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finger spasm mid-set fret hand

#3
patrickj said:
This ever happen to anyone else? It was incredibly painful. But worse, I also lost control of most of my hand for at least 15 minutes. Got thru the night well enough but damn, prefer to not have it happen again.

Is this a case where I need to stretch beforehand?
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That sounds bad. I suggest steering clear of internet advice and instead consulting a doctor on this one. No one can or should judge from a two sentence post. Get yourself checked out by a professional
 
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#5
patrickj said:
This ever happen to anyone else? It was incredibly painful. But worse, I also lost control of most of my hand for at least 15 minutes. Got thru the night well enough but damn, prefer to not have it happen again.

Is this a case where I need to stretch beforehand?
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Where was your pain? There are no muscles in your finger, so if pain was in your finger and it wouldn't move, I doubt it was a spasm.

I would suggest if you have pain while playing: stop playing until the pain goes away and seek consultation from a doctor. Even if you are Flea in the last song of a global tour, you don't want to damage something and not be able to play again. If I had to guess you are like me and doing this basically at a financial loss for the joy of playing. If you get hurt, you can't play.

I don't want to give advice beyond that because you haven't given enough information for a diagnosis. Also, dehydration gets blamed for way more than it is responsible for.
 
#8
Happens to me too, occasionally. From what I've deduced, it seems to be a combination of long sets and not practicing enough (conditioning), and even more, dehydration. Drinking a lot of water and getting potassium is a good idea.

Seeing a doctor is good advice, but for me, it isn't a regular occurrence, and only happens when I'm playing, so I don't think that's necessary for me.
 
#9
Stumbo said:
Keeping hydrated and taking supplements like potassium or magnesium for muscle cramps is common knowledge.

Since it can take a few weeks to get a doctor's appointment, there is no downside to the DIY treatment to see if it helps.
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Unless he has some kind of undiagnosed issue with potassium or magnesium. There are plenty of downsides to DIY treatment if getting an appointment with a physician takes a while. There are urgent care facilities and emergency rooms.
 
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#11
Gorn said:
Unless he has some kind of undiagnosed issue with potassium or magnesium. There are plenty of downsides to DIY treatment if getting an appointment with a physician takes a while. There are urgent care facilities and emergency rooms.
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Plus, exactly what muscle is spasming in your finger? If it is a muscle spasm/cramp then it will hurt in your forearm or palm. Fingers are just bones, tendons, ligaments, skin, nerves, and blood vessels.
 
#13
Getting a qualified opinion is never a bad idea, and these cats recommending it to you are doing you a solid (in my opinion). On the other hand, cramps and spasms are pretty common, and dehydration is commonly the cause. However, diabetes is one of the things that docs commonly check for signs of, when patients complain of this sort of thing. I want to toss that out there, just in case you are on the fence about seeing a doc or nurse practitioner, and might be at risk.
 
#17
Sounds like cramping. I use to work in Saudi and on a couple of occasions we we're loading in around 4pm in the summer (so around 120F and muggy) and sweating profusely. Sometime in the second set, later that evening, my right hand cramped shut and then my left. Same thing happend to one of our guitarists a few songs later. I had to stop playing and physically open my hands with the other and the help of a friend. After that I made sure that I drank plenty of water starting the night before a gig like that as well as drinking some Gatorade (instead of that load in beer). I've never hand that issue again; now I just get trigger release issues in all of my fingers and have them operated on, but that's a totally different ailment. If you want to see a doc, go see an orthopedic hand surgeon - they work with your hands and are very, very, good.
 
#19
patrickj said:
Thanks everyone! I'll inquire with a doctor, but dehydration may indeed have played a part.
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All the advice on here is useless IMPO. Based on the tiny amount of information you provided you could have a finger sprain, a trigger finger, tendonitis, arthritis (multiple types), muscle spasms from over use, dehydration, gonorrhea, carpal tunnel syndrome, or neuritis among other diagnoses.

It would take more information to tell you if it sounds like eating a banana and drinking Gatorade is what you need.
 
#20
Also paying close attention to body mechanics. Not fretting too hard and not bending too much at the wrist. Def sounds band and its worth going to a doctor. Although my faith in the medical system is slim and I believe this will be fixed by paying attention to mechanics and heath.
Slowly build yourself up until you can do hours without discomfort. Don't push it.
 

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