Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

kelpbeds

I teach guitar for a living so play a lot. Just noticed yesterday some pain in the underside of my forearm when I flex  my fingers (fretting hand) can feel it kind of in a line up the middle of my forearm to my elbow (only light discomfort) Also my palm has been tingly/itchy for sometime. So thinking it might well be CTS.
Thoughts? And if it is CTS how do I deal with it. Anyone else been through this? Seeing a physio this week.
Thanks

the_jaffa

The usual tell-tale for CTS is numbness in the thumb, first, second and one side of the ring finger. Mine flared up mostly at night and was a painful, pins and needles combined with numbness. Uncomfortably numb, one might say.

I tried all sorts of things to alleviate mine; steroid injections, sleeping with a splint on, stretching etc but they just delayed the inevitable and I ended up having the release operation. Should have done it sooner. Cured the CTS immediately, only took 9 minutes in theatre from start to finish and has had no ill effects at all. I've got a neat scar on the base of my palm but other than you'd never know.

Well worth getting it investigated properly before you get muscle wastage in the base of your thumb which loses you grip strength (one of the main side effects of ongoing CTS). There are nerve conductivity tests that can be done.

Not sure yours sound quite like CTS though and could be related to something further up the chain so arm, shoulder or even neck. Chatting with a physio sounds like a good first step.

Hope you get sorted

merlin

the_jaffa said:

I tried all sorts of things to alleviate mine; steroid injections, sleeping with a splint on, stretching etc but they just delayed the inevitable and I ended up having the release operation. Should have done it sooner. Cured the CTS immediately, only took 9 minutes in theatre from start to finish and has had no ill effects at all. I've got a neat scar on the base of my palm but other than you'd never know.

I went through the same crap. I had it in both wrists and after a similar course of treatments that did pretty much nothing, I had the release, both at once. That was about 17 years ago and absolutely no issues since. 

You may want to have a look at Matt Furey's stuff. A friend sent me a tape (which has long gone back) a little while after I had the surgery. Not sure if it actually works, but may be worth a punt. Particularly if you can't afford any time not playing. 

https://www.mattfurey.com/terminate-elbow-carpal-tunnel-and-wrist-pain-now/

kelpbeds

Cheers chaps - not got the  numbness in the thumb or fingers, so perhaps it isn't that. I'm just trying to be cautious as I play guitar a lot!
Strangely enough, just done an hour lesson with a lad and it feels a lot better!

barry2tone

Your symptoms may be more related to tendonitis of the wrist and finger flexors tendons and sheaths.

Not a situation you want stir up, because chronically inflamed tissues can take ages to settle.

Haven't checked your location, but this link should help find some specialist advice.

https://www.bapam.org.uk/

Blaendulais

It sounds like a tendonitis if its that high up your forearm.  Get to see a physio and do the exercises she gives you as sometimes it can stop you playing

rossi

I had similar ,no thumb pain .it went after a few months all on its own.

kelpbeds

Thanks all - will see a private physio early next week 

Blaendulais

kelpbeds said:

Thanks all - will see a private physio early next week 

It may be a he! I apologise for discriminatory post!

terada

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/rheumatology/specialties/musicians-clinic/overview.aspx

Exceptional guys doing exceptional work. You can see them on the nhs via your gp. 

kelpbeds

terada said:

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/rheumatology/specialties/musicians-clinic/overview.aspx

Exceptional guys doing exceptional work. You can see them on the nhs via your gp. 

That's great - many thanks

p90fool

I've had similar symptoms from tenosynovitis for years and it severely restricts how much I can practice, so my guitar playing is pretty much exclusively band rehearsals and gigs these days. 

After various treatments over the years the thing which gives me most relief is drumstick practice on a practice pad. It seems to loosen me up without doing exactly the same movements as guitar playing. 

Roland

p90fool said:

I've had similar symptoms from tenosynovitis for years and it severely restricts how much I can practice, so my guitar playing is pretty much exclusively band rehearsals and gigs these days ...

Similarly here. I only practice when I need to learn a new technique, or a new song. It’s not as serious as tenosynovitus, or carpal tunnel. Just the effects of ageing joints and tendons. It’s annoying, because I like playing. It doesn’t stop me picking up a guitar for a few minutes, but I now avoid prolonged practice, and reserve my playing time for rehearsals and gigs.