I wonder if any one will tell me something about arthritis in
one’s hands, especially living/playing with it.
I’ve been having persistent pain in the back of my left
hand. I went to the hand clinic at Barnes Jewish Hospital here in
St. Louis. It’s in the joint, in fact. The resident who first
saw me diagnosed arthritis. The cartiledge is
worn away, he said. Took X rays which he
said bore this out.
I then saw the resident’s
boss, who is training the resident. he said that, although
there’s inflamation in the joint, the cartiledge is all right.
It’s not a degenerative anything.
I need to take anti-inflammatories and adjust what I’m
doing in general.
I really don’t know what’s going on, though of course
I prefer to believe the senior physician. (I am continually
impressed by the level of chaos I find in medical
situations.) But I wonder
if you can tell me what to expect IF it is arthritis.
I take it people are capable of going on
playing flute. Any info helpful. These people
were moving very fast.
I’ve shifted to piper’s grip so as not to bend back
the left hand; also changing my computer techniques.
I’m not asking for medical advice,
and please note that I am already under a physician’s
care. Scheduled to go back in a couple of months
if there’s no improvement. I just want info
about what I might expect if the first diagnosis
proves correct.
But if people feel more comfortable, or moderators
wish it, please PM me.
Technical, massage, and stretching advice are permitted and welcome. Any advice re: medications, holistic remedies, or other medical intervention should really be offered via PM or email. Discussing the use of over-the-counter analgesics is probably okay. Let’s see. Thanks.
Sorry to hear about your troubles, Jim. A certain amount of arthritic condition in joints is almost a given as we age, as I’m informed. My left hand gets a fair amount of massage.
Right. I’m not interested in info about treatment.
I’ve been searching and I note that a number of
folks go on playing with arthritic hands/wrists.
I just want to know what to expect, IF it’s
arthritis. I take it there’s no need to
sell my flutes. This is my first brush with this sort of thing.
When I hurt my “right” hand, I was able to play for short periods of time with a wrist splint, which I bought at a drug store. It held my hand and wrist snugly, and felt pretty good, actually.
I used extra strength Excedrin (generic equivalent), especially first thing in the morning.
I preferred the feel of heat to my aching hand and wrist. There are some nice things that you can heat in the microwave then place on your injury, or some newer “patches” that adhere to the skin and stay warm for up to 8 hours. Those feel good.
My problem slowly improved, then went away completely in only 18 months
That seemed like a long time.
As my joint conditions are comparatively benign if occasionally troublesome, all I can say is I just soldier on, really. When I’m playing, I usually don’t even notice any discomfort. Could be there’s some serotonin thing going on, or I’m just caught up in the moment too much to notice. If I’m playing for extended periods nonstop, though, such as at a céilí or for dancers performing slip jigs one after another at a competition (now there’s an ordeal for your flute playing should you want one), I will definitely tire and feel some soreness calling for my attention eventually. Céilís are easy if there are plenty of other musicians; I just stop for a moment and shake it out. If I’m on my own whatever the case, I just mentally shake it off as best I can, and push forward. It can be done. But I usually have to take some form of analgesic after a lot of long playing, although it’s not often. I tend toward anti-inflammatories like aspirin or ibuprofen. Fortunately I don’t have allergies to them.
Ditto the above (except the slip jigs at feis; you’re an iron man, Nano!). I also take glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM. Drinking lots of water seems to help keep things in better shape, too – too many diet Cokes seem to make my joints swell up. Also, when I have a fair amount of computer work or typing, I wear wrist braces on both hands, and sometimes while playing. Nonetheless, I suspect by this Sunday morning (we’re playing 5-6 hours on Friday and 9 hours on Saturday) my fingers will be immobile and swollen like sausages; that’s where piper’s grip and ibuprofen are necessities!
Regardless, I figure I still have it better than the geezers I’m trying to emulate with their farm injuries, damp climate, minimal heat, you name it – and they were way, way better flute players than me.
But hey, we fluteplayers seem to live under this dark cloud of general dismissal. I mean, it’s a flute. Already my sexual orientation is called into question for it; so how hard can it be? Right. Well, I’m on a mission to disabuse the ignorant of any preciousness they might attribute to us: there’s a céilí I often play at, and a lot of people attend. When everyone’s done, the dancers applaud the musicians. That’s when I grip my flute by its middle and thrust it skyward with a roar. Braveheart, like.
Jim, sorry to hear this, but I hope this might be of some comfort:
My wife (51 years old now) has exactly the same problems you describe (and got the same diagnose from the meds) for about five years now. She’s a pianist and can’t play octaves with her left hand for a long period, so, no more Chopin, Liszt or Brahms on stage.
But she can play and she can teach. As for us (simple fluters), we keep our fingers at the same stretch, so maybe you could deal with it.
The difference is that her pain comes and goes, unlike yours, so, maybe a message every now and then - as suggested above - could give you some relieve.
I have used over the counter products with Capsaicin, most notably a product called Swedish Bitters Capsaicin Cream. (Google it) Along with analgesic affects, it warms gently. It’s not strong and smelly like Ben-Gay or products like that.
I’ve been known to use capsaicin cream for my knees. I’m not sure how effective it is, but the stuff has some incredible properties. The first time I tried it, I rubbed a little on, didn’t notice a thing. Then, once I started sweating the area was absolutely on fire. THREE DAYS LATER it still warmed the area when I was running.
Thanks to all. I now think my computer habits have
a good deal to do with the problem. I was using the
mouse built-into my lap top. Not a good idea.
Hand and wrist arched, used my left hand
almost entirely.
I’ve replaced it with an external mouse, rt hand.
This seems to be helping.
Hey, Google De Quervain’s tendonitis; I’ve got that right now in my left wrist. Hurts like hell & is all swollen. There’s a simple test for it that’s non-invasive. Put your thumb inside your palm, then with your other fingers over it, try to move your wrist away from you. It’s called the Finkelstein test or something. If it hurts, you’ve got De Quervain’s. That’s why I went to a keyed flute. I have an appt with an orthopedic surgeon next month, but De Quervain’s similar to Carpel Tunnel, just a different tendon, that unfortunately, flutists use. Good luck & hope it’s not that!
