A problem with my right hand

[jlbreyer]

I'm having a problem with the third finger of my right hand. I would like to hear of anyone else with a similar problem and what you did about it.

In July, I had surgery on my right wrist for CTS. That worked. My thumb, 1st and second fingers are much better and continue to improve. HOWEVER -- My third (ring) finger went numb on the right side (toward the little finger, and the facing side of the little finger is also numb. I play (mostly) a Conn 10J BBb, with three valves. The third finger is strong enough to play the valve, but the numbness means I can't feel where my finger is positioned. The result is that I often miss the valve, or slide off to one side. This is NOT a good thing on a 3 valve. When I play my 4 v alve Mirafone EEb, I use a lot of alternate fingerings, which seem to work OK.

For the 10J, I'm thinking of replacing the valve button with a ring, so I can slide my 3rd finger in the ring and it won't slip off.

I will appreciate reading any discussion of this you might care to provide.

TIA, jlb

[iiipopes]

That's rough. I had a similar problem with my left hand going numb when I had some clotting problems manifest.

Being a 3-valve, on my Besson I keep the 3rd & 4th together and use them as one finger on the 3rd valve. Maybe that's a possibility?

We all hope it sorts itself out.

[Phil Dawson]

You might try some finger stretching exercises. I was having some finger problems and some stretching made the problem go away. It may be that your muscles are forcing the bones out of alignment and pinching a nerve making your finger go numb. It's worth a try-it can't hurt and it's cheap.
Good Luck, Phil

[imperialbari]

For other reasons than yours I have fluctuating numbness in my right fingers. There always is some numbness, but I never know when and where the problem is worst.

My solution has been some stuff I by hazard had in my home. Some shops here sell small patches of velcro. They are self-adhesive. I put the smallest size on my valve buttons, where they just about cover the mother of pearl.

The wooly patches make the buttons less slippery. I also have tried the harder ones with the small plastic hooks. If nothing else they proved that my fingers were not very numb all of the time.

Klaus

[Tubaryan12]

I had a similar problem when I almost cut the tip of my *left index finger off with a radial arm saw. Fortunately, it got much better with time. Hopefully, time will do the same for you.

*edit...it's the left, not the right. It feels so much better I forgot which one.

[Tubadork]

Hey,
Make sure too that when you are playing that your wrist DOES NOT look like this:

Photo 55.jpg

But that your arm and pinkie finger are in alignment like this:

Photo 56.jpg

if your hand is cranked up like in the 1st photo, that will cause and or make worse any CTS issues.

Bill

[David Richoux]

After a motorcycle accident I had surgery to my left wrist. Afterwards, I had months of Physical Training to rebuild strength and flexibility in my hand (I actually worked on both hands ) using a variety of exercise tools. The simplest were blobs of silicon putty in various viscosities, some rubber strips and balls to pull and push on and spring things similar to what guitar players use for finger strength exercise. There were a few more complicated home aids, but most of it was very basic. After a few months I had actually increased strength and flexibility well beyond where it was before the accident!

Now 20 years later, I rarely have any problems unless I play more than 4 hour sets in a day.

There are some things here but there is a lot more helpful tips and tools around the Internet to help regain your finger usefulness - they should have offered some PT after your surgery, but you can do it on your own.

[scottw]

No one yet has posed the very first thing you must do to fix the problem: You need to make an appointment with your surgeon, and, depending upon what he says, another appointment for a second opinion.There is a good chance that he moved some nerves [pray he didn't cut them]when he did the procedure; if that is the case, then the nerves will heal and reconnect function, but it will take months for the re-growth to occur. If your surgeon is defensive about your problem, immediately get another opinion while a window to correct the problem still exists. I unfortunately know a great deal more about hands than I ever wanted to know, having major surgery on both of them, including replantation. Do it now.

[Bob Kolada]

Hey,
Make sure too that when you are playing that your wrist DOES NOT look like this:
ATTACHMENT
But that your arm and pinkie finger are in alignment like this:
ATTACHMENT
if your hand is cranked up like in the 1st photo, that will cause and or make worse any CTS issues.

I'd say that if your right hand looks like either of those pics, you are at least mildly screwed.

[Tubadork]

Hey,
Make sure too that when you are playing that your wrist DOES NOT look like this:
ATTACHMENT
But that your arm and pinkie finger are in alignment like this:
ATTACHMENT
if your hand is cranked up like in the 1st photo, that will cause and or make worse any CTS issues.

I'd say that if your right hand looks like either of those pics, you are at least mildly screwed.

HA!
I keep forgetting that Photobooth reverses the pics.
Bill

[iiipopes]

To expand on what tubadork posted, right after I got my 186 I booked some time with my tech so we could analyze my playing position and reposition the paddles in all aspects: length, angle, spread, height, etc., so that my right hand is as relaxed as possible. When I play the Besson, I use a standard orchestral chair or similar, turn it 45 degrees, and rest my right elbow on the back as necessary to help keep the wrist relaxed.

And for my left hand, I went to the extreme a few years ago in designing my custom fanned fret bass and purchasing a neck blank of a non-standard nut width, thickness, profile, heel width and taper, and having Sheldon Dingwall in Canada custom fret it to my fanned fret coordinates I sent him in order to relieve as much stress as possible, because on a conventional electric bass I was cramping up after only twenty minutes of playing.

The point being is that ergonomic fit to prevent stress on the wrist is of highest importance. I, for one, although I appreciate the larger piston valve tubas, will never own one due to the position and spread of the valves due to the bore of the valve casings causing me undue fatigue and cramping. Now, a smaller bore, like a King 1241, with an arc like a HB or a Gronitz, I might look at one day. Yes, my Besson is the standard .730, but it is only a three valve comp, so I can adjust my entire hand as necessary, and usually play it with 3&4 acting together to avoid physical stress.

[iiipopes]

To expand on what tubadork posted, right after I got my 186 I booked some time with my tech so we could analyze my playing position and reposition the paddles in all aspects: length, angle, spread, height, etc., so that my right hand is as relaxed as possible. When I play the Besson, I use a standard orchestral chair or similar, turn it 45 degrees, and rest my right elbow on the back as necessary to help keep the wrist relaxed.

And for my left hand, I went to the extreme a few years ago in designing my custom fanned fret bass and purchasing a neck blank of a non-standard nut width, thickness, profile, heel width and taper, and having Sheldon Dingwall in Canada custom fret it to my fanned fret coordinates I sent him in order to relieve as much stress as possible, because on a conventional electric bass I was cramping up after only twenty minutes of playing.

The point being is that ergonomic fit to prevent stress on the wrist is of highest importance. I, for one, although I appreciate the larger piston valve tubas, will never own one due to the position and spread of the valves due to the bore of the valve casings causing me undue fatigue and cramping. Now, a smaller bore, like a King 1241, with an arc like a HB or a Gronitz, I might look at one day. Yes, my Besson is the standard .730, but it is only a three valve comp, so I can adjust my entire hand as necessary, and usually play it with ring and pinky acting together to avoid physical stress.

[jlbreyer]

Thanks for all the ideas.

First - I have been to the surgeon who did my CTS surgery and he is drawing a blank on my symptoms. He did Rx a course of occupational therapy, which helpd my hand strenght a lot, but did not affect the numbness. Today, I go for an EMG to see if we can find the point where the nerve problem starts. If that can be found, perhaps a treatment can be determined. Failing that, I will go to one of the big Boston hospitals for a second or third opinion.

Second - Meanwhile, I am going to try a temporary work-around I thought of, playing off the velcro idea. Scotch makes some little plastic removable squares with adhesive on both sides. Meant for hanging posters, etc. I'm going to put one on top of the 3rd valve button to see if my 3rd finger sticks to it enough. I'll report back.

jlb

[imperialbari]

I hope your problem will be solved by the doctors!

On the velcro, I use, these comments:

The 3 first fingers find it odd, if the buttons are not level, so I use the patches themselves on all 3 or 4 buttons depending on the instrument.

I bought my velcro patches in a shop selling cheap Chinese goods. There I found them circular and of the adequate diameter.

Klaus

[peter birch]

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a real possibility, but it might not be related to tuba playing, it could be down to our computers, typing and using the mouse in an extended arm