Klarinet Archive - Posting 000110.txt from 2003/07

From: "James Hobby" <jhobby@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Neurological damage - help!
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 11:11:08 -0400

I have developed a problem with my left hand. We thought it was coming from
the neck, but apparently due to diabetis, I've developed neuropathy in the
ulnar nerve, which controls the last two fingers on the left hand. The
doctors aren't musicians, so don't understand exactly what I'm asking. The
neurologist has sent me to a pain management specialist, so I "assume" this
means he doesn't think it's going to be repairable.

In addition to the lack of control, in general, the finges don't open as far
as they used to. (If I put my thumbs together and expand my hands, the
T-1-2 open to match up. However, L3 & L4 are offset by almost a inch.)
When I roll up to the register key, it puts a strain on those same two
fingers, so everything doesn't seat correctly, and I get some really
squirley sounds. This has progressed rapidly. I noticed some problems in
March, but it didn't bother my playing. Little by little, it's got to be
impossible to play.

Does anyone have a suggestion (medication, exercise, whatever) that will
help me get some control over those fingers back? If I don't find
something, the 7/16 Sunset Symphony concert will be the sunset to my
playing.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Jim Hobby

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