I severed a tendon on my right 4th finger, and have to wear a splint for up to 18 weeks.......usual recovery 8-12 weeks for pianists, but it can take longer...

I love playing more than anything, and am so worried that I won't be able to again..

The info I can find says MOST heal, but research has shown that some don't......I am just worried about the "some that don't!" part of the equation..

I have already bought left handed music, and am trying to look on the bright side of things...

I can learn theory better, I can work out more!

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this, or knows of someone......a pianist! .......that has overcome this.

I severed the extensor of my left index finger(3 weeks splint, 3 physiotherapy) and the flexor in my right fifth finger (6 weeks splint, 6 physiotherapy) several years aqo. I can still play reasonably well but I do have very serious problems with tension in those fingers. The advice I give you is to be SUPER-DUPER adherent to your physio routines, when they say every hour they really mean it. Wake your self up in the night to stretch it even, you`ll be glad you did.

You`ll be alright :-)

About 8 years ago, I cut my index finger on my left hand almost completely off working on a commercial A/C unit. Actually, I cut it on a moving fan blade and instead of cutting it off it split the finger evenly down the middle (vertically) to the second knuckle.

I felt the fan blade hit my hand and when I looked at my index finger it was in two pieces. It was nightmare. The first thought that came to my mind amid all the blood was that my music career was over.

I was admitted to the hospital and an orthopedic surgeon told me that he would have to pin the bone back together because the fan blade split it right down the middle almost perfectly. Fortunately, the orthopedic surgeon did a pretty good job fixing my finger. It is ugly and about an eighth of inch shorter than it used to be and I can’t bend the first joint much but I’ve still got my finger.

Ironically, I started playing the piano verses my other stringed instruments because of my finger injury. I do not believe the injury has impeded my piano playing; but I do believe it has impaired my guitar, banjo and violin playing to an extent.

It is amazing how the body has such an ability to heal itself.

I wish you a speedy and normal recovery.

Best regards,

Rickster

Hi,

I know a guitarist who did something similar - severed a tendon in his left hand - and he's back playing again now.

I also ran my hand into a circular saw blade a while back and the whole end of the thumb came apart. It looked very much like one of those exploding cigars in the cartoons, that peel right back... I pushed all the bits back together, into an approximate thumb shape, dusted it with some antiseptic powder and strapped it all up. I figured that it was too messy to stitch .... After a few days I had a peek and it looked OK, and after some weeks or months it all healed up fine, and even the nail grew back. Now there's not even a scar, and you can't tell it was ever damaged. But it looked pretty sad for a while, and slowed me right down for a bit.

If you like gory pics, and have a strong stomach, click here. Otherwise DON\'T.....

I'm sure that, even if you have some residual stiffness, that you will be able to work your way back into things just fine.

My teacher had a finger injury involving a severed tendon. She recovered completely.

Thanks SO very much......You just have NO IDEA how comforting your stories are! Well.....actually, you probably do, as you are pianists too! I have told myself, that worst case senario, I will have to wear a splint to hold the finger in the correct position.....but, even that is awkward.......I guess though, that with the heart of a musician.....we can't let little things get in the way! I am hoping that worst case senario, I will adapt to whatever comes my way.....there are blind musicians, Beethoven was deaf! They adapted in some way for as long as they could.....I think I am just as angry though as I am scared....."pouting" I guess you might say, because things haven't gone my way.....why now? I just discovered this love....this beautiful thing called music, and I discovered that it is the best thing on this earth,(besides my family), and JUST as it was beginning to really make sense, and repertoire popping at me from all directions......BOOM!
I NEVER got my hand caught in a power window before as a child......I went home to visit my parents, and my dad closed the power window on my finger....(ON ACCIDENT of course!)....I believe things happen for a reason...I know there are TONS of other things I can work on....basics even, theory, getting into physical shape, and working on my LEFT hand! The left hand has always been my week hand, and my scales very uneven and slow....now is my chance to work on it! I should be thankful....

Anyway, thank you again SO MUCH for taking the time to share your stories and the outcomes.....I am at least starting to see a silver lining around my cloud! (which, really shouldn't be thought of as a cloud!)......

Thanks.

And one of the most admired jazz guitarists of all time, Django Reinhart, only effectively had TWO working fingers on his left (fretting) hand as the others had been badly damaged in a fire and were basically useless. Amazing guitarist, and still a 'benchmark' player today, many years after his death.

Sorry to hear about your hand. ouchie

Think positive!!! You will be ok, do everything the doctor tells you to do and be ready to give that hand a workout on the piano within reason when the splint comes off.

I once got my index finger caught between metro doors overseas (the doors slam shut) and from the blow, my fingernail fell off. It was very painful but there was no lasting damage. Other than this, my only problem is that the pinkie on my left hand tends to get stiff and impedes my playing. I have no idea what's going on. I know it isn't arthritis. I'm thinking that I just tense up too much trying to hit the right notes and this may be the consequence.

Thanks again guys for all your well wishes
and comforting thoughts...It helps!

I see the hand specialist today! I will keep you posted! (One week and 1 day after the injury.....I FINALLY get to see the Hand DR.!! Insurance companies....referalls from primary physicians etc....TIME....it all takes too much TIME!!) Luckily, I went to the ER right away and have had it splinted, which is the treatment anyway! Somehow, it is just more comforting after seeing the specialist!......and then sometimes NOT!! YIKES!

Thanks again. I'll keep you posted.

Kelly

Does stabbing yourself in the thumb while wrestling with a new corkscrew count?

totallyclassics: Best wishes for a quick, complete recovery!

thanks Jeanie! LOL!

I have had a new enlightenment tonight.....was told by hand specialist today that our "goal" is return to full function, but we are not sure what is going to happen or if it's possible...I was a bit bummed at first, and then while googling "splinting fingers of pianist" I accidentally ran across this.....although, I don't believe this was purely accidental! I call it "Definite Devine Intervention!"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FSnalrPYpc

I went to school with a girl who played the piano with only two fingers on her left hand. She played mostly...ragtime!