 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-01-01 01:50
Dealing with a messed up LH Middle finger -
When I bend it there is a "click" in the finger between the joint next to the palm inside the finger "padding".
Got it from heavy weight lat pull down's at the gym about a month ago and it's not getting any better. Doesn't affect technique, have played gigs with it like this but wondering if anyone else has had that before and what the end result was.
I've got an ortho appt monday so the obvious is already in place.
Not asking for medical advice, just wondering if anybody has had clicking in their finger before and if it was curable, or should I do the other side to even it out... 
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-01-01 03:00
David -
It's called a "trigger finger," and it's caused by the swelling of the sheath around the tendon where it goes through a narrow passage at the joint that connects the finger with the hand. See http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/trigger-finger/DS00155.
I had the same problem with my left ring finger about a year ago and had a lot of trouble finding non-crackpot information, or information from anyone who didn't stand to profit by doing surgery.
I got the best advice from a physical therapist, who said to do nothing for at least six months. Mine gradually faded and was gone within that time.
The surgery is apparently fairly simple, but if you need it, you should go to a surgeon who treats musicians.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-01-01 14:39
See an experienced hand specialist, who will be very well versed in the entire hand-wrist anatomy/mechanics and be able to prescribe a treatment protocol. Mine suggested heat and stretching first, and I was able to stop here. The next step before surgery is shot of cortisone. People have told me that it hurts like hell, and I had too many gigs to allow it. Plan on the surgery putting you out of commission for several months, perhaps more.
You probably don't want to give up the gym, and should get someone to coach your lifting so you don't hurt yourself further. The "coach" initially assigned to me put me into situations that I knew would cause injury. In the typical performance-related culture, it may be difficult to find anybody who can really help you.
WRT "do the other side" - this was a joke, yes?
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2009-01-01 20:45
I have had cortizone injections in both ring fingers. One lasted several months so had completely succesful operation; other is ok, so far. Great hand surgeons here in San Antonio. played clarinet 70 years before triggering. took place.
richard smith
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2009-01-01 23:10
Sounds like trigger finger to me, too. I had a trigger thumb - left hand - that just appeared one morning when I woke up. My doctor diagnosed it pretty easily and sent me to an orthopedist who specializes in hands. Three cortisone shots cleared it up permanently for me (or at last it hasn't recurred in several years). I also played with it (painfully) for a couple of weeks before I decided it wasn't going away by itself. Surgery would have been the ortho's next recommendation if the shots hadn't cleared it up.
Karl
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2009-01-02 21:53
(Assuming you're asking about the cortisone injections):
It's not so much _pain_ as a sensation of pressure. Hurts a little. In any case, it only lasts 3 or 4 seconds.
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