I am also a pianist who has to focus constantly on wrist health because of past injuries. I'm really wondering what you think you might be behind for? A kind doctor helped me realize that my nerve issues weren't something to be "cured" and then forever ignored; to return to the same stressful routine and expect a different result is the definition of insanity. 1% get infections which delays recovery and can lead to long-term complications. I really like your viewpoint and I was also trained as a concert pianist and became a collaborative pianist due to lack of jobs in my country, and I love it. That's not even a real job in the way people want to think it is despite most schools still teaching students as if they are going to be concert pianists. Incredible dull aches and my hands would go numb. His take on the matter was somewhat surprising. Also, warmup slowly and have a couple of stretching breaks during practice after your muscles are warmed up. I fixed it (with effort) and the problem went away and I no longer have to do stupid stuff (like sleep in a ridiculous arm straightener) to keep myself from returning to old habits. And I suspect that even though you've not playing piano, your hands are still being used in some capacity. Some have even reported an improvement in velocity playing scales. ... 2 The patient was diagnosed with a carpal tunnel syndrome due to Madelung's deformity and was programmed for an evaluation by … Do you mean full curls or forearm curls? Yes, playing the piano can cause carpal tunnel. The most useful is side-on showing: How you sit on the chair/stool, your arms, and your finger movement. Soaking in warm water and gentle massaging of the carpal tunnel area, as well as hand stretches are helpful. Some stretches and and chest/back exercises and I’m almost good as new. Ear skills, theory skills (jazz and contemporary, NOT common practice period). I'm leaving my job to go back to Uni in the fall so I have 2 weeks between work and school free. You can wear some of them during practice; it is annoying, but helps you to heal without taking a break from piano. I know nothing about majoring in piano, but I do know about starting late and you'll be fine. I’m sure I’m doing SOMETHING wrong with my technique but I’m not sure what. :), Press J to jump to the feed. You're not going to be a concert pianist. Later on my doctors theorized that it came from overplaying during growth spurts. Even if a patient wears a splint that has been prescribed, he or she should avoid the activities that caused or aggravate the injury. I’m a professional drummer and in those days I had a daily practice routine of 10 hours a day. I have already begun to experience a significant amount of muscle atrophy... my hands look skinnier than they did when I was less than 100 pounds my freshman year of high school. The carpal bones that make up the wrist form an arch which is convex on the dorsal side of the hand and concave on the palmar side. So far, it's worked every time. Explore sides of music performance and creation that our old-school conservatories don't show us. Dumbbell should be heavy enough that you have trouble doing more than 10, I'm guessing at least 10 lbs. If there is pain (vs. mild discomfort) take a couple of days or a week off from piano. why? Carpal tunnel syndrome is most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 60. Wearing braces in the night time so I'm not keeping the wrist in flexion helped. I got terrible carpal tunnel. I appreciate the input, I'm going to start this. You should notice an improvement from just one session. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes uncomfortable tingling, numbing, and weakness in the wrists and hands.Too much compression of the median nerve in the wrists causes this syndrome. Everything else follows. And did you practice during this time or did you also take a break? I play piano now, but didn’t when I had severe carpal tunnel. I'm a 32-year-old pianist and music educator, suffering the last couple years from increasing symptoms that look like carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s interesting you mention the thing about dropping wrists. playing piano, hammering etc.) My wrist have began to hurt but it is not that bad as people would describe CTS. Cookies help us deliver our Services. People with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) exhibit widespread pressure pain and thermal pain hypersensitivity as a manifestation of central sensitization. https://www.msmnyc.edu/admissions/financing-your-education/gainful-employment/. David Beren is a tech writer with 10+ years' experience. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by the compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel (in the underside of the wrist when in playing position). Even assuming some damage, you'll likely find ways work around this. I'm speaking as a conservatory-trained classical pianist who had (has?) I got terrible carpal tunnel. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. You'll be a little rusty when you get back, but honestly, piano isn't an instrument driven as much by specific physical limitations the way something like brass instruments are. I was in a very similar situation in college some years ago. maybe 15. And even if muscles were a bigger issue, there's a thing called muscle memory... not the type of procedural memory musicians often call muscle memory (internalizing finger patterns to play things like scales for example. A pain in the middle of my wrist develops, I have a job where I type all day on a computer. I've suggested this to more than a few pianists with pain in the wrists. I dunno music history? I had a similar issues with cubital tunnel syndrome that was almost entirely caused by the position I slept it. For piano players, the possibility of developing carpal tunnel is a real concern. Honesty, I'm usually more worried about warning prospective and current music majors of the realities of the job field on the other side of their degree and just how much they need to supplement that they aren't getting along with their vastly over-priced diplomas. To give you some perspective on where I was before the injury, I had been accepted into all of the 9 schools to which I applied with an abundance of music-specific scholarships, one of which was for Eastman School of Music (although I ended up committing to a school in Texas). Health definitely is nr1 priority. I practiced very lightly. At first I loved the weight of the action because it helped me adapt to some fairly heavy Steinway actions that I was using in class. I'd say when you get back, work up slowly. Stop playing the piano and all other r.h. intensive activities(don't gym for a bit if you do) completely until you talk to the physio. The next business shoulder carpal tunnel reddit carpal tunnel syndrome: It emphasizes the ways of using a shoulder carpal tunnel syndrome bands are actively constructed with VDU users and sewing machines refrigerators and travel afar and the rotator cuff exercise to build the muscle injuries is … for the computer and consider getting a trackball. Honestly, there are a lot more pressing things that I see people with piano degrees unable to do that I find being a major part of my work. I went to physio and it was actually a pec minor problem pinching nerves in my shoulder. I’ve slept like this for as long as I can remember and I guess it finally took its toll, and the piano certainly didn’t help. It can come back. For one, taking a semester off isn't going to put you too far behind for anything. Whether you are just learning the piano, or have been playing for years, follow these essential steps that will help prevent arthritis, carpal tunnel, and other causes of hand pain. I do strongly suspect that most music RSI injuries are just because you're doing something bad and not realizing it... so maybe on the other side of this, you'll fix that. There are various reasons why this might happen: for instance, inflammation of the tendons or tendon sheath within the confined space of the carpal tunnel can lead to compression of the nerve. I forced myself to practice in breaks and could manage the pain, but it never fully went away. I dropped out of piano (planning to make up the credit hours over an upcoming summer...) in hopes that I would be able to rest and the problem would go away. I don’t think the piano caused it mainly, but mainly the way I slept. Do you have a teacher? So someone might take 5 years of lifting to put on say 20 lbs of muscle... get injured, take 6 months off, lose all of it... Once they get back to lifting, they will likely be able to put back on that 5 years worth of muscle in a matter months and the vast majority will be extremely noticeable in weeks. If there is pain (vs. mild discomfort) take a couple of days or a week off from piano. Between illness and socioeconomic changes, I ended up having to take a 5 year break in my postsecondary studies, almost all of which was away from the piano. I don't have carpal tunnel, but I do have myofascial pain (generally), which means that sometimes muscles work their way into painful knots…forever unless addressed. "my wrist is swollen and hurts after writing a lot of notes the day before. Rest is a common sense remedy. I eventually started taking a lot of vitamin B12 on advice and my symptoms slowly improved. This might be hard, but take some time to logically think through what you might do if surgery doesn't succeed and you can't get your dexterity back. pianomap: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome The carpal tunnel is a narrow space formed by the small bones of the wrist and the ligament called the flexor retinaculum. by. Whether you are just learning the piano, or have been playing for years, follow these essential steps that will help prevent arthritis, carpal tunnel, and other causes of hand pain. You'll be fine. I've taken a decent bit of time off of a lot of instruments. I *finally* have the mouse knot gone after 2 years of working on it. These carpal tunnel syndrome stretches & exercises are great for carpal tunnel pain. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Carpal tunnel will never stop me ♬♫ Get your tickets and come down to the iconic Ravenshoe Hotel to Honour the Queen on the 22nd of April! This is an absolute non-issue. Piano playing is intense physically, and tends to strengthen only the gripping muscles of the forearm. It contains some piano technique info which I believe is quite controversial. Lou Walinksy back at the piano, where he feels most at peace. Bring sheet music that you like to play. Make sure that when going back in that you're being as slow and accurate as you can with simple technical fundamentals. I was completely freaking out. And I think all of these worries should be nearly as pressing to you as your injury. I had Median Nerve Entrapment (aka CTS) due to inflamed tendons which pressed on the nerve within the carpal tunnel. Answered on May 15, 2018. So many of the skills I find absolutely invaluable are skills you COULD be working on. I think it's carpal tunnel.Additional information is that I have a job where I type all day on a computer which doesn't help.How can I stop this, it seems to be in the early phases but I want to nip this in the bud. Carpal Tunnel Surgery is not a good treatment option. If you want to see some data about costs and incomes for traditional careers in classical music, try and find gainful employment stats on admissions websites. I never drop it below the keys, but still. See this article by Cornell University. I have two months before next semester starts, and I'll hopefully be receiving surgery in that time frame. Where do I start with a physiotherapist? Don't self diagnose. Thank you so much, this has been helpful. While this is a great way to get better at the craft, it also means that your chances of … I have already begun to experience a significant amount of muscle atrophy. You don't have to actually do it, just take the time to organize your thoughts and think through the "what if" scenario. At the time, I was a choir accompanist/director for my church choir, a community choir, AND my school’s choir, I played piano for church every week, practiced my own rep, gave piano lessons, and practiced for auditions, so the CTS might have honestly just been from overplaying. (The thumb muscles are what contribute to your grip strength)! Hell, I took 2 years off of trumpet and took a hiatus from college and trumpet actually IS an instrument that requires real muscle definition. 34 years experience Hand Surgery. Good news is that wrist pain could just be caused by too much tension in the way that you play. https://www.amazon.com/What-Every-Pianist-Needs-About/dp/1579992064, https://www.msmnyc.edu/admissions/financing-your-education/gainful-employment/. extremely similar sounding nerve entrapment issues at the same age (but in Toronto). I am 14 and I am about 5 feet. I will never be a concert pianist, though. This article is here to present you with 12 best carpal tunnel brace options and treatment plans. What the hell kind of jobs do think exist for piano out there? You can locate it this way: Place your left index finger in the center of your right palm, then move the finger about two inches down your palm toward your arm, stopping when your finger approaches the edge of the fleshy part of your hand. To me, this seems like I’m teaching myself a set of bad technique. I'd tell anyone that doesn't plan to teach they probably shouldn't be in music. It's not because they had to take 6 months off at some point... it's because their schools are poorly equipped to teach them any of the skills that more and more working musicians are expected to have. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Doing any work that puts a lot of strain on your hands or wrists could lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. What about the other 40%? Common injuries include carpal tunnel (wrist) and cubital tunnel (elbow) syndromes, where pressure on nerves leads to pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling. This article is here to present you with 12 best carpal tunnel brace options and treatment plans. I think what you are saying is so valuable. I know you cannot practice dynamics, but real pianos and some keyboards require much more hand strength to play. Visit a physiotherapist now. Request full-text. Repetitive wrist stress from computer use, factory work or hobbies can cause numbness and tingling in your hands and wrists. Can carpal tunnel syndrome go away on its own? I suspect everything about your technique will likely get better as a result honestly. You need a hell of a lot longer of serious non-use for actual serious atrophy to occur. is it pre signs of carpal tunnel? Maybe you're behind, consider this a gap year. Check your posture at the keyboard. Priority 1 = health. First, you need to wear good quality wrist splints as much as possible and it is non negotiable for bed time. Be patient. Dumbbell curls can work wonders for carpal tunnel in the wrist. They ARE getting use. Both of my piano teachers I’ve had have told me I play quite effortlessly and relaxed considering the fact that I was self-taught for so long. I'm currently playing an MP10. 1) About 15 years ago, I had a social conversation with a neurologist family member about carpal tunnel syndrome. You'll start back slow and very quickly ramp back up to the same level of dexterity assuming no major damage. I have a mix of good news and bad news thoughts. He has written and managed content for companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, and TracFone Wireless. I remember getting strength and conditioning exercises like making a periscope with your arm and fist and move it side to side. How familiar are you with the anatomy of both the hand and wrist? The knowledge was there. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. lately I've been getting what all pianist's dread..A pain in the middle of my wrist develops if I practice too much. I guess there’s no way to know until after my scan, though... Don't let anyone tell you you are too far behind/missed the boat/damaged goods, especially any of the old pros sitting in academia. Piano carpal tunnel: If you have carpal tunnel and play the piano chances are that this is when it may bother you, but the piano playing is unlikely the cause. Can anyone tell me whether I still have hope, or what I should do to get back into the piano? Reverse curls strengthen the fingers for extension and balance out the damage from too much of the other. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. When I went back my auditions went fine and I landed the principal spot in the top wind ensemble. I … Furthermore, just limit hands on practice and practice smart. All I want is my muscle back, because I feel like such a failure now that I've lost so much coordination. Hope it gets better soon.. How long did it take you for the CTS to go away? Piano isn't a highly muscle dependent thing. But I guess the sliver lining is, there are a TON of musicianship skills you can work on without an instrument and there's absolutely nothing that missing a mere semester is really going to do to derail you in any meaningful way considering the amount of people I know with graduate degrees in piano who I end up taking jobs from because, while they might be able to blast some Transcendental Etudes for a recital, they tend to be missing whatever skill people are ACTUALLY paying for (which I assure you is not classical concert piano rep). There are also braces, and gloves. Would this be considered a milder form of CTS or could it be something else? Piano keys are quite long, as are your fingers, you don't need to press the 'ends' of the keys with all the fingers, that's just not natural. CTS or Carpal tunnel syndrome is generally diagnosed with the help of 5 tests; all of which together help diagnose this problem. I've lost so much dexterity on the piano and it overall feels extremely rusty for me. It's not bothersome if I play no more than an hour per day, but if I play for 4-5 hours, as I did yesterday, I can barely feel the fingers in my right hand. I've lost so much dexterity on the piano and it overall feels extremely rusty for me. As a general rule though, those prestigious jobs that the conservatory seems to be training you for are the worst paying or basically don't exist anymore. A person can do permanent damage if they play through the pain, and then may have to take several months off and/or need serious medical attention. Good ol' capitalism /sarcasm, Edit: Also you may find this book useful, knowledge goes a long way: https://www.amazon.com/What-Every-Pianist-Needs-About/dp/1579992064. Sprains and strains from repetitive use can lead to other soft tissue pathologies like tenosynovitis, bursitis, and tendinosis. I went through a lot of self retraining to refrain from dropping my wrists when I play. Writer. For years, carpal tunnel made playing painful. I have been playing the piano forl almost 9 years now and i practice 3 days a week between 6-8 hours. Specifically reverse ones, with the hand facing towards the floor. – can severely limit time spent making music on the piano. This will come back and remarkably quickly. Skip to content Order Online Now Or Call 1.800.798.5210 In less than a year, I had full faculties return and then some. I'll play you some background piano music while you wine & dine in the fabulous atmosphere ♬♫♬♫ You can even hit me with some requests before the night & I will see what I can do :) Don't miss it! Have hope, it may work itself out. When I came to Texas, my teacher told me I have a severe case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists, and I needed to rest, as well as see a doctor immediately. Find a doctor that specializes in this, if the pain is persistent and rest and other self-care doesn't seem to be helping. This will be much cheaper than seeing a doctor. A neutral tilt yields a wrist that is close to a neutral angle, which allows the tendons, the carpal tunnel and its median nerve to travel in a straight path from the forearms through the wrists. :-( I don't think it's a good idea to continue playing the way you are if this is the case. So: Technique. Switch to the l.h. Thanks guys, it's much appreciated. I make a living playing piano, though I'm probably not half as technically capable as you were in your previous prime or as you will be once you get back going. This will force you to form new, healthier biomechanical habits tailored to your particular body, and your music making will be all the better for it. Trying to get rid of carpal tunnel syndrome can be unpredictable and usually a drawn-out process. You may have developed bad habits in the way you sit and move your fingers. This is mentally upsetting to me, because I've always been extremely hardworking, and have practiced consistently since I started piano at 5 years old. This is honestly just ludicrous and not for the reason you're probably assuming. What saved me was running into a hand specialist and learning some strengthening exercises. I’m a professional drummer and in those days I had a daily practice routine of 10 hours a day. 5 tests to diagnose CTS include : Phalen’s Test, Tinel’s Sign, Hand Elevation Test, Scratch Collapse Test, Durkan’s Carpal Compression Test. What can I do in that time to heal? Piano playing posture is also very important. However I've since learned that I have carpal tunnel syndrome and have become a bit sensitive to the RM3 action. I'm sorry to hear of your injury, and do hope you can receive medical/professional advice sooner rather than later. They were fairly simple, going full motion on wrists, and then fingers at the first knuckle both straight and curled. Piano playing as a hobby is not likely to result in carpal tunnel syndrome. More and more I find that basic audio and editing skills are extremely useful. Soaking in warm water and gentle massaging of the carpal tunnel area, as well as hand stretches are helpful.
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