Nerve Damage?

Sanctum · #1 07-27-2007, 01:09 PM

I guess this is the right part of the forum for this ....

Ok so lately in my left hand, index finger, (my fretting hand) I've been having strange sensations while playing ... almost like an electric shock where my finger makes contact with the strings while I'm playing. And no, its not an electric shock

What's weird is I'm right handed, use my right hand for mousing on computer, and when I play I'm rougher on my right fingers than the left hand, as I like to play hard.

So I'm just wondering if there are any known conditions that would cause nerve damage or something in a finger ... cause its starting to worry me, and a couple of time it approached what I would call "painful."

Please, no internet/pr0n/masturbation jokes

I already said I was right handed

lefty007 · #2 07-27-2007, 01:27 PM

Google up or search here at TB information about carpal tunnel syndrome. Do you spend a lot of time using a computer mouse everyday?

Sanctum · #3 07-27-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty007

Google up or search here at TB information about carpal tunnel syndrome. Do you spend a lot of time using a computer mouse everyday?

I work in IT, we know all about carpal tunnel - and like I said, I mouse with my RIGHT hand, not my left. Since I work in IT I have good practices and exercise to avoid Carpal .. and what I"m experiencing isnt like those symptoms.

Nighthawk551 · #4 07-27-2007, 01:57 PM

That has happened to me several times. I usually will pinch a nerve in the tip of my index finger when I press on the string a certain way. It only hurts for a few seconds, though. If yours is a recurring pain, then you probably have pinched a nerve.

flash41 · #5 07-27-2007, 01:59 PM

Greg. How old are you and how long has this been going on?
I have a similar situation in my right hand. An MRI of my neck showed arthritic bone spurs on my cervical vertebrae (C4/C5) that are causing a visible compression of my spinal cord.
My advice is to get it yourself checked out by a neurologist.

Joe Nerve · #6 07-27-2007, 02:12 PM

I should be granted immunity from the joke thing.

Anyhow - the worst possible advice which I hope I don't regret one day but I use all the time is...

Ignore it.

I've had all kinds of crap go on with my hands, wrists and fingers. My middle finger on my right hand was in pain for about a year once and I was told it was arthritis. I learned to use my ring finger more, ignored it as much as I could, and it's now as good as new. When I was focused on it, worried about it, and going to doctors - it was at it's worst. When I just forgot about it and gave up thinking about it, it healed. Not always the case of course, and as I said - probably real bad advice - but I think there's truth to the face that the more we focus on something, the bigger or more prominent a problem (or blessing) it becomes.

the_fonz · #7 07-27-2007, 02:46 PM

maybe you're allergic to the steel or whatever
it could happen
...
I'M NOT CRAZY

Sanctum · #8 07-27-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flash41

Greg. How old are you and how long has this been going on?

I'm 40 and obviously falling apart!

Its only been happening for about a month I guess? I dunno I only notice it when I play, I can even press on my finger and feel no pain. Anyhow .... last night at practice it didnt happen so often.

machine gewehr · #9 07-31-2007, 06:25 AM

I'm adding 1 injury every year to my collection,and the best advice I can give is "SEE A DOCTOR!".

BellBottomBlues · #10 07-31-2007, 10:01 AM

try playing sitting down and see if it still hurts. It might be a problem your strap is causing you (like pinching a nerve or something)

stillborn86 · #11 07-31-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

try playing sitting down and see if it still hurts. It might be a problem your strap is causing you (like pinching a nerve or something)

+1

That's what I was going to say.

dannoman · #12 07-31-2007, 10:11 AM

Actually, there is a guitar player (sorta famous) that has this problem too. I heard him on Eddie Trunks show on xm radio talking about it. He cannot touch nickel or steel guitar strings without the feeling of electrical shock going through his fingers... It is nerve damage....

he can only play on nylon strings now.

Try some tapewounds and see if it still gives you the same problem

Jim Carr · #13 07-31-2007, 10:17 AM

See your regular Doctor, and get a referral to a specialist. Don't wait.

JeffTheBig · #14 07-31-2007, 10:38 AM

this happend to me when i started playing. i found it went away after i started streaching befor i played

ko stradivarius · #15 07-31-2007, 10:48 AM

Is it just the tip or the whole finger?
The reason I ask is because many years ago I developed a small cyst between my 2nd & 3rd fingers on my left hand.
Mine wasn't painfull all the time though, just that sometimes my 2nd finger would hurt enough for me to pull off the strings.
I'm from StL too so it must be something in the water.

Sanctum · #16 07-31-2007, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KO STRADIVARIUS

Is it just the tip or the whole finger?
The reason I ask is because many years ago I developed a small cyst between my 2nd & 3rd fingers on my left hand.
Mine wasn't painfull all the time though, just that sometimes my 2nd finger would hurt enough for me to pull off the strings.
I'm from StL too so it must be something in the water.

Haha but we have the best water in the US!

Its just the tip. We had a gig last night and I felt nothing. So I guess it was temp or .... I dunno

BellBottomBlues · #17 07-31-2007, 11:07 AM

NY has the best water in the US last time I checked...

!Rob! · #18 07-31-2007, 11:13 AM

Hey Sanc,

I think you may have what I have. Although mine is in my right hand. My whole right arm would fall asleep, sometimes feel like it was being electricuted, and a constant "tingling" feeling in my right index finger.

I've had it since January, and it's annoying to say the least...as well we are the same age.

For me, it is a "pinched nerve" between my C6 and C7 vertebrae of my spine....not sure where the nerves for the left hand are, but I would imagine it's either C5/C6 or C7/C8.

I had a test way back where electrical impulses were sent through my arm, and I think they measure the resistance, and then they stick a needle with a mic in your veins to listen to blood flow....trust me, the test is NOT fun.

Then I went to Physio, which was pretty much a waste of time and money, but I did get a prescription for a "Neck, door traction unit" (mine was $23)....it is a halter you wear on your head which connects to a rope, the rope goes through 2 pullies, and connects to an 8 - 10 lb bag of water. You sit in a chair for 10 - 20 mins and it pulls your head up, thus spreading the vertebrae apart, releasing the tension on the nerves.

Try this....when the "feeling" kicks in...put your head forward and hold it there....does this stop the tingling?, if not try to the left and/or right.

I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon in August, but I probably wont need surgery as I am feeling much better these days, and the symptoms are few and far between.

Feel free to PM me with any questions if you want, but your description of symptoms is identical to mine (in the early stages), however yours is on the left, mine is on the right.

The tip of my index finger is still constantly numb a bit, but I am learning to live with it.

I'll help you thorugh this in any way I can. Go see your doctor a.s.a.p. to get the Xrays done and the tests started.

Fezzey · #19 07-31-2007, 11:19 AM

Similar to Flash 41, I had some numbness in my left index finger. A chiropractor told me that it was the result of a pinched nerve in my neck. Three visits to a Structural Integration Therapist (a massage therapist who does Rolfing) fixed the problem.

!Rob! · #20 07-31-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fezzey

Similar to Flash 41, I had some numbness in my left index finger. A chiropractor told me that it was the result of a pinched nerve in my neck. Three visits to a Structural Integration Therapist (a massage therapist who does Rolfing) fixed the problem.

Cool...I think I'll look into that too...also I just got a business card from a friend for a "Correactologist"...I hear the guys are amazing at just about anything....the guy that gave me the card has had a bad back fo the last 15 years....20 mins and $40,... 8 months ago, and his back is totally fine.

I'll let you know how this works after my appt.