Left Hand Index finger cramps

[LeoR]

Hey - does anyone have problems with cramping in their fretting (left) hand? Cramps in that index finger especially? Where it sort of curls up and won't uncurl? I get this with some frequency especially when playing a lot on Bb or B where I keep that index down a lot. It's really annoying - it usually takes two or three minutes to kinda massage it out and loosen it up! I rarely get this in any other key - Bb is the worst from holding down on that first fret. Just the index finger - no other fingers. Some nights it doesn't happen at all - other nights it happens right away. Most annoying!!

Any ideas? I play a 2003 F-5 Fern with pretty low action.

Thanks all and Happy 2009.

[GRW3]

You should look up 'focal dystonia'. What you have may well just be cramps that nutrition could help but it could be more. Taylor Guitar had two excellent articles in their news letter 'Wood and Steel' on this subject. They are available as PDFs from the Taylor website.

You said your action is low. Does that include the nut? I like to get the nut action sufficiently low that it takes no more pressure to fret a, using your example, a Bb or B, than D or E on the same course. Another thing is to concentrate on is relaxing your hand. Hard to do in a session but I work on this while practicing. The more relaxed my hand, the faster I can play.

[Ivan Kelsall]

You may have the begining of 'trigger finger'.This is where a small lump appears on the finger tendon which prevents it from easily gliding through the loop of cartilage that holds the tendon in position.
It's pretty common,more especially in those people who use their hands a lot in manual labour,such as bricklayers.
It's nothing to worry about. I have it in my left hand middle finger currently. I did have it in my left hand thumb & ring finger.I had a minor operation to cure that,but have since discovered that there is a 'steroid injection' procedure that can be used effectively in over 65% of cases. My own Doc.has this lined up for me if the 'triggering' in my middle finger gets really bad again. I've recently been using a steroid gel.,which i got for another complaint & have been massaging that into the
area in the palm of my hand where the triggering occurs,that seems to have helped quite a bit. I don't get the incredible 'burning' sensation that i was getting after an hour or so's playing.
My advice is go visit your doctor & get him to check it out before it gets bad. It CAN become so bad as to prevent your finger from opening up without physically grasping it with your other hand & prising it open - mine got that bad,hence the operation which was a complete success.The only inconvenience was the painful phisiotherapy & not being able to play my Banjo for 3 months (i wasn't playing Mandolin at that time). Get it checked out,then you'll know - good luck,
Saska ;)

[mandopete]

Yeah, this happened to me for the first time at a jam session last month. My playing/practice time has been pretty sparse these days and I chalked it up to lack of exercise.

[Jim]

All of the above suggestions are good. Are you well hydrated? Cramps of any kind can be related to electrolyte imbalance. H2O and a bannana or a sports drink with electrolytes might help.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Don't slip on the Bannana peel or you'll have a whole lot more to think about,
Saska :grin:

[4windsri]

Hi!

I have left hand index finger cramps too! It started in my middle finger about 1 1/2 yrs aoo & moved to the index. It locks up and has to be physically pried back straight. I've upped my mineral intake of potassium, calcium, & magnesium. The cramps trigger in the forearm and end up in the index finger. I found a pressure point that relieves it under my arm near the pit. I had a friend pray over me last july and it went away for a month! I think it maybe something spiritual too! I play worship music on the guitar. Still playing around with a old mandolin I picked up too. I have started drinking tonic water, 1 liter a day. The quinine has helped out some with night leg cramps.

Bill

[Timbofood]

I agree with the "trigger finger" thought. When I get really tense about playing, I have a problem with that. The other thing is, you just have too many fun guitars to play...relieve some stress, send me one! More fluid intake could help, alas, not just an exponential amount of "Barley Pop"