Soul Stream Posted October 12, 2006 Report Posted October 12, 2006 I jammed the hell out of my index finger on my right hand about 10 days ago. It's slowly getting better, but since I have gigs 4 nights a week, 3 gigs on consecutive nights...it's taking a while. It still feels wierd and is tough to get through the nights I play without really getting into some pain. I went to the doctor and had it xrayed. It wasn't broken thank goodness.... Any musicians have had this problem and know some good things to do. I'd love some advice. It's range of motion is not getting a heck of a lot better, ect... Quote
Big Wheel Posted October 12, 2006 Report Posted October 12, 2006 (edited) I would try staying off of it if at all possible. These usually go away by themselves, but if it's been 10 days it's time to change the routine if you can. You've probably heard the phrase "soft tissue trauma" from your doctor already. What did the doctor tell you to do? (My hunch is something like "give it time, you may want to put it in a splint but you don't have to, and here are some gentle exercises that will strengthen whatever tendons/ligaments got stretched.") Edited October 12, 2006 by Big Wheel Quote
David Ayers Posted October 12, 2006 Report Posted October 12, 2006 Well a common thing is to strap it to the adjacent finger - at least while you are not playing you could maybe do so? Quote
Soul Stream Posted October 12, 2006 Author Report Posted October 12, 2006 Funny, my DR. didn't tell my ANYTHING. He said "Let's xray it and see it it's broken." Then his nurse called and told me it wasn't broken. I asked her to have him call me back for advice and I never got a call. The guy knows I'm a working musician and that this isn't just a jammed finger that'll not cause much of a problem for the everyday person. It's still swollen and hurts....damn. I've got a gig every night now til tuesday. damn it. Quote
7/4 Posted October 12, 2006 Report Posted October 12, 2006 Funny, my DR. didn't tell my ANYTHING. He said "Let's xray it and see it it's broken." Then his nurse called and told me it wasn't broken. I asked her to have him call me back for advice and I never got a call. The guy knows I'm a working musician and that this isn't just a jammed finger that'll not cause much of a problem for the everyday person. It's still swollen and hurts....damn. I've got a gig every night now til tuesday. damn it. soak it in hot water with epson salts, as hot as you can stand it. afterwards, elevate it above your heart. it totally works man. the swelling should go down. I went through time where I always had my left hand up in the air. musta looked like a dead fan looking for a miracle. Quote
Soul Stream Posted October 12, 2006 Author Report Posted October 12, 2006 We'll...my doctor just called and told me I need to take 2 to 4 weeks off from playing to let my finger heal back up properly. ...uhhh... Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted October 13, 2006 Report Posted October 13, 2006 WWHPD?? (What would Horace Parlan do??) Actually, I'm half serious, re: Parlan's limited use (complete lack of use, as I understand it) -- of two or three of the fingers on his right hand. So then, any chance you could tape your index finger to your middle finger, and then just play two notes only with your right hand, using only your thumb and ring finger?? I'm no professional keyboard player, but trying it out myself just now, it seems like if you could only use one finger along with your thumb, that the ring-finger would be easiest to use anyway (easier than the thumb and middle finger, and certainly easier than thumb and pinkie). Who knows, you might even develop some interesting left-hand techniques in the process, trying to compensate. Might not hurt to try once, anyway (but don't sue me if it doesn't work ) Quote
Soul Stream Posted October 13, 2006 Author Report Posted October 13, 2006 Even better....WWBJPD....What would Big John Patton do?.... A tire jack fell on his hand in the 90's and basically disabled his middle, ring and pinky fingers on his right hand. Amazingly he managed. Music's in the heart not in the hands. That said...I'm still unsure how to progress from here... Quote
7/4 Posted October 13, 2006 Report Posted October 13, 2006 soak it in hot water with epson salts, as hot as you can stand it. afterwards, elevate it above your heart. it totally works man. the swelling should go down. soak your hand yet? it works. Quote
GregN Posted October 16, 2006 Report Posted October 16, 2006 Even better....WWBJPD....What would Big John Patton do?.... A tire jack fell on his hand in the 90's and basically disabled his middle, ring and pinky fingers on his right hand. Amazingly he managed. Music's in the heart not in the hands. That said...I'm still unsure how to progress from here... Man you and I are in the same place right now. I hope it heals fast for you! g Quote
Peter Johnson Posted October 16, 2006 Report Posted October 16, 2006 Mike, you have _got_ to tell your doctor everything. Sadly, healthcare is not equal for everyone all of the time. I've been playing the piano since I was four years old. About five years ago, I got launched in a mountain bike incident and landed on my right hand--no, the _fingers_ of my right hand. SNAP! Thought it was nothing and that the swelling would go down. Two weeks later, I'm in the ER--I say, "hey, I play the piano. Should I be concerned about this?" Doc says, "Ohhhhhhh....wellllll, let me have you see this other person..." Long story short: if I hadn't said anything, they would have splinted me up. I said something, I had some serious surgery, and now it's as if nothing ever happened. Lesson learned: disclose all the facts. good luck! Quote
Soul Stream Posted October 16, 2006 Author Report Posted October 16, 2006 Mike, you have _got_ to tell your doctor everything. Sadly, healthcare is not equal for everyone all of the time. I've been playing the piano since I was four years old. About five years ago, I got launched in a mountain bike incident and landed on my right hand--no, the _fingers_ of my right hand. SNAP! Thought it was nothing and that the swelling would go down. Two weeks later, I'm in the ER--I say, "hey, I play the piano. Should I be concerned about this?" Doc says, "Ohhhhhhh....wellllll, let me have you see this other person..." Long story short: if I hadn't said anything, they would have splinted me up. I said something, I had some serious surgery, and now it's as if nothing ever happened. Lesson learned: disclose all the facts. good luck! Hey Peter, Yeah, I told the physician the story and that I'm a working musician who needs his index finger. He told me to lay off of it...but I'm worried it's more damaged than I might be led to believe. The swelling and stiffness is lingering. I'm gigging every night and it ain't helping it. I'm not sure what to do at this point. Quote
Soulstation1 Posted October 16, 2006 Report Posted October 16, 2006 take up karate try busting up some boards or cement blocks Quote
Soul Stream Posted October 16, 2006 Author Report Posted October 16, 2006 Go see another doctor. Does anybody know what kind of specialist you would see for this sort of thing? Quote
Soulstation1 Posted October 16, 2006 Report Posted October 16, 2006 can't you find a hand / finger specialist in your area? Quote
J Larsen Posted October 16, 2006 Report Posted October 16, 2006 Go see another doctor. Does anybody know what kind of specialist you would see for this sort of thing? Maybe a sports medicine physician. That's the type of Dr. I was referred to for a shoulder injury (which had nothing to do with sports). Quote
7/4 Posted October 16, 2006 Report Posted October 16, 2006 Funny, my DR. didn't tell my ANYTHING. He said "Let's xray it and see it it's broken." Then his nurse called and told me it wasn't broken. I asked her to have him call me back for advice and I never got a call. The guy knows I'm a working musician and that this isn't just a jammed finger that'll not cause much of a problem for the everyday person. It's still swollen and hurts....damn. I've got a gig every night now til tuesday. damn it. soak it in hot water with epson salts, as hot as you can stand it. afterwards, elevate it above your heart. it totally works man. the swelling should go down. I went through time where I always had my left hand up in the air. musta looked like a dead fan looking for a miracle. Try it man, it really eases the swelling. When it first happened, you should have used ice. Now you need hot wet heat. Back when I worked on my feet all the time on concrete floors this was the solution for sore feet/legs plus a number of other problems through the years. Quote
Soul Stream Posted October 16, 2006 Author Report Posted October 16, 2006 Yeah, I've been soaking it in hot water with epsom salt before all my gigs.... I don't know if it helps a ton to be honest, but the warm water loosens it up enough to play w/o a lot of stiffness... Quote
7/4 Posted October 16, 2006 Report Posted October 16, 2006 Yeah, I've been soaking it in hot water with epsom salt before all my gigs.... I don't know if it helps a ton to be honest, but the warm water loosens it up enough to play w/o a lot of stiffness... You also have to elevate it above your heart, laying down and resting it on your chest abouve your heart works. Quote
Peter Johnson Posted October 17, 2006 Report Posted October 17, 2006 You need to see an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in hands. There are such docs--the doc who did my surgery teaches nothing but hand anatomy and surgery at the Unversity of Washington. Good luck. As with other medical roads, don't take no for an answer. Quote
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