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#1447233 - 05/31/10 10:58 AM
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 12/16/09
Posts: 708
Loc: Bulgaria
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Today I saw a specialist (third time I go to a doctor for this) and she said I have either CTS or Tendonitis. I am going to get checked out with another specialist tomorrow to narrow it down and finally get a diagnosis.
I have burning sensation and mild dull aches in my right hand and wrist, it gets worse from time to time.
May this serve as a reminder to all of you, fellow beginners. I used to secretly smile when I read about someone having hand pain while playing piano, to me it was the easiest thing to do but now since February I've had this problem with my hand which won't go away. I believe I caused it by attempting to play pieces that are not suitable for beginners, practicing for hours without taking breaks and from denying I have tension in my hands while playing. Going to the gym and lifting weights plus endless hours of FPS gaming... Now I've been re-thinking it all, and I'm careful when I play, I try to relax more, I take more breaks, I practice only an hour per day with a day off once per week. I've taken it up with my teacher and we are working on it. As for my gaming career, I think 17 years of gaming is more than enough and I'm done with it in favor of piano playing.
Starting today I'm dropping piano for a month in an attempt to rest the hand/s, I'm going to undertake some treatment and hopefully when I return, the uncomfortable feeling in my hand/s will be gone.
So take it easy, I know how good it feels to make fast progress, but don't do it at the expense of your hands, you will need them for a couple more decades (hopefully as much as possible) and hopefully you can spend that time playing the piano and enjoying the music :P
Edited by Teodor (05/31/10 11:00 AM)
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#1447238 - 05/31/10 11:06 AM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Teodor]
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Full Member
Registered: 02/17/09
Posts: 495
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I hope you can manage the CTS and tendonitis issues Teodor. I wouldn't wish that stuff on anyone. Take the rest and get better.
Taking breaks and realizing that some things are not worth working on yet are the two biggest rules that people should adhere to. Even on days I play piano a lot, it's always in twenty minute spurts with lots of time in between. I've also learned to shelve pieces that are beyond my technique. If my hands feel tired after working on them for a bit I usually shelve them and work on something else.
Edited by HomeInMyShoes (05/31/10 11:07 AM)
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#1447239 - 05/31/10 11:12 AM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Teodor]
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4000 Post Club Member
Registered: 09/16/06
Posts: 4217
Loc: Santa Fe, NM
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My condolences. It is really easy to do this and never know it's coming, and then - bingo! There it is.
The good news is that it, very probably, be dealt with. I think you are right that it comes from tenseness often. It can also come from your computer mouse/keyboard being at the wrong height, the over-work, et al. But when I was first addressing this I also saw a physical therapist who had me doing posture and upper body exercises, and I think they helped a lot. I was in my 50's at the time, so I think at 22 you probably have much more rebound capability than I had, and i can still play.
But good luck - and take care. All is not lost - learn with your teacher about the tenseness, and from whatever the physical therapists teach (and I do hope you can get a referrel to a phyiscal therapist, and not just the "take time off from piano" recommendation. PT's can make a huge difference, bless them.)
Cathy
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#1447241 - 05/31/10 11:18 AM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: HomeInMyShoes]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 11/19/09
Posts: 562
Loc: Canada
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Teodor,
I hope you get it sorted out soon. Taking a month off is probably a good idea. It's not really that long, & you won't forget much. I'm speaking from experience, having just come back from more than a month of not playing - it took about a week to get back to where I'd been.
_________________________
Carol (Started playing July 2008)  
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#1447258 - 05/31/10 11:55 AM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: casinitaly]
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2000 Post Club Member
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 2616
Loc: Scotland
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Sorry to hear this Teodor. Once you get a proper diagnosis, do try to find out what exercises or stretches you can do to help yourself.
I had carpal tunnel in my right hand which I put down to compression (using a small mouse when at computer). Stretching, including piano playing, actually helped.
Gaming may have been a big part of the problem, because it involves tiny repetitive movements, and you tend to get engrossed in the game and tense.
good luck in your recovery!
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#1447325 - 05/31/10 01:23 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: ten left thumbs]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 3458
Loc: San Jose, CA
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It's very smart to take thought to make the changes that will help you get well, and avoid a problem in the future.
I had played my whole life, and was up in my fifties when I acquired a similar problem. Never thought it would happen to me! But, I was able to get well with medical help and play now with no pain. You have my best wishes for a full recovery.
And yes, I had to take a break from playing for awhile... with a brand-new piano, just sitting there. It killed me!
Remember, you can make progress with your musical education during this time, without playing.
_________________________
Clef
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#1447351 - 05/31/10 01:58 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Jeff Clef]
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Junior Member
Registered: 04/30/10
Posts: 5
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I started playing piano about two months ago and got carpal tunnel syndrome for both my hands recently! (Not to mention I've already had cubital tunnel syndrome before starting piano.) I felt tingling and muscular weakness over all of my fingers. I can totally understand how you feel. Actually I feel devastated the first time I experienced this newly developed symptoms after playing piano. I think that is caused by my overpractice and perhaps incorrect posture. I will have my first piano lesson tonight and hope that I will learn correct posture that will not aggravate my symptoms.
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#1447362 - 05/31/10 02:14 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Teodor]
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Junior Member
Registered: 04/30/10
Posts: 5
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Hi Teodor, Loss of muscular strength comes after numbness and tingling sensation. Your nerve damage is not as severe as mine. But it is also possible that yours is not carpal tunnel syndrome but tendonitis. Tendonitis does not weaken muscle as does capal tunnel syndrome. I think I'd rather get tendonitis than carpal tunnel syndrome if I can choose  Take a rest and do not practice too hard. That is what I am doing now.
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#1447370 - 05/31/10 02:20 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Renchin]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 12/16/09
Posts: 708
Loc: Bulgaria
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What's weird is that when I am asleep and just before I wake up completely there is no pain, I can sit on my hand and it won't hurt but after I wake up completely it starts to feel bad. The doc said I probably have both, the tendonitis caused the carpal tunnel syndrome which is right now a mild case but will get worse if left alone. She said she will prescribe medication only after seeing the results of the tests. I'm to get tested tomorrow with another specialist I'll ask about physical therapy too.
Edited by Teodor (05/31/10 02:21 PM)
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#1447381 - 05/31/10 02:33 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Teodor]
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1000 Post Club Member
Registered: 04/18/08
Posts: 1220
Loc: Lower Mainland, BC
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I had CPS/tendonitis/tennis elbow when I was about 22 years old too. I, and a number of other in the music department also came down with this all at the same time. Stress was definitely a factor given the rigorous demands of learning repetoire within a certain time frame.
A friend of mine actually took the entire year off to heal. I myself had to restrict my repetoire to pieces for the left hand (Scriabin and a few others). In any event, with rest we all recovered. BUT, when I practice sometimes these days (I'm now in my 40's) I still get the same sensations. But, since my career doesn't depend on me performing, the condition goes away pretty quickly if I rest for a day or two.
So, take care, and be very mindful of your posture, relaxation, and breathing in order to lessen your stress on your body while playing.
_________________________
Recordings of my recent solo piano and piano/keyboard trio jazz standards.
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#1447398 - 05/31/10 03:18 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: scepticalforumguy]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 11/19/09
Posts: 953
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Didn't you try to to some kind of one hand push-up with one finger and ended up hurting your hand?
I'm skeptical over practice is the case. At 22, plus the rather short duration of piano practice, being diagnosed with CPS is not something very likely.
I would think the problems were sparked by events outside of piano, andpracticing just exacerbated your symptoms.
Best wishes.
Edited by Rui725 (05/31/10 03:19 PM)
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#1447445 - 05/31/10 04:16 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Teodor]
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Full Member
Registered: 03/11/10
Posts: 279
Loc: Worcester, UK
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I get bouts of tenosynovitis in my right wrist - it first flared up when I was in my late teens, and working in an electrical shop (no piano at that time). I had to help lift washing machines up and down the stairs for a couple of weeks, and I think it was this that caused it in the first place.
Now, I think it is mostly aggravated by using the computer mouse too much. It basically makes the tendons in the side of wrist nearest my thumb very weak and tender - to the point where I find it difficult to lift a cup of coffee. Best thing for it is rest - playing piano doesn't seem to make it worse unless I practise way too much.
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#1447687 - 05/31/10 09:43 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Ben Crosland]
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Junior Member
Registered: 04/14/10
Posts: 17
Loc: Toronto
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Just reading this thread makes my thumb hurt! Last year, at 39, I took up fingerstyle guitar and played until I got De Quervain Sydrome (like carpal tunnel, but on the thumb side).
I'm paranoid about reaggravating it, as I couldn't even turn a doorknob for several months, and had to give up guitar (and switch to piano). I had a corticosteroid injection, which worked much better than physiotherapy.
Now I keep several ice packs in the freezer, and whenever feel as much as a twinge I ice my wrist and then wrap with a tendor bandage after playing.
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#1447927 - 06/01/10 09:35 AM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Teodor]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 3458
Loc: San Jose, CA
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It is good news. For one thing, you have an answer, and that is valuable. So the object of treatment is to reduce the runaway inflammatory process and prevent the formation of scar tissue.
It is good that you have gotten on this quickly, that is a considerable help to your recovery.
_________________________
Clef
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#1448105 - 06/01/10 01:55 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Jeff Clef]
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Full Member
Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 384
Loc: Ireland
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I had my first symptom of CPS recently.
Definitely from using the mouse. My wrist was often red from the pressure of having it there for hours.
You can get mouse mats that have a support. A bits late for some of us now.
_________________________
You see patterns in disparate or seemingly random connections between things.This is the 2nd consecutive year that you have been my guest on Nov 17th. What broad social trend will you elicit from that fact? Stephen Colbert to Malcolm Gladwell,Author of Outliers. http://www.box.net/shared/e19avgoqmx
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#1448196 - 06/01/10 04:55 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Monica K.]
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2000 Post Club Member
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 2616
Loc: Scotland
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Yes, that's good Teodor. If it's in -itis, well, inflammation goes down after a while. Sometimes it can take a good long time, but it's good you have a proper diagnosis.
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#1448751 - 06/02/10 12:28 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: Elssa]
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2000 Post Club Member
Registered: 04/26/10
Posts: 2084
Loc: USA
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I strongly recommend acupuncture before anything drastic and permanent like surgery. It worked for us very well and could work for you. Our story... My wife doesn't play the piano but after holding babies she developed De Quervain's tenosynovitis. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/de-quervains-tenosynovitis/ds00692After 9 months of on-and-off pain, it suddenly flared one night and we went to the ER. She had to hold her thumb a particular way to avoid super intense pain. At the ER, they put on a soft bandage cast so she could relax, go home, and sleep. We then went to an orthopedist who put a fiberglass cast on to let it rest and heal. 2 weeks later she went back to get it off. They checked it, not much improvement, and put on a new cast. During this time, muscles atrophy. The plan was, if nothing improves on its own, then 2 rounds of steroids shots to attempt to reduce the inflammation. After that, if needed, surgery to cut the inflammation so that pressure is reduced. Surgery usually is effective, with a chance of losing feelings on the top of the hand. Prognosis was not good! Of course, during this time, she could not change diapers or hold babies. We called in my mother to help. It was serious. We then heard from friends about acupuncture, and a particular practitioner in the area was providing very good results for pains and injury. We rushed to get the cast off and went to see the acupuncturist the next day. After that very first visit, my wife's hand was immediately relieved. It took just 2 more visits to completely cure it. Simply amazing. The treatments included needle pricks at various places, but also massages by hand and by hard massage tools (ouchie). A lot of surface bruising resulted, but the effect was phenomenal. After that, I went to see the acupuncturist for myself. I was having problems with my left hand. When I played piano my left wrist would hurt when I stretched left. My index finger's last joint was in pain. My thumb was sore and weak (probably developing De Quervain's myself). I only went in once and everything got fixed. Immediately after the treatment I still felt some pains, but the next day, my problems were all gone. Try acupuncture! You can always get surgery later, but you can never get back to pre-surgery state.
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#1448859 - 06/02/10 03:21 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: gnuboi]
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2000 Post Club Member
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 2616
Loc: Scotland
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How many babies did she have? And what on earth did she do with them? Serious question, I work with mothers and babies. New mothers are particularly prone to back-strain, but I've never heard of thumb problems.
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#1448886 - 06/02/10 04:12 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: ten left thumbs]
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Full Member
Registered: 05/08/10
Posts: 28
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I had Carpal Tunnel surgery in my right hand. Before surgery I had a list of can't do's.....
Feel the button on my shirt when I want to button it
Write for long period
Use the mouse on my PC
Hold a cup of tea without changing hands
Hold a toothbrush firmly
Carry a newspaper or book
Ride a bike
Play piano
Sleep through the night
Strangle my wife!!!
Honestly, after years of wear and tear the surgeon said it was the worst case he ever operated on. The op took 18 minutes which he recorded as the longest he had done.
Now I am totally cured.
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#1448941 - 06/02/10 05:45 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: ten left thumbs]
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2000 Post Club Member
Registered: 04/26/10
Posts: 2084
Loc: USA
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We have two, one at a time. The youngest is 11 months now. Problem was holding them by hand, on the left side, in a hip carry. This puts a lot of pressure on the wrist and thumb. The most significant contributing incident was probably when the kid was only 2 weeks old and the relaxin was still flowing in mom. She held out her hand to give to the older kid while in the car and over stretched her thumb. That hurt then, and she should have been treated then. But we waited a few months before seeing an orthopedist who prescribed a soft brace with no protection on the thumb. That brace did not seem to offer any protection. Months later, it flared up and we had to go to the ER as I mentioned.
De Quervain's is actually not that uncommon. When we finally found out what it was called, a number of our friends came out and said, oh yea, we had that too. It's also known as mommy hands.
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#1448943 - 06/02/10 05:48 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: swc2004]
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2000 Post Club Member
Registered: 04/26/10
Posts: 2084
Loc: USA
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Play piano
Strangle my wife!!!
(in my case the strangling is in the other direction) Glad you are all better now. My MIL and brother both had back surgery and neither got completely positive results. This is why we are wary of orthopedic surgery. Back surgery is totally different than surgery for RSI/CTS, of course.
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#1449017 - 06/02/10 07:12 PM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: gnuboi]
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Junior Member
Registered: 06/02/10
Posts: 1
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Have you ever injured your wrists in the past?
I have injured my wrists a couple of times.
Once while lifting weights, standing overhead presses, and when I went to let the weight down, I did so in an uncontrolled manner, felt a snap. No swelling, and didn't feel anything till the next day. Off weights for about a month.
Somewhat injured wrists using punching bags, without wrapping wrists.
I injured both my wrists in Iraq 2006. Im an infantry soldier for the US Army. I stepped into a weapons cache hole, and caught myself with my hands. They were wrapped for about 2 weeks. X-rays showed small stress fractures. Went for X-rays in 2009, they are healed, but still there, with small micro raised edge from healing, that rubs against internal tissue. Can be fixed with surgery. File down the bone or something....otherwise, over time, it will smooth itself out.
Also, carpal tunnel/tendonitis issues before all of that. I have well developed arms, but small wrists, which means a smaller "tunnel" of the carpal bones and transverse carpal ligament. I can move alot of weight, but need to wear wrist wraps when lifting.
ANYWAY, so past injuries could be suspect.
I feel wrist pain after practicing for awhile. After a short break, I come right back to it.
Edited by Dozer (06/02/10 07:12 PM)
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#1449191 - 06/03/10 01:25 AM
Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Tendonitis
[Re: gnuboi]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 12/16/09
Posts: 708
Loc: Bulgaria
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Already going through similar therapy, same principle just doesn't use needles but electronic pulses. Surgery is only used as a last resort, my pain is so negligible right now that I've been playing for 5 months ignoring it, but it gets in the way of doing other things (using computers, playing sports that use the hand, working out)... So I want it fixed, also lately my left hand started hurting too out of the blue I strongly recommend acupuncture before anything drastic and permanent like surgery. It worked for us very well and could work for you. Our story... My wife doesn't play the piano but after holding babies she developed De Quervain's tenosynovitis. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/de-quervains-tenosynovitis/ds00692After 9 months of on-and-off pain, it suddenly flared one night and we went to the ER. She had to hold her thumb a particular way to avoid super intense pain. At the ER, they put on a soft bandage cast so she could relax, go home, and sleep. We then went to an orthopedist who put a fiberglass cast on to let it rest and heal. 2 weeks later she went back to get it off. They checked it, not much improvement, and put on a new cast. During this time, muscles atrophy. The plan was, if nothing improves on its own, then 2 rounds of steroids shots to attempt to reduce the inflammation. After that, if needed, surgery to cut the inflammation so that pressure is reduced. Surgery usually is effective, with a chance of losing feelings on the top of the hand. Prognosis was not good! Of course, during this time, she could not change diapers or hold babies. We called in my mother to help. It was serious. We then heard from friends about acupuncture, and a particular practitioner in the area was providing very good results for pains and injury. We rushed to get the cast off and went to see the acupuncturist the next day. After that very first visit, my wife's hand was immediately relieved. It took just 2 more visits to completely cure it. Simply amazing. The treatments included needle pricks at various places, but also massages by hand and by hard massage tools (ouchie). A lot of surface bruising resulted, but the effect was phenomenal. After that, I went to see the acupuncturist for myself. I was having problems with my left hand. When I played piano my left wrist would hurt when I stretched left. My index finger's last joint was in pain. My thumb was sore and weak (probably developing De Quervain's myself). I only went in once and everything got fixed. Immediately after the treatment I still felt some pains, but the next day, my problems were all gone. Try acupuncture! You can always get surgery later, but you can never get back to pre-surgery state.
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