Weird Feeling in Fingers

[Unseen122]

Latley I have noticed that after playing for a while I will get a weird sensation in my fingers like they fell asleep they get all tingley and weird. Anyone else get this? Do you guys think it is serious should I see a doctor? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[JGWoods]

I'm no doctor, but that ain't good. Finger and hand tingles are often a sign of repetitive motion injury. It's a big subject, and it is all too common for musicians to get such injuries.

Don't ignore it and assume it will go away.

There are a lot of other folks here who know more about it than I do. Hopefully they will add information soon.
best
gw

[mandodebbie]

Every morning my fingers are literally itchy and tingley. I'm certain this is from my mando as I practice two hours a day. So, what can we do?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[John Flynn]

My two cents from someone who has had lots of hand problems:
> See an orthopedic hand specialist. He may, or may not, be able to make it better, but he can rule out the possibility that it is a serious condition that could be treated if caught in time and he can give you a clue as to what in your lifestyle might be causing the problem. It may be that the mando is causing it, but it may not.
> Work on lightening up your hand tension when you play. Most players use too much and most of them don't even realize it. This problem is harder to solve than most people realize. Even if you can easily lighten up when you are thinking about it, it takes concentration and practice to play lighter all the time, without thinking about it.
> Do the stretches on musicianshealth.com as often as you can, especially before you play and when your having symptoms. These really helped me.
> Get your mando set up right for easy playability and consider lighter strings.
> Find an instructor who is able to analyze your technique and suggest ways you can improve. Instructors have pointed out things I was doing that I was not even aware of.

Good luck, I empathize completely.

[jim_n_virginia]

Avery I get the same thing. I always thought it was just poor circulation because all I have to do is make a fist and relax a few times and the blood gets flowing again and i am alright.

Like jflynnstl said, lighten up your hand tension and pay particular attention to how your hand frets the string.

I lighten up when my hand FIRST starts to numb up. I try and time it so I can shake my hand inbetween songs.

And of course like someone ELSE said,it wouldn't hurt to go get checked out by a doctor if it too much of a problem!

[bmac]

There is no question you should be checked out by an MD. I had the same symptoms for years and ignored them until I recently came this close to dying from a stroke, as did my mother at almost exactly the same age. I smoked for may years but my mother never smoked... so go figure...

[Unseen122]

My wrist is really stiff I am going to go to a doctor and probably get a wrist splint I looked up stuff about this kind of "injury" and I think a splint would be good I am typing with ne hand right now.

hi,
for my day job im a glass blower, so i constantly have strain on my hands and ALOT of repetitive hand motion turning things, its alot of the same motions as playing music or typing but while holding something heavey in your hands! i very rarely will ever have a problem with my wrists or my hands, and im one of those people who can pick till the cows come home and leave again then come back again.... i play my mando at the least an hour every day as well.... the thing is that i always keep my wrists in proper alignment, i dont do much of anything with my wrists bent to much in in either direction and definatly not bent up or caved in as other viol insturment players would know....
when you sleep never sleep with your wrists all bent up! it may be hard but that is really really bad for you. your whole arm up to your shoulders and neck affect the way your hands perform, being to scrunched up isnt good, and too much the other way can make it hard to play as well, good posture is essential for dexterity.
now experiencing tingly numbness that seems like something that has built up to that point. there may be another factor in your hands lives that is doing that to them. definatly talk to a doctor, and try and examine your daily routine for stress on the wrists shoulders and hands. there are lots of possibilities, like high action and not alot of hand strength, that can cause some problems as well. i hope it works out for you. but definatly never sleep on your hands or wrists or with your wrists curled in!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[mandorado]

While I agree with all the posts here ... I think some of them are a little over cautious.

If you are just having some tingling in the TIPS of your fingers it might be from calluses developing and some muscles getting worked. Doesn't necessarily mean you have nerve damage or some of the other serious conditions people are referring to.
Take it easy for a few days. Practice a little less ... keep-playing time to less than 45 minutes at a time! Use some common sense.

I know I like to jam away for hours some times, and then my fingers tingle too ... but I think it's the blisters under my calluses that are tingling and healing ... not nerve damage! lol

Now if you are having some serious PAIN ... get it checked out. I go to a chiropractor regularly for some other muscle injuries. Deep tissue work has done wonders for my back, and body. I'm doing a ROLF program now, that is intense, but really feel like it's doing good for my whole body.

[Unseen122]

Well I went to the Doctor she said it was how I bent my wrist while I play and I play 2-4 hours daily so having my wrist bent for that long did it to me I have a wrist brace on right now I can still play luckily. #This is what happens when yu don't take lesson you devlope bad habits. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[brewmaster]

Before I play I massage my left hand with my right hand from fingertips to tendons all the way to my elbow. It takes just a few minutes and loosens things up pretty nicely. I notice a difference and have experienced the tingly thing myself a few years back.