 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-06-24 03:04
A few months back I posted about a problem I was having with carpal tunnel syndrome and mentioned that I had surgery planned for early June. Several people requested an update on the success or otherwise of the procedure, so here is my experience.
I had fairly sever CTS in my right wrist, which over a period of a year and a half had turned my right thumb, ring and index fingers into lumps of wood. It made playing the clarinet difficult because I could never be certain about finger placement, and it caused be to abandon playing classical guitar because I couldn't feel the strings.
I had the surgery on Tuesday June 2nd. It was not in any way traumatic, I had a partial anaesthetic with injections of a local numbing agent into the wrist. Recovery was uneventful, no nausea and no great degree of pain. It never became more than mildly uncomfortable, and then only during the first couple of days. The arm was in a sling for the first 3 days and I had a bulky dressing on the hand which made it difficult to play with any facility.
Sensation in the fingers was considerably improved immediately following surgery and has continued to improve since. The surgeon advises me that it may take a year or more before the maximum improvement is achieved and that it may never be as good as it once was.
I had the stitches out yesterday morning and attended band practise last night. I found I was able to play without any major problems, although I stopped after 90 minutes as the wrist was feeling the strain by then. Not as a result of the surgery, just from disuse over the last few weeks. Also my lips felt a bit rubbery by then, but this will pass after a few days.
All in all, I consider it to be a great success. I'm playing again tonight and tomorrow and don't anticipate problems. I was able to get around the problem to some extent by switching to a plateau clarinet, and this enabled me to continue to play even with the CTS, but it is nice to get back to my old favourite again. I'll hang on to the plateau horn, because my left wrist is also a future candidate for treatment. Anyway, this was my experience, your mileage may vary.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-06-24 04:18
That's a great report! Glad you are doing well. So there's hope for when we overdo it or just suffer the effects of the years.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: LaurieBell
Date: 2015-06-25 01:07
So glad you had great results Tony.
My CTS was bad like yours and I had my left hand done if Feb, and was playing within 3 days. It's good as new now and I am happy as a clam.
I have surgery scheduled next month on my right hand and am keeping my fingers crossed it will go OK.
==
But just to report the other side of the story, a friend's husband waited too long and I think he had permanent nerve damage. He had surgery last month and there is relieve, but his results are not as good as yours or mine.
If others read this post or ask for your advice, recommend the see a doctor early on and at least learn of the extent of the damage. If caught early, I understand there are non-surgical options that may help. But if people wait too long, even surgery may not help.
I'm so glad you're able to play again.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roxann
Date: 2015-06-26 01:12
Great news, Tony. What a relief, huh? Now I need to google "plateau clarinet!" You've piqued my curiosity.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: marcia
Date: 2015-06-26 01:22
>But if people wait too long, even surgery may not help.
I know a clarinetist who had CTS for many years. She finally had surgery, with some degree of success. She still does have some problems. I know another clarinetist who also had CTS for a much shorter time. He had surgery with great success.
I would concur the idea of seeing a doctor sooner rather than later.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-06-26 04:29
"Great news, Tony. What a relief, huh? Now I need to google "plateau clarinet!" You've piqued my curiosity."
Hi Roxann,
The plateau or closed-hole clarinet is a very good way round the CTS problem, as it removes the necessity for precise finger placement. As long as you plop your finger down in the general area everything will come out right in the end. I thought there would be an acclimatization period, but in practice it turned out to be about 5 seconds. About the only real disadvantage with the plateau instrument is that it is difficult, although not impossible, to do a decent glissando.
I was lucky enough to be able to find an excellent Vito instrument in near-new condition and for a very modest price on that website, but there are generally some around. Few manufacturers offer them now but in the past most of the major makers did, although sometimes only to special order. Because of the extra keywork they were generally more expensive than the standard instrument.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MichaelW
Date: 2015-06-27 17:25
Search here:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=400708&t=400687
or under "Plateau".
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-06-28 19:28
This one is more typical.
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Clarinette-Plateaux-NOBLET-rare-/261945148635?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_71&hash=item3cfd25c4db
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
