Trigger Finger

[bitflipper]

One of my greatest fears is having something happen to my hands. Every activity I love requires manual dexterity, whether it's typing or playing the blues. I could lose almost any other capability and still manage to live a meaningful existence. If I went deaf I could still flip bits, if I lost my sight I could still make music. During the two years when I could barely walk due to back problems, I did both. But without hands, I'm screwed. This, you may recall, is why Keith Emerson killed himself. An extreme reaction, but I get it.

A couple months back, my dog chomped my finger pretty good while we were playing tug-o-war with a too-short chew toy. It didn't break the skin, so I dismissed it as a bruise that might be painful for awhile but would eventually heal. Problem is, it didn't. One morning I woke up and the finger was curled and I couldn't straighten it without pulling with my other hand, which made it suddenly pop into position. 

I was eventually able to consult a doctor and have the finger x-rayed. It's a condition known as stenosing tenosynovitis, commonly referred to by the less-ominous sounding term "trigger finger".

In extreme cases, the finger can get stuck permanently in one position. In my case, it's just painful to straighten or to put pressure on it (like when playing the piano). Now I wish I'd learned proper technique on the piano, curving my fingers instead of keeping them straight like I do. I'm also fortunate that it's my left hand, so I can still impress the drunken rubes with lightning-fast solos. I haven't tried playing guitar yet, but I suspect it would be prohibitively painful.

I'd be curious to know if others have experienced this condition, and if so, were treatments effective?

[Grem]

No bit, haven't heard of it either. Man, what a bummer. So sorry to hear this.

As a guitar player, when at work I am always mindful of where I put my hands. Specially in my line of work. Though I don't do as much manual labor as I did earlier in my career, I am still around situations where if I would not pay attention, I would get into trouble.

Case in point. In fact two cases in point.

FIrst case, I was reaching for a door knob and my thumb rubbed the wood molding around the door. Got a splinter stuck under my thumbnail, all the way to the base of my nail. It went even further than that. But anyway... Yes it hurt going in and coming out.

Second case, not long after the thumb incident, I was closing a watertight door (think very heavy) got my middle finger in a pinch point and ...... ouch!! Big time.

Both cases were right around each other, and the first thing that popped into my head both times was how was this going to affect my playing. Well I realized that I need to up my "situational awareness". Plain and simple, I had to pay attention to where I was putting my hands. I got lucky both times.

 

Again bit, sorry your going through this.

[Jesse Screed]

Bit, I'm sorry to hear about your issue.

My Mother had it.  She plays piano.  She had a simple surgery performed on it, and seems to be getting along just fine.

Of course you will look for the best answers, they are out there.  Many piano players suffer the same.  Good luck.

Edited November 16, 2022 by Jesse Screed

[Russell]

Sorry to hear about that bitflipper - Hope you are able to get it back to where you need! My two hobbies are woodworking and music (not only writing / recording, but playing live). When woodworking I use any number of extremely dangerous and unforgiving power tools. My biggest fear is that one day I make a mistake and a blade grabs a finger . . . or worse! I am always *very* mindful of where my fingers are 100% of the time and use every safety device I can. Music has got me through some incredibly tough times and I can't even imagine not being able to play!

[Sheens]

you'll be fine and play/enjoy music with 10 fingers or 9

AND every time you order 2 beers, you'll just have to raise 1 finger !!!  what about that ??!!

guy with 1 hand in my area

 

Edited November 16, 2022 by Sheens

[Bapu]

Well, that sux Dave.

[bitflipper]

There's a guy who comes to the Wednesday night jams I sometimes attend who plays bass and is missing his right hand. He plucks the strings with a Captain Hook  kind of  appliance, and despite that challenge he's actually a decent player. Puts my whining about one sore finger in perspective. But still. 

I did made it through last Saturday's gig fairly easily, just by going easy on that finger. By the end of the night the pain had actually lessened, suggesting that exercising the hand is probably beneficial. It was throbbing the next morning, but I'm going to assume for now that continuing to play might be the best therapy.

btw, it's my "naughty" finger that won't extend properly. So there's that minor handicap. Won't be able drive effectively in New Jersey.

[Jesse Screed]

28 minutes ago, bitflipper said:

it's my "naughty" finger that won't extend

I  call it the "rock and roll" finger, nothing naughty about it.

 

28 minutes ago, bitflipper said:

exercising the hand is probably beneficial

yes, exercising any part of the body is "probably" beneficial, except your mouth, sometimes that can cause obtuse reactions.

 

28 minutes ago, bitflipper said:

the pain had actually lessened,

sounds like an NDE to me.

I wish you the best Bit

Edited November 16, 2022 by Jesse Screed

[jesse g]

bitflipper,

Did you bite your dog back?    I know you two were playing with a toy, but I would have chewed on his/her paw so we'd both be in the same situation.  

RUFF, RUFF   

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by jesse g

[craigb]

[Canopus]

13 hours ago, bitflipper said:

I'd be curious to know if others have experienced this condition, and if so, were treatments effective?

I’ve had this problem with both my hands. At first it was only one finger in my left hand. I got a local cortisone injection which at first seemed to fix the problem, but after about a year the issue had reappeared.  By then I got a twenty minute surgery which permanently took care of the problem. A couple of years later I got a similar problem with three fingers in my right hand so I got surgery there as well. All this happened about fifteen years ago and I haven’t had any problem with my fingers since then.

I’m only an amateur keyboard player so to me it wasn’t such a big deal having to wait while the scars healed and until the dexterity went back to normal. For me it took less than a month, but I guess it’s quite individual. In my experience, once you begin to have a trigger-finger it won't get better over time, only worse. In my case the cause was diabetes and surgery was the only permanent solution.

[msmcleod]

I occasionally get this in the little finger and forefinger of my left hand.   I know the little finger issue is down to me slamming bass octaves on a weighted keyboard for decades.  I've no idea what causes the forefinger issue, but it is only very occasional.

But anyhow, something that helps me:

1.  Put your hands on a desk, spreading the fingers as wide as they'll go and hold for 30-40 secs.
2.  Gradually relax your fingers and let them close into a very loose relaxed fist (kinda like a 1970's gripping hands action-man)
3.  Hold that position for a minute.
4.  Loosely wiggle your fingers afterwards as if you're playing notes on a keyboard.

[bitflipper]

8 hours ago, Canopus said:

All this happened about fifteen years ago and I haven’t had any problem with my fingers since then.

That's exactly the kind of reassuring information I was hoping to hear. How long was the recovery period after the surgery? 

Thanks for the exercise, Mark. I'm going to give that a go. That'll hopefully make Sunday's rehearsal relatively painless.

15 hours ago, jesse g said:

Did you bite your dog back? 

Early yesterday morning as I was just stirring, the dog plopped onto my bed, stretched out his legs and stuck a paw right into my mouth. Disgusting. Could have been worse, I suppose. His utter disregard for personal space includes all aspects of personal hygiene activities.

[Bapu]

2 minutes ago, bitflipper said:

Early yesterday morning as I was just stirring, the dog plopped onto my bed, stretched out his legs and stuck a paw right into my mouth. Disgusting. Could have been worse, I suppose. His utter disregard for personal space includes all aspects of personal hygiene activities.

One word Dave....

doors

[Canopus]

2 hours ago, bitflipper said:

That's exactly the kind of reassuring information I was hoping to hear. How long was the recovery period after the surgery? 

It was quite some time ago, but if I remember it correctly I was pretty much back to normal in a month. I suppose age can affect the speed of recovery and at that time I was still in my forties. I also had this very experienced hand surgeon both times (I’ve kept his business card just in case). Although three fingers were targeted the second time, the surgeon managed to perform the operation by only making two small cuts in my right hand as he could reach the sheaths of the ring finger as well as the middle finger through the same opening. The little finger unfortunately needed its own. And once the bandages could be removed I stretched and contracted my fingers on a regular basis in an attempt to speed up the recovery so I could go back to my keyboard.

Pain is temporary, music is forever.

[bitflipper]

5 hours ago, Bapu said:

One word Dave....

doors

Don't get me started on doors. If I ever sell this house, I'll have to replace 5 internal doors and 2 outside doors, all of which have been deeply engraved by the claws of this impatient pup who hates being impeded by doors. It's easier to leave them open when possible.

2 hours ago, Canopus said:

Pain is temporary, music is forever.

Oh yeh. I tell myself that every Sunday after a Saturday night gig, when my back is aching from hauling gear. It takes a couple days to recover. I'm just glad we're not still moving those huge cabs from the 70's. 

A month to recover is something I could live with. I can gig one-handed for that long, or take a break and go to the tropics for awhile.

[Jesse Screed]

Bit, cutting is always the last resort, you will know what is best for you.

Horace Palin supposedly only had three fingers on his right hand. Crippled with polio as a child.

As an aside, was recently watching the Get Back Beatles thing on Disney, and the band mentions polio.  We must remember that the Salk vaccine only went into commercial use in 1961.  the link below is Horace rocking the keys, the bass is great too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEw29YAKhdI

 

 

[Base 57]

4 hours ago, Canopus said:

very experienced hand surgeon

^^Most important point made in this thread^^

I've not had trigger finger; but have had other issues with both hands. It is very possible that a specialist will suggest that you try therapy before surgery.

I do know two different musicians who have had successful surgeries for trigger finger. 

[mettelus]

Tendon and ligament damage can take months to heal on their own. Stretching exercises are good prior to any repetitive work (sessions), but relaxing is also needed to heal (and keep warm to promote blood flow). A doctor could give you much better feedback. In my experience, they aren't as concerned if a tendon/ligament isn't severed and pretty much advise healing naturally (I had one that took 6 months). A doctor should be able to recommend surgery or not (for certain injuries that is suggested).

[Shane_B.]

On 11/16/2022 at 6:12 PM, bitflipper said:

Won't be able drive effectively in New Jersey.

I recently moved back here after being away for almost 26 years.  It's only gotten worse. Suddenly driving through Kansas City doesn't seem so bad. 

I was in an accident about 4 years ago.  Airbag went off and threw my left arm back (my lefty struming hand) and broke my index on my forehead. Completely destroyed my non-bendable/ unbreakable flex-glasses.

I was in physical therapy for over a year for various injured areas of my body. For my hand they had a machine they would have me stick my hand in just above my wrist. It was a big machine with sand in it. It acted like a mini sandblaster and gently pelted my hand and wrist. It helped a lot and eventually I regained 99% of my ability to play. 

Look in to physical therapy for hands.  It was a big box with clear sides and you could see the sand and your hand inside. It felt really good while running. It help the tissue damage in my wrist significantly as well as the finger.