How Bad Can it Be, Really ...

[John Morgan]

Yep. I've got it in my right hand, middle finger. Bothers me me more on piano than euphonium, but I have had it "stick" during a solo performance. My doctor recommended a cortisone shot but I haven't done it yet.

Well, back here again, and to report the result of my trigger finger episode for anyone who might have or get this. I had an appointment with my primary care provider last week and got a referral to orthopedics. Today I saw the orthopedics folks and ended up getting a cortisone shot. I was given three options, 1) put a splint on the finger when going to bed and leave it on until morning, 2) get a cortisone shot which might work, might not work, might work a little bit or for a little time, and 3) get surgery to repair. I chose Door Number 2. I was told it was a painful shot, but it really wasn't that bad. Immediately after, I could make a fist with no discomfort and open my fingers with all of them working right. I am hoping this takes. Pretty sure in my case the many hours I spend on my horn doing very repetitive scales and such is probably what caused this. I told them I wasn't planning to quit playing anytime soon. They agreed with the shot as the right thing for me now. Amazing what one little shot will do.

I think Don Winston's doctor recommended this approach, so thanks, Don, for passing that along!!

[leisesturm]

This thread has taken an interesting turn. I had not seen it after the first two replies. As it happens two fingers on my left hand, the ring and pinky, no longer open fully straight. About a 45* angle is about it. This happened about two years ago after a fall on my left shoulder. I am an organist and I had a really big piece that Sunday. The first indication that something was wrong was when I tried to play the big stretch at the opening of the Cortege et Litanie by Marcel Dupre. Didn't happen. Limped through the rest of the piece. Immediately made an appointment with an occupational therapist. Months of splints and exercises and not even a degree of extra motion. She urged me not to consider surgery. She didn't have to try too hard I was terrified of the prospect all on my own.

The injury does not affect my Horn playing but that is mainly because I am like a Grade 4 player in terms of speed and agility. It has not prevented me from keeping my church job. It has affected my typing more than my organ or piano playing. If a passage leads with one of the affected fingers I will probably flub it. If a passage runs through those fingers I can usually manage it. Some days I play a Bach Prelude and Fugue of considerable difficulty without even remembering those fingers work right. Other times it will be some simple ditty that is being done by the Praise Band that will trip me up.

Just venting. I've never really talked about this before. Not sure anything can be done after so long but as I understand it, my church isn't planning on re-opening before the end of the year. If there is a time to look into this its while we are shut down.

[John Morgan]

This thread has taken an interesting turn. I had not seen it after the first two replies. As it happens two fingers on my left hand, the ring and pinky, no longer open fully straight. About a 45* angle is about it. This happened about two years ago after a fall on my left shoulder. I am an organist and I had a really big piece that Sunday. The first indication that something was wrong was when I tried to play the big stretch at the opening of the Cortege et Litanie by Marcel Dupre. Didn't happen. Limped through the rest of the piece. Immediately made an appointment with an occupational therapist. Months of splints and exercises and not even a degree of extra motion. She urged me not to consider surgery. She didn't have to try too hard I was terrified of the prospect all on my own.

The injury does not affect my Horn playing but that is mainly because I am like a Grade 4 player in terms of speed and agility. It has not prevented me from keeping my church job. It has affected my typing more than my organ or piano playing. If a passage leads with one of the affected fingers I will probably flub it. If a passage runs through those fingers I can usually manage it. Some days I play a Bach Prelude and Fugue of considerable difficulty without even remembering those fingers work right. Other times it will be some simple ditty that is being done by the Praise Band that will trip me up.

Just venting. I've never really talked about this before. Not sure anything can be done after so long but as I understand it, my church isn't planning on re-opening before the end of the year. If there is a time to look into this its while we are shut down.

I saw a commercial on the tube with John Elway (former Denver Broncos quarterback), and he had some sort of finger malady. I think it was Dupuytren's Contracture. Do you know what your condition is? Trigger finger seems unlikely simply because your fingers stay in the bent position. If I were a piano/organ player and there was a surgery, medication or therapy that could fix/help what you have, I am pretty darn sure I would do that. I think the John Elway commercial suggested a course of action for his condition. I play a little piano, and as lousy as I am, I need all my fingers working! Good luck to you!!

[daruby]

Howard (I believe this is your name...),

While I appreciate the desire not to have to deal with surgery, there are things that the OT can not fix. I don't know where you live, but there are orthopaedic surgeons who are hand, elbow, and arm specialists. I use the practice of Hand Surgery, PC in Newton, MA. They have several hand specialists who (at least in New England) are at the op of the list. My doctor, Matthew Leibman, M.D. includes members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra as patients. In addition, he is the preferred hand doctor for the Boston Bruins, New England Patriots, and Boston Red Sox. His practice and the Newton-Wellesley Hospital outpatient surgery are incredible. If you can find a good hand-specialized orthopaedist, I strongly recommend it.

My experience with my general orthopaedist (who has a military and sports medicine background) was nearly as good on hand issues.

Doug

[Shawn]

Hi Leisesturm,

I am not a doctor, just a guy who had a medical mishap as a tot. So here is a most unprofessional opinion (hey, what is the internet for, if not know-nothings pretending they know something?):

You write in part: "This happened about two years ago after a fall on my left shoulder."
This screams 'neuropathy!'
There might be a case for orthopaedic work on the hand as Doug suggests, but the first stop is someone who can look at the nerves in your shoulder.

It's not your injury, but when people lose feeling in some fingers on one hand, it's often traced back to the ulnar nerve in the elbow.
Given that you can pin this to the time of shoulder trauma, that's the place to start.

[RickF]

John’s mention of ‘Dupuytren’s Contracture’ reminds me that I had that in my right hand about six years ago. I think I got it from carrying my brand new Miraphone 5050 in its hard case about two blocks. That’s when I decided to get a gig bag so I could carry it over my shoulder. Not sure if it was the weight of the M5050 or the hard handle or combination of both. My Dr suggested I just do stretching exercises pushing my fingers against the palm of my other hand. There was a lump in the palm of my right hand or knots of tissue that eventually went away. Thankfully it didn’t affect my playing too much.