Nervous damage to fret hand...

[RandomHero]

I went out last night and had my big birthday bash. The original one scheduled last Tuesday didn't happen, as it was on a Tuesday. I got pretty messed up and am feeling pretty sour about alcohol, having experienced my first hangover all day today until 4.

However, very perturbing is that I seem to have lost about 50% of the feeling in my left pinky, and a little bit of the feeling in my left ring finger. I woke up in the morning and assumed I slept on it. But I still can't feel it all the way. There was a mosh pit at the show I went to, but I can't find any injuries on my left arm...

This is frightening me. If it is what I think it is, it more or less crushes my dreams of playing at the same speeds of my idols, if ever proficiently again at all. My playing has suffered, as it stands. Any info you guys have on this sort of thing would be highly appreciated, even if it is bad news...

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

admin said:

Any info you guys have on this sort of thing would be highly appreciated, even if it is bad news...

Hope you've seen some improvement in that since you posted.
I'll be sending you a PM.

[UnklMickey]

good news, bad news.



GOOD NEWS: i have slept on my hand a few times, and caused a temporary loss of feeling in my hand.

very slow to recover, after drinking heavily.

after two days, (much sooner if no alcohol involved) the problem was gone.





BAD NEWS: since you were pretty messed up, you don't know if you just slept on it, or pinched a nerve or something from a collision.





we'll have a good thought for you.




unk

[Ripper]

Hey Randomhero... My Doctor reminds me quite often that im not 18 anymore, it takes longer for our bodies to heal, no matter what the problem. Give it a few days, youll be doodly-ooodling before long....youll also being playing guitar too! hehe!

[Runewalker]

Neuropathy has many causes so obviously would be difficult to tie down in this non-medical forum. Associated with diabetes. Any in your family.

the juice may not be your friend, at least on a binge basis:

www.drkoop.com/ency/93/000714.html

As suggested it will probably dissapate. But it is a significant warning. Alcohol is not conducive to shredding, no matter what Dave Mustaine said in his stupor days. It is still a motor skill.

Sorry this happened RH. A little scary, no doubt. I have heard from my Doc that there is a set of nerves that affect the little and ring finger, that run near the 'funny bone" and are easily impinged causing temporary numbness.

[UnklMickey]

"It is still a motor skill."

i'll bet Dave would have agreed....."it is skill a motor still."

[Runewalker]

unklmickey said:

"It is still a motor skill."

i'll bet Dave would have agreed....."it is skill a motor still."

Maybe MotorHead Skill.

[Ripper]

I didnt know Dave Mustaine could play guitar?...He must still be hurtin!

[RandomHero]

Good news, I went to the doc and she x-rayed me and whatnot. Nothing seems abnormal at all, no indication of permanent injury, she's willing to bet it's a pinched nerve as well. Reccommended I take some advil and apply heat to me elbow, but it's far from permanent. However, it's weird.

Even though I can't feel it, every time I've played guitar since, I've -really- pushed myself and come up with some great stuff. It's as if the thought of being crippled for life took over and I was... frightened, but inspired, in a way. Thanks for the good wishes and I'll keep you guys updated. And also thanks for the PM, Mini.

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

admin said:

Good news, I went to the doc and she x-rayed me and whatnot. Nothing seems abnormal at all, no indication of permanent injury, she's willing to bet it's a pinched nerve as well. Reccommended I take some advil and apply heat to me elbow, but it's far from permanent.

Whew! That is good news.

And also thanks for the PM, Mini.

You're welcome. Did the doc say anything about light exercise being good for it, or resting it rather than trying to push yourself too much? (At least the term RSI -- Repetitive Stress Injury, carpal tunnel syndrome and all that -- apparently never came up.)

[dunkelfalke]

it doesn't look like rsi anyway (i have it so i should know )

[sumgai]

RH,

See your favorite Chiro, you have ulnar nerve dislocation. He/she will straighten it out for you, but no therapy is instant. Mine was about a month of slow recovery, after 2 visits a couple of days apart. You may opt to just wait it out without the 'adjustments', the recovery will still take place. But adjusting the spine once or twice will keep the nerve from getting of whack again so easily.

Good Luck!



sumgai

[jester700]

I'll be the skeptic voice on the efficacy of chiropractic on this. I highly doubt mucking about with the spine had anything to do with sumgai's recovery or would help yours.

If it IS an ulnar nerve dislocation (and a guitar forum is no place to get a diagnosis), Google it to see what others have done. Seems there's a range of therapies & outcomes. Maybe waiting a couple weeks would be a cautious first move. And stop drunken slam dancing... ;-)

[jhng]

admin said:

Even though I can't feel it, every time I've played guitar since, I've -really- pushed myself and come up with some great stuff. It's as if the thought of being crippled for life took over and I was... frightened, but inspired, in a way.

It's amazing how a bit of restriction can send you off in a new direction.

It sounds like it'll all come right (I remember a medical friend of mine telling me about similar things that can happen if you (e.g.) fall asleep with your elbow propped up on a bar, as one does).

I'm reminded of the tale of Tony Iommi (for those who don't know it):

He decided to go professional with his band (then called Earth, I think) and quit his day job at a factory, resigned and told his Mum etc at lunchtime, his Mum said he should work the afternoon to "finish the day".

Back at the steel works he had to cover for someone and operate a sheet metal press - which he was not familiar with.

Accident! He lost the top joints of the middle and ring finger of his fretting hand.

Didn't play for a long time, very depressed etc, until a friend gave him Django Rheinhardt to listen to. To cut a long story short - he started playing again (at first using just index and pinkie, later using his own homemade prosthetics (apparently made from melted down fairy liquid bottles)),

and restarted the band which became Black Sabbath.

Hastings

[mlrpa]

Uhhh, Random? I thought you were developing a problem with the spirits? I realize the importence of the b-day bash, but still...
Hopefully the incident with the pinky will help keep you on the right track. Use it a learning experience.

[RandomHero]

Yeah, I was having alcohol issues a while back, but had cleaned up since... my buddies all wanted to get me trashed for my 21st and I figured why not. They were buying and my sober best friend was the equivelant of a guardian angel. I'm in no hurry to get my hands on any more booze.

But the feeling has completely returned to my ring finger, and there's more sensation now in my pinky. Seems that playing helps.

[jester700]

Woohoo! Keep it up! "Good on ya, mate!" for your sobriety as well.

[Happyguy]

O.k I'm gonna be the guy to stand up for alcohol.

Alcohol IS great fun. Just don't be stupid and drink loads. I have found that ppl that drink rarely often over do it when to actually go out to drink. Great social lubricant, stay in the walking zone.

Alcohol and drugs are just things, people make them bad...

But thats just me talking. Nobody has to listen.

(As for the hand, this once happend to me and within a few days it was gone. My cure for everything is a hot bath )

Take it easy, peace, don't be a square

[blackout]

toni iommi that all I got to say..... you can work though anything man.

Oh and there is this guy

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9168901605550047950