numb finger

Nate LaPointe · From: Los Angeles, California, USA

I did a 3 1/2 hour recording session this morning. All afternoon the index finger on my left hand has been numb at the tip. Am I pressing too hard on the bar? Does this happen to anyone else?

Jim Saunders · From: Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Nate, Odd that you asked. Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment to review the results of an MRI done on my neck. It showed several protruding discs in my cervical spine (neck) which presses on the nerves in my left arm. I have noticed no pain, but stiffness, and my left index finger gets numb holding the bar. I just stop and shake it off when it happens. Oh yea, I'm 66 now.

------------------
Emmons Legrande II, D10, Gibson Console Grande D8, Peavey Session 2000, Peavey Nashville 112.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

You play regular guitar too, right? Maybe you should go see a doctor. I just had three vertebrae in my neck fused last year because the discs were protruding and pinching my spine, causing numbness and pain in my hands and feet. The neurosurgeon said that my playing solidbody electric guitars for 30+ years could definitely be a contributing factor. My left shoulder is significantly lower than my right. Goodby, Gibson! Hello, Fender!

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Nate..although I am not a Dr. I too am thinking that you may want to at least tell your Dr. about it as it may be nothing or it could be the start of a nerve type of situation.

Several years ago I was beginning to have left hand/fingers going numb issues, it would come and go for a very brief time. I would shake it off. Then like 6 months later it blossomed into my left hand,wrist and forearm with very severe pain along for the ride. Now I went to the Dr, then the specialists etc. MRI's, Catscans ,die in my spinal fluid.(YUK !)..I found out I had a damaged nerve route being crushed by a disk in my lower neck. Lots of medicine, lots of severe pain and a planned surgery for about 90 days out ( 90 days on purpose).Did I mention lots of medicine!

Well just about 90 days out the pain starts to subside..the Dr.now says I am not considered eligible for surgery as nerves have a natural way of repairing themselves. and they did.

My left hand/arm is now pain free but still gets very tired especially during a set on the Steel. The way the Dr. describes it is that the nerve route repaired itself to the point of the left arm/hand/fingers being ok for general use but not for overload. He decribes me at being at about 60% power and it would probably not get better but also probably would not get worse either..he was right. But there is no pain and I am not taking any medicine. I could have had the surgery to correct the situation but he recommended against it, and he was right. Several years have passed and I have learned to live with what I have..compared to others , if this is the worst thing I have to deal with medically in my life this is nothing.

Do have it checked out though, when my issue blossomed it was the worst nightmare I could have ever imagined, and I'm pretty good with pain..I can take a bunch..but this was over the top..

When I play out on the Steel..I put the bar down between songs and if I am not playing during a song I put the bar down. It's amzing what that little proceedure has done for my left hand. Also I have gone to a lighter gauge strings ( 9's) on the Telecasters so that also makes life easier and in between songs I take my left hand off the guitar neck and let it rest as well.This also prevents me from still playing licks in between songs like most of us guitar players do.So an added feature came with the package !

I have learned how to deal with it. Does my left hand get tired ?..yes..but not to the point of not being able to play, a brief rest is all it takes sometimes.

good luck, I hope it's nothing more than your pick's too tight.

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 06 June 2004 at 06:15 AM.]

Nate LaPointe · From: Los Angeles, California, USA

Thanks you guys. I am actually suprised you all said basically the same thing, "go see a doctor." I have played 6-string since I was 5 years old(I'm now 26) and have never had any kind of problem like this. I always stretch and warm-up. I may be in denial about this, but I kinda doubt the problem is in my back. The numbness comes right from my first finger where it presses upon the bar where it starts to taper off towards the tip. I worked very hard yesterday, long difficult session without proper warm-up. But hey, the steel part sounds amazing, best I've played!

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: