgeon finally fixed both my hands so I could play again. Dave |
#22
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Do you notice anything else going on with your left side...left leg? left eye? etc? |
#23
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Numbness in the hand can be caused by a variety of things. One such condition is TOS (thoracic outlet syndrome) and it can be caused by impingement of the brachial plexus in the front of the neck by the scalenes and in the chest by pec minor.
In addition to stretching the hand and wrist try stretching (opening up) the chest and neck stretches too. Even if it is the beginning of CTS it can be addressed with deep fascial massage. If there are other symptoms or if resting and stretching these areas don't work go see your doctor. Good luck and hope you feel better soon. Roy
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Roy Ibanez, Recording King, Gretsch, Martin G&L, Squier, Orange (x 2), Bugera, JBL, Soundcraft Our duo website - UPDATED 7/26/19 |
#24
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I used to have the same issues as you.
A disk or nerve issue in the neck/upper back can cause similar issues. I find taking a B-complex tablet every day really improves things. We lose that natural balance after age 45-50. |
#25
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+1 on this. I started having the same symptoms and it turned out to be peripheral neuropathy. Go find out what it is, then assess your treatment options. The sooner the better!
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Dogs prefer finger-pickers over flat-pickers 35-to-1 because we give the very best back scratches! |
#26
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SEE A DOCTOR ASAP
Could be more than you think - when ever someone notices a big difference in dexterity, strength or anything that effects your life - do it ASAP -
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--------------------------------- Wood things with Strings ! |
#27
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I'm due to see my doctor soon anyway for something unrelated so I shall mention this then. Free medical here in the UK but at 31 and very healthy, I seem to have developed hypochondria more than anything else, I suppose this is the age when a perfectly healthy body starts to go so every little niggle is worrying because I'm not used to it. Stomach ache... cancer. Dry throat - cancer. Constipation... massive tumour in the bum. Etc
I think muscle tightness from hunching over the keyboard all day is most likely but will get it checked.
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Yamaha APX-500 - Crafter MD-80 12 Eq (12-string) - and a 20 year old crappy Jose masy mas classical!
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#28
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Hi Johnd (and others). A good friend of mine suffered from carpal tunnel and it especially had an impact on his guitar playing. He plays a lot so we think it is definitely the culprit. I got him to use the wrist wrap called BFST (blood flow stimulation therapy) and it has done wonders for him. It's an all natural treatment too. I've attached the link in case anyone is interested. http://www.kingbrand.com/Carpal_Tunn...p?REF=1105PV90
Last edited by ALS8; 10-03-2017 at 02:10 PM. |
#29
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The carpal tunnel is the narrow rigid tunnel on the palm side of your wrist that houses 9 flexor tendons (bend the fingers and thumb) and one median nerve (controls feeling in thumb and all fingers but the pinky) and is covered by a strong band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament . Anything that makes this tunnel smaller and the tendons underneath irritated and inflamed (i.e. Repetitive hand movements, diabetes, obesity, etc.) puts pressure on the median nerve, which in turn can produce tingling, numbness, hand weakness and pain.
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#30
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Not pertinent to the OPs problem, but pertinent to anyone with problems with their 'main-use' hand:
Use a Neutral Axis Mouse at the computer. When I suffered with CPS this enabled me to continue using a mouse while recovering from the CPS. Amazing things. Only took me an hour to get used to. You'll be wondering why 'twisted arm' mice are used at all.
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Comfy '07 Stonebridge OMS-22-CM for enjoying; Thumpy '93 Seagull S6 for thwacking on; Mellifluous '66 S.Yairi for being nylon on. |