Advise on a problem

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

I need some serious feedback. This past Monday morning, I woke up and noticed my thumb and 1st two fingers only, lost strength and control on my left hand.? I don't have pain. ER thinks it's a trigger finger. I'm seeing a specialist on the 24th. Has anyone ever had or heard of someone having the problem? I'm not able to hold or control my bar. I am getting a little panicky.

Mark Edwards · From: Weatherford,Texas, USA

Not those exact fingers, but a similar problem. Pinched nerve in my upper arm was causing tingling, and loss of strength in 4 of my fingers. Found out it was because I had been weedeating, and keeping my arm in one position for a considerable amount of time caused the loss of strength and the pinched nerve. I went to a chiropractor first, and he seemed to have fixed the problem. Have not had it since. Good luck.

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

Thanks for the info. I did see a Chiro and the x rays didn't show anything. I believe it is nerve related. Anyone else have this problem?

Don Barnhardt · From: North Carolina, USA

I've had "trigger finger" in three of my left fingers and it can be treated with cortisone shots but what you describe dosen't sound like "trigger finger".

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

believe it or not
just this morning i was talking to a fellow steelplayer and he mentioned the exact condition you describe
same fingers that lost feeling, he went to some doc that told him to keep exerciseing them and after 2-3 weeks the feeling started returning ..he did say that it took a while before he got full use back tho

hope this helps
_________________
proud parent of a sailor

Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!

Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

Thanks for the reply. I started exercising the left hand with a foam ball and now a tender spot is taking place under my ring finger. That may be the culprit? I sure miss pickin.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I have had a variety of symptoms in my hands ever since some vertabrae in my neck started tilting and pinching and abrading some nerves. (since corrected by surgery). I doubt yours is anything so drastic, but the point is nerve symptoms can be really difficult to pinpoint and track down, they sometime go away on their own, and surgery is an absolute last resort until they're sure of what's happening. Simple overuse or repetitive stress is the number one cause, exotically-named "syndromes" like trigger finger or carpal tunnel are results from swelling and overuse. I'm not sure that exercise is the best thing, it's possible just leaving it alone will cure it fastest - ask the doc.

There are a lot of safe things that can help in the short term like anti-inflammatories, Neurontin, and cortizone, but you do eventually want to track down and eliminate the source cause, if it keeps recurring. I woke up a few weeks ago with my little finger completely numb, but I had been playing classical music on a six-string for 10 hours the previous day - gee, I wonder if they're connected? Confused

I stopped playing guitar and played steel for a few days instead, and it all went back to normal - now can I play classical for 10 hours again? Rolling Eyes

Danny Kuykendall · From: Fullerton, CA, USA

I was attending my Rotary club meeting a few weeks ago, and the Chiropractor giving our weekly presentation brought up the possibility that most wrist and hand problems originate in the upper back and neck, because of the nerves that extend down through the hands and wrist. It seemed logical to me.
Danny

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Ted, Chiropractics IS all about nerves. I've had hand problems for years---a couple of fingers goes numb. Mine is job related--too many years running chainsaws. The vibration will eventually cause your hands to go numb for awhile. Semi retirement from such activities and regular chiro visits is bringing me back around. The chiro corrects your skeletal structure(mis alignments) and they body can heel in stead of just compensate. JMO

Randy Gilliam · From: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Ted I have had Numbness in both Hands For the Last 2 Years It Really affects my playing Sometimes. I try to rest my hands In Between songs . I aint Quittin Cause I Like steelin too Much.I am Playing a 50th Wedding Anniversary In May With The Bruce Hudson And The Most Wanted Band In Mineral Wells . Maybe You can come out and Teach me a Few New Licks Thanks Randy Gilliam b.h.m.w.b.com

Curtis Alford · From: BastropTexas, USA 78602

I had this problem about 20 years, and it continues off and on to the present.
My problem was with L2 & L3 vertibra in the neck. It affect the thumb, first 2 fingers, and nerves on the inside of the hand and arm. You will involuntarly drop items. No grip when affect by the problem.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Jon Jaffe · From: Austin, Texas

You are describing a radial nerve palsy. You need nerve conduction studies to determine where the problem is. The most common causes of radial nerve palsy is an arm (humerus) fracture, and frequently it is seen after hand cuffing. Right Dick Wood?

I am assuming that neither has happened to you. If they show that the problem is located in the neck or brachial plexus then an MRI of the appropriate area will show the anatomy most clearly.

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

I had the same problem with numbness and tingling in the thumb and fingers which was preceded by a shock feeling coming from the nerve center in my spine into my forefinger.

I was going to go in for surgery to correct the problem, but I started getting better before the surgery date, so decided to wait. Now that has been over a year ago.

It seems that the nerves had a way of altering their course naturally around the spine and the situation was relieved. Maybe nature had a way of healing.

I may not be completely out of the woods yet. On occasion I have some very mild sensations but it does not affect my picking.

Conclusion: No surgery until it is absolutely necessary. But if necessary I will have it in order to keep pickin and grinnin. Very Happy

Aloha and Happy New Year. Smile

Don

Aled Rhys Jones · From: Berkeley, CA

I think Ray has it right - the median nerve controls thumb and first two fingers, ulnar nerve controls fourth and pinky fingers.

I was affected by a condition that made me lose strength in my 'last' two fingers, caused by compression/injury of the ulnar nerve on the medial (body) side of the elbow. It cleared up after a couple of months, thankfully. I would guess your condition results from a perturbation of the median nerve. Good luck.

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

Jon, I've handcuffed alot of people and most have not found this to be a humerus condition.

Ted, after having my hernia operation, I noticed numbness in my ring,little finger and down the outside of my left arm for a while but it finally went away. Sometimes things just fix themselves but not always.

Michael Hardee · Posted 15 Jan 2007 7:17 pm

Numbness and some weakness of the thumb and first two fingers is usually due to injury of the median nerve at the level of the wrist. Most common diagnosis is carpal tunnel syndrome. Seeing a chiropractor won't hurt, but if the nerve injury was at the level of the cervical vertebrae or brachial plexus your symptoms would be more severe and afflict the arm as well. If you can still touch the tips of all your fingers with the thumb that's good news. See a specialist (or two.)

I've had to deal with both carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes from repetitive stress injuries. The docs I've seen have not recommended exercise at all, rather splinting the wrist or elbow to prevent movement for up to 6 weeks. A specialist may also recommend an MRI and nerve conduction studies. In severe cases that do not respond to conservative treatment in 2-3 months surgery might be recommended. I've been fortunate that my problems responded to conservative therapy. When I had carpal tunnel problems last year I had to quit playing for a month. I also found that acupuncture seemed to accelerate my recovery from both carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome. Hope you have a speedy recovery!

Wally Taylor · From: Hardin, Kentucky, USA

Hey Ted,
Have you changed your email address? Also, please keep us all posted on the problem you have been experencing. And for what it is worth, please see a doctor as soon as you can.

Thanks and best of luck,
Wally

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

Hi Ted,

I've had great success with an acupuncturist for three separate muscle/nerve issues in the last few years, plus I've sent friends for other things. Forget about the needles sterotype. Yeah, they use them, but it almost seems like it's for show. The main thing is that they really know and understand muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. They spend most of their time kneading and manipulating the muscles to do what they should be doing. One of my problems was a severe stiff neck and upper back pain. He told me that my upper back muscles had fused together over the years from tension, and I would add, from being hunched over and playing the steel. He broke the muscles apart, which was only painful while he was doing it, and three sessions of massages, etc. later I was cured. Don't do any surgery until you've explored this option, you'll thank me.

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

Guys, thanks for the appreciated info and advise. Wally, my email is the same teds10@sbcglobbal.net. Joe, I will give that a shot. I heard about the pins being inserted at pressure points. I wasn't sure how or why that works.?

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

Ted,
I have no idea how it really works, and in fact as I mentioned, it didn't seem to be the thrust(so to speak) of what they do. They're just extremely great with muscles, etc. He'd work on me for 30 minutes, and then turn on the heat lamp, insert a bunch of tiny needles, leave me there for 15 minutes, and then remove them and send me on my way. He was great when I tore a calf muscle, when I had a jaw that was clicking and out of sorts, for when a friend had his thumb ligament popping out and over the bone, and when another friend pinched a nerve in his arm and lost strength in it. That's the kind of stuff they do. Good luck.

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