Severity of the symptoms. 2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can make it difficult to complete even simple tasks such as putting down the buttons of a shirt or capping a bottle. Easing the . Read More. I felt tingling from the tip of my fingers to the . n . Numbness in these three fingers, or in the nerves leading to these fingers, could . Make sure you can make a fist with your fingers and completely straighten them. Carpal tunnel is mainly caused by repetitive motions of your wrists and hands. Perform a forearm flexor exercise. You can only take these classes in Los Angeles and New Zealand. Yes: Carpal tunnel can often occur after repetitive stress such as would be seen with frequent using of a computer keyboard or lengthy piano playing. Also, changing my technique based on the Taubman piano technique eliminated the cause of the problems. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disease process, with an estimated prevalence of 1 to 5 % in the general population [2, 5, 7, 16, 22].Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is the most common nontraumatic hand surgery performed in North America [].The economic burden to the health care system from this condition and its treatment is, therefore, considerable. Your goals during recovery are to manage your symptoms and regain pain-free wrist strength and function. Bend your hand toward you so your fingers point up toward the ceiling. The operation involves dividing a ligament in your wrist to relieve pressure on a nerve that controls movement and feeling in your hand. Carpal Tunnel Surgery - help please. Common Questions and Answers about Finger pain after carpal tunnel surgery. 01. Awake refreshed in the morning with a sound night's sleep and hands that feel ready to play your instrument. "In surgery, I make a very small incision to open the ligament in the wrist tunnel where the nerve extends to the hand. The weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hands caused by carpal tunnel syndrome - not to mention the pain! Gregory "Greg" S. started playing the guitar when he was 10 years old. hours after surgery. The injury can become a stigma and the injured pianist feels isolated, rejected, inadequate, and humiliated. Rest your elbow and arm on the table and let your wrist hang over the side, palm of your hand facing up. Repeat this movement about 20 to 30 times an hour as much as your dressing allows your hand to stretch. While carpal tunnel is a serious condition that many musicians can face, it is entirely preventable with proper processes in place. In general, these are the milestones that patients can expect with carpal tunnel release: About 1 week after surgery: The bandage and stitches are removed. The recovery only took about 9 months, but it took the doctors over a year to diagnose the problem because my median nerve was still undamaged, so the EMG came up negative for carpal tunnel. Many people experience improved symptoms soon after surgery. Sometimes a scalpel is inserted along with the endoscope (single portal technique). Picking up small objects, or holding on to anything for that matter, is very frustrating. It's at home, after the hand operation, that your aftercare for carpal tunnel surgery actually begins. Start with your hand in a straight, neutral position. The tendons which move the thumb and fingers also travel through the carpal tunnel . I actually do both, and this has helped me to continue playing tennis. ;-) Patients may be referred to physical therapy to improve stiffness and restore range of motion. How open carpal tunnel surgery is carried out. Your surgeons objective is to cut the transverse carpal ligament, releasing the pressure on the median nerve. Bend your hand toward you so your fingers point up toward the ceiling. Surgery can also prevent atrophy, the wasting of nerves and muscles, in the advanced stages of carpal tunnel. Thank. 1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can make it difficult to complete even simple tasks such as putting down the buttons of a shirt or capping a bottle. Although it requires several weeks and physical therapy to restore grip strength, most patients experience a full recovery, with symptoms resolved and function . monday is the first big day! I had it for two years. You can only take these classes in Los Angeles and New Zealand. "My fingers had forgotten how to play a "C" chord," explained Greg. Use ice as needed. Depression and a sense of hopelessness can themselves be obstacles to recovery. For piano players, the possibility of developing carpal tunnel is a real concern. This is an outpatient procedure, and one that is relatively simple and quick. While carpal tunnel syndrome My job was very damaging to my hands. I play the piano, garden, and ride a scooter all of which, while possible to do, result in a week of increased pain afterwards. Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery . Since both hands are active in striking the ebony and ivory keyboard constantly during . Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is inflammation and entrapment of the medial nerve in the carpal tunnel, (the tunnel formed by the carpal bone at the base of the hand). Directions on both of these are on the page How To Reduce Inflammation. Your surgeons objective is to cut the transverse carpal ligament, releasing the pressure on the median nerve. I'm a skilled almost-middle-aged pianist desperate to hang onto my ability to play. Many piano students have learned to play in ways that have led to injuries. Go to those places that charge $25 for 30 minutes and have them spend 5 minutes on each forearm once a week. 3. Use the other hand to hold your fingers of the extended arm and gently push down until you feel a stretch. [4] Studies examining the use of ice following surgery have had conflicting results, meaning that some patients noticed a difference in their pain levels while others did not. Re: Carpal tunnel surgery and back to playing. i'm pretty sure the reason they're just knocking me out as opposed to doing local anesthetic while i'm awake . 2. GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, May 31. I had it for two years. Once you have had the anaesthetic and your hand is numb, it takes approximately 20 minutes to complete carpal tunnel surgery. Return to a straight, neutral position. The TCL length remained constant under the applied forces. Make sure you can Answer (1 of 4): I had Median Nerve Entrapment (aka CTS) due to inflamed tendons which pressed on the nerve within the carpal tunnel. Which does put pianists and keyboard players at risk for Tennis and Golfer's Elbow. Piano World Home Page. In carpal tunnel syndrome the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel in your wrist, is squashed. It makes a lot of difference in quality of life. It can take 2 to 6 months to see improvements in grip and pinch strength. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common overuse injury of the carpal tunnel. While this is a great way to get better at the craft, it also means that your chances of suffering from this syndrome increase. My mother in law has the same carpal tunnel injury that I have, and she had the surgery but it didn't help her at all, so I'm reluctant to have surgery. The symptoms may be worst at night. You can sleep in any position you choose, but side sleeping is known to cause wrist compression, which is responsible for carpal tunnel. Flex your fingers, exercise that hand (per doctor's instructions), you'll be needing to break and free up the adhesions that reult from any surgery. Weeks 2-4: Patients gradually resume activity in the affected hand. Carpal Tunnel doesn't bother my bowling - at least not in anyway that I'm aware of. Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery . Carpal tunnel surgery, also known as carpal tunnel release (CTR) or carpal tunnel decompression surgery, is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Use ice packs, and a lot of them as soon after surgery as possible. But after 6 weeks I was at about 95%. Sleep on your back or . In contrast, open release carpal . During this procedure, your surgeon will cut the wrist open to performing the surgery, leaving about a two-inch incision on the inside of the wrist. This exercise can be done by extending your arm in front of you, while keeping your elbow straight and your palm pointing to the ceiling. Duration of the carpel tunnel syndrome. (When you've healed of course) Good luck! Make sure you can Hold for 5 seconds. Even though these complications are rare, patients should understand the possible risks . This man is not wrong , i play xbox with a streamer on twitch so its usually 3-4 hours in the day and 1 hour at night, even when i dont play my hands experience the pain . Carpal tunnel release surgery (CTR) is frequently performed to alleviate these symptoms. Bunch your fingers into a fist and release your fingers as much as you are able to. 2022 the Memorial - Tuesday #2. Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery is the more traditional of the two types of CTS surgeries. . It can be from anything, like using a computer keyboard or playing with any game controller. The rates of serious complications from carpal tunnel surgery are very low . Most people who play the piano, professionally or as a hobby, play every day or multiple times per week. Get it done. This condition occurs when one of the major nerves in the wrist becomes pinched, causing numbness, tingling, and shooting pain in the fingers as well as general weakness of the hand muscles. Is there a position I can sleep in to prevent carpal tunnel? It wasn't until I encountered . I have had carpal tunnel release surgery a few years ago and still had the occasional tingling to full on numbness. i'll be having a "mini-open" surgery on my right wrist, with an IV and propofol to knock me out during. Difficulty in handling small objects, writing, driving, etc. I had carpal tunnel surgery and I'm honestly glad I did. on: December 07, 2011, 06:29:26 AM. Eating turmeric. To play the guitar well, all fingers must move quickly for an extended period of time. The vast majority who have carpal passage medical procedure find that their manifestations get relieved and don't return. It wasn't until I encountered . Summary. Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery uses an endoscope. 6.5k views Reviewed >2 years ago. But after 6 weeks I was at about 95%. . Get it done. (Although, guitarists probably suffer these injuries even more! Dr. Alan Ali agrees. It's a thin tube inserted into the palm that contains a fiberoptic camera. Rheumatology 53 years experience. Surgery. This is the current shape of my hands playing drums 10 Days after Carpal Tunnel Surgery. Piano playing as a hobby is not likely to result in carpal tunnel syndrome. I am a professional pianist with carpal tunnel symdrome. Longer that is more the time to the insult to the median nerve, more is the nerve irritated, the longer numbness or tingling are constant, the harder it is to have a full . Lie on your back, stretching and resting your hands for a few seconds. June 7, 2022 1 Views. You can also apply an icepack or frozen vegetables to the palm side of the dressing at the level of your wrist to help keep swelling to a minimum. 6. Carpal <b>tunnel</b . Many people with carpal tunnel syndrome require carpal tunnel release surgery to relieve pressure on their median nerve, which is what provides sensation in the thumb and all fingers except the little finger. To help your recovery, keep your fingers moving. In total, 9 tendons and the median nerve are within the carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome can result in irreversible nerve and muscle damage if not treated. During this procedure, your surgeon will cut the wrist open to performing the surgery, leaving about a two-inch incision on the inside of the wrist. Jon Cobert I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right wrist last year (completely successful, knock wood).