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  #16  
Old 01-02-2014, 01:06 PM
muscmp muscmp is offline
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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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  #17  
Old 01-02-2014, 01:07 PM
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ljguitar ljguitar is offline
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Originally Posted by johnd View Post
Hi all,

I don't really know if this has anything to do with guitar playing, but for a few months I notice my left hand starting to feel weaker and less dextrous, even a little numb. I'm right-handed so this is my fretting hand. It's hard to pin down things I can't do that I could before - I probably never used it for those things before and now I'm conscious of it!
The one thing I don't find it that I'm loosing strength for fretting on the guitar, well once when playing 12-str my hand just gave out but I think that's lack of practice.
I'm partly worried that if this develops it could impair my playing ability, and partly curious if playing guitar could actually be the cause.

Anyone else come across this - do guitarists commonly suffer from repetitive strain injuries like computer users (I also use computer all day for work) or tennis players?
Hi John...

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.


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  #18  
Old 01-02-2014, 01:20 PM
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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.
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  #19  
Old 01-02-2014, 01:25 PM
AJGorman AJGorman is offline
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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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  #20  
Old 01-02-2014, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by billgennaro View Post
Yes, before spending time and money on a doctor, try some stretches and exercises. about 6 months ago i was thinking my playing days were growing very short. now, after stretching before, during, and after playing, i'm about 90% again. what have you got to lose?

best of luck to you!
Well, you could have a lot to lose. I've had Hundreds of patients injure themselves, and make matters far worse by going on a Yoga and/or stretching Magical Mystery Tour, to self-treat. Some doctors don't have the most basic ideas about what really cause, and exacerbate these seemingly repetitive stress injuries, and just give out/recommend nsaids, (anti-inflammatories) (which can be somewhat problematic for some people w/ liver/stomach issues, or concurrently using other meds. Other doctors have a great working knowledge to treat and reverse these problems, especially for working musicians, and can clear them up quickly, inexpensively, and without surgical interventions.
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  #21  
Old 01-02-2014, 01:45 PM
Dave T Dave T is offline
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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
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  #22  
Old 01-02-2014, 02:06 PM
MrBJones MrBJones is offline
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Originally Posted by devellis View Post
See a physician!

There are number of possible explanations, some simple and minor, some complex and more serious. It's probably one of the former but it's best to be sure and get a professional, face-to-face assessment.
Yes, that

Do you notice anything else going on with your left side...left leg? left eye? etc?
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  #23  
Old 01-02-2014, 02:24 PM
roylor4 roylor4 is offline
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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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  #24  
Old 01-02-2014, 02:31 PM
MenotGordon MenotGordon is offline
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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.
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  #25  
Old 01-02-2014, 02:49 PM
bwstl01 bwstl01 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by devellis View Post
See a physician!

There are number of possible explanations, some simple and minor, some complex and more serious. It's probably one of the former but it's best to be sure and get a professional, face-to-face assessment.
+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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  #26  
Old 01-02-2014, 02:53 PM
Tony Burns Tony Burns is offline
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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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  #27  
Old 01-02-2014, 04:12 PM
johnd johnd is offline
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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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  #28  
Old 01-30-2014, 04:17 PM
ALS8 ALS8 is offline
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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.
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  #29  
Old 01-30-2014, 04:21 PM
ALS8 ALS8 is offline
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Default 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  
Old 01-30-2014, 05:17 PM
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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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