well i didn’t used to have this issue…but now as i play my beloved reviol f or e whistles, my hands are beginning to talk to me . . . and i don’t like the language they are using!
so if i switched to say a tipple flute in those keys, would it be less stressful to my hands?
There’s no predicting but it could be less stressful.
Learning to hold a flute is an art in itself.
I find flute less stressful on my hands than
lower whistles.
Also–in case you don’t know–run your hands under hot water before you play and also ice them
down afterwards (cold packs or whatever). Sooner or later, whatever you play,
it’s likely to help. Also take time off…
A good conservative hand surgeon or hand therapist can give you good advice
and helpful exercises.
thanks jim
Whiskey. Wine will do, but whiskey is better.
That’s bad news.
I’ve had similar issues and found that exercising the hand with a gel-filled squeeze ball, particularly at flute-holding angles, relieved stiffness and discomfort, perhaps by increasing blood flow and working the larger muscles a bit to loosen them up.
Yes, Appointment with a hand surgeon, and if there is no need of surgical intervention (which there usually isn’t) they will refer you to a physical therapist or occupational therapist (preferrably one for musicians if there is one in your area). Don’t try and fix the problem yourself as i did, it can make the problem a lot worse. Let the professionals tell you what to do. I had pretty bad left hand pain which i tried to fix with stretching and strengthening. I was referred to a great OT for musicians who fixed the tendonitis in a few months. The problem was i was keeping my left thumb locked straight and tensing the thenar (thumb) muscle and digging in with my left index finger. A simple thumb splint solved the problem.
Good luck,
Bob
If the hand specialist does recommend some heat there are cherry pit filled soft cloth bags out there that will do just the trick.
You heat them up in the microwave as directed, the heat remains for quite some time and they smell nice!
In between tunes you can place your hands on it, nice and toasty warm.
Very helpful to include wrists. This before playing. So you turn on the hot water tap
and run hot water (not too hot but definitely hot) over your hands and wrists until
you are nicely ‘warmed up.’ After this, once you are playing, the motion keeps you warm.
There doubtless are other ways of going about this, and the practice is widespread
among professional musicians, including pianists.
Past a certain age I think a good deal of playing is learning how to avoid injury
and deal with small things that arise. You switch into problem-solving mode,
not the end but the beginning. If problems persist, see a hand therapist or
an orthopaedic hand surgeon or consult professional musicians or…
but don’t end your musical career.
thank you all. excellent advice. i hopefully will never end my musical hobby. its what keeps me quasi-sane.
Did anyone ever try something like Alexander technique or Feldenkrais?
I’m curious to play my instruments in front of one of those teachers, and get their opinion. They are supposed to be experts on what kinds of movements cause the least wear and tear.
If you search on the names of these techniques you will probably find some posts.
Certainly some fluters have used these methods and told us about what they say are the
good effects.
I like the way you think. 
I might have to try this even though I don’t have hand problems yet. Just, y’know, ought to practice for someday, don’t you think? I always like to be prepared for the future.
As W.C. Fields said about whiskey:
‘I keep a little around for snake bite.
Also I keep a little snake.’
Just a quick update . . . I recently acquired from a gracious board member a wonderful Copley Boxwood flute in F. I’m breaking it and my hands in slowly playing only 15 minutes at a time a couple of times a day, but can already tell the flute is not only marvelous, but kinder to my hands. Wish I hand done this earlier.
The biggest challenge has been arranging an airtight storage unit. I ended up with an oxo plastic box(its a fairly new design that utilizes a big button on the lid that when pushed produces an airtight seal). As its an f flute, it fits nicely and the clear sides allows me to check the hygrometer without opening. So far, it’s working very nicely in the desert climate of Arizona.
Thank you to all who have kindly suggested continued hand care options. Gotta love this community!
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT store that flute in a closed plastic (non-breathable) container for long periods. You run and extremely high risk of the flute developing a fungal bloom. Fungus which can be extremely dangerous to your lungs I might add. This is something I have learned from hard personal experience and it cost me several good flutes and whistles, plus a permanent loss of some of my lung capacity due to damage from the fungal infection. Boxwood and some other woods that are more porus than blackwood and cocus are more prone to fungal growth. Locking your flutes in an airtight container with a humidifier is disaster waiting to happen. If you must use a non- breathable container it will need a number of holes in it to allow air flute, not just 3 or 4 tiny holes, and not just in the lid - holes on two opposing side would be better. A wooden box that isn’t lacquered in some way would be best.
Is that Jessie’s Old Boxwood Copley F? I was actually just going to post asking if the current owner (whoever it was) wanted to sell it. Ah well, saves me the trouble of asking around 
Loren
thanks loren . . . i sent you a pm.
you have raised my alarm and may have saved a disaster both for me and for the flute. thank you.
and yes it is jessie’s boxwood. good catch.
the experience and help offered via this community is amazing. i will do some more research on caring for a wooden flute while living in the dry climate of arizona.