finger injury

[John Rosett]

we have discussed alot of finger injuries here, but i have a problem that's starting to really bother me, and i can't seem to find any info about it.
#about a year ago, my band started working on a new song that called for me to play octaves on the mandolin all the way through. i was playing with the big stretch-2nd fret 3rd string, 7th fret 2nd string, etc- when the last joint (closest to the nail) just locked up. it hurt like crazy, and i had to stop playing and shake it out to get it unlocked. well, the join swole up, and it's been tender and painful off and on ever since. it looks kinda like a picture i found on a sports injury website that they called "hammer finger". the joint is about twice the size of the right-hand pinky. lately, it seems to be bothering me more. this time of year, i'm too broke to go to the doctor, so i'm turning to this bunch of finger toturers for some free advice.
# #thanks in advance,
# # # # # # # # # # # john

[mort]

you might look at it this way... ( I did) If you want to keep playing you've got to take care of your instruments. Your hands and body are your most important instrument. Find a hand specialist. And If you live near a big city, see if you can find one that works on musicians injurys! It sounds like you have gone a long time with this injury, and continued to play injured.

Rest is usually a big factor in healing orthopedic injurys. Is there a way you can rest it (read not use it to do the things that hurt it). If your knuckle is still swollen that may be perm. but what do I know. There may be help at the hand doctor, But the longer you put it off the less likely it will respond to treatment. I've had hand problems too, ... Been to the doctor with mixed results. Yours sounds more severe than mine. Talk to the docs office about payment plans when you make the apointment they'll work with you I'm sure.

[John Rosett]

mort-
thanks for the reply. of course, you are right about seeing a specialist. living in western montana narrows my choices, and my experience with the orthopedic doctors here is less than good. i also have to say that i've known alot of musicians that have gone to doctors over hand problems, and very few that have gotten much relief from them.
i sure would like to hear from some mandolinists experiencing similar problems.
john

[Tom C]

Once in a while the joint in my pinky will lockup when playing. Usually from not warming up and going to those long stretches. However, I do not feel pain and it will go away for next time I play. (It may even go away as I loosen as I never had to stop playing because of it.)

[Pete Martin]

Hi John,

Which finger is injured?

Rest is needed to let the injury heal. #Make sure it heals before you use it much. #The way for a problem to become chronic it to never let an injury heal by reinjuring it through use. #I know for a musician to not play or play less is not pleasing, but I know too many players who cant play at all today due to not letting injuries heal and/or not seeking help.

Look into doing octaves more like a guitar player. #Lets say you need octaves of B notes. #Instead of the A string second fret and the E string 7th fret, play the D string 9th fret, deaden the A string and play the E string seventh fret. #This way you can use the index and middle fingers.

Look for a web site called "Musicians and Injuries". #Also at Weiser, lets talk about your problem and let me watch what you are doing when you play. #I may be able to see something I can help you with that will cause less stress on that finger.

Best of luck. #Email me directly with any questions.

[John Rosett]

pete-
thanks for the octave suggestion. i've always found doing them that way a little awkward, but i sat down with my mando last night and started playing them scotty anderson style. that' where you hold your right hand so you can pick with your middle finger and the flatpick at the same time. pretty interesting technique that opens up other possibilities. i guess nessessity is the mother of invention.
i'd like to hear from people who have radiused fingerboards about hand comfort benifits of that design.
thanks, john

[Pete Martin]

I've had all my fingerboards radiused and that helps my tendenitous a lot.

[John Rosett]

pete-
#how much radius did you get?
john

p.s. did you get the beautiful pictures i sent?

[bsimmers]

See an experienced hand surgeon. I had a problem with my thumd on my right hand. It started out as just a bother. It got to the point that I couldn't hold the pick. I searched the web and found The Curtis Hand Center at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. They have a surgeon who specializes in musician's hands. The initial consult. was cheaper than the local quack who called himself an orthopeodic surgeon specializing in hands (he wanted to fuse the joint, which Union Memorial said was extreme, and not even an option). Anyhow, I had to have surgery. It was April, 2002. I played a show in September,2002. Now I can play all I want, run the chain saw, weed eater, whatever.
There are places like the Curtis Hand Center all over the country. Take my advice, look one up. See an expert.

[John Rosett]

bsimmers-
thanks for that info. i went to the hand surgeon yesterday, and i have arthritis in that joint. the xray looked like there was almost none of the cushioning tissue left in the joint. his opinion was that there really wasn't anything that could be done about it, and it would just get worse until it had to be fused. i don't think that there's anybody else in the missoula area to consult about it. if anyone knows of a good dr. that's not too far from here, let me know.
for now, i'll be working on ways to get around it, and practicing my dobro, just in case. if i end up having to get the joint fused, i think that i could get it done at an angle so that it would work for fretting.
john

[GTison]

while looking around on fiddle sites i found this It's in MT also

http://www.eorthopod.com/eorthop....me.main (http://www.eorthopod.com/eorthopodV2/index.php/orthoSite/fa3de6a86876f6bef03bd04a1d0be268/fuseaction/home.main)

real interesting ortho site!