Playing guitar one year - Possible nerve damage in index, fixable?

babymanval

Hi all,

As above, I've been playing acoustic guitar for just under a year with no previous pain. About a week or so ago I put in a couple of intense/long days on a song I really have no business playing due to the demands of the picking pattern/tricky chord changes. I was making progress with it due to sheer amount of practice, but all of a sudden I started getting pain in my index finger due to repeating a one finger Amaj chord change (barring D/G/B strings with index) over and over again. I always just made the chord shape with 3 fingers before but the song requires hammer ons and pull offs on 3rd/4th fret during the chord.

Now I've got what I can only describe as electric-shock type pain in the tip of my index finger, and am lifted out of it with pain around my first knuckle whenever I make a barre shape, or worst of all when I play that Amaj shape. I've definitely lost some dexterity/strength in the finger too.

I've knocked practice on the head all week, but the pain isn't dissipating. Does anyone have any experience/advice on this kind of this?

babymanval

May be better suited to Playing Techniques sub-forum... Mods?

Rigsby

This is a no brainer......cease playing and see a doctor ASAP.

Ravelleman

Yes, indeed. Seek the advice of a medical professional if in doubt.

babymanval

Rigsby wrote: »

This is a no brainer......cease playing and see a doctor ASAP.

Thanks for the advice folks; but yeah that's all well and good: I already know the cautious (and fairly costly) solution. I guess I was more hoping to appeal to guitarists who might have experienced this kind of (potentially passing) thing at some stage in their development - ye know, before shelling out €60 for a GP, then €100(+?) for a specialist, and whatever treatment cost applies afterwards.

Rigsby

babymanval wrote: »

Thanks for the advice folks; but yeah that's all well and good: I already know the cautious (and fairly costly) solution. I guess I was more hoping to appeal to guitarists who might have experienced this kind of (potentially passing) thing at some stage in their development - ye know, before shelling out €60 for a GP, then €100(+?) for a specialist, and whatever treatment cost applies afterwards.

What you are basically asking for is medical opinion. This is the "instruments" forum, and people here are not qualified to comment.

Yes, it may be costly to see a doctor, but what price do you put on the health of your hand(s) ?

zenno

I recently had the same problem and it can be sore but whatever you do no matter how tempted, don't use the classical for a few weeks and see how it goes. I had the problem from playing Canon in D-Major and i pulled something with the long stretching chords so i left it for a week and it is not perfect yet but is getting there but i won't play/practice until it heals properly.

This is a well known problem for difficult chords on the classical and in some bad circumstances it can be permanent so don't play until it's healed imo.

cena

Get that hand looked at. You really need you hand.

I know cause if have nerve and muscle damge to one of my hands

pm1977x

Get it looked at, I had one or two similar shooting pains, one very similar to the 'electric shock' one you mentioned and felt I had completely damaged myself but after a week at most I would be pain-free and back playing, so hopefully you're fine but if there's been no improvement get it checked!

Ravelleman

Physios, for example, can be very helpful in these situations. I had a lot of pain in my wrist while hand writing and they taught me a new way to hold my pen which was much more efficient and didn't tire my muscles as much. It can be something as simple as posture or, of course, something more serious. Worth it if you really are in doubt, pal.

babymanval

Thanks for the advice guys. It seems just waiting it out is the best course of action.

I actually went and had it looked at on Friday; My GP held my finger, lightly squeezed the sides of my knuckles for 10-15 seconds, then declared that she could't really prescribe medication/treatment or anything. Her opinion was that I should "keep an eye" on it and come back in a month if it's still bad.

...Sure it was only €50 anyway.

Rigsby

babymanval wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys. It seems just waiting it out is the best course of action.

I actually went and had it looked at on Friday; My GP held my finger, lightly squeezed the sides of my knuckles for 10-15 seconds, then declared that she could't really prescribe medication/treatment or anything. Her opinion was that I should "keep an eye" on it and come back in a month if it's still bad.

...Sure it was only €50 anyway.

Well done !! You were right to get it checked out. €50 is a small amount to pay for peace of mind.


Hopefully you will be back playing soon. :cool:

mathepac

Hope it heals fast.

Just as a matter of interest do you do any warm-ups and stretches before playing / practicing? I mean without the instrument, doing gentle stretches, curls, squeezes on a rubber ball, finger-tip to thumb for each finger, etc? Can help to avoid injury or strain. DO NOT START NOW!!!

Rigsby

mathepac wrote: »

Hope it heals fast.

Just as a matter of interest do you do any warm-ups and stretches before playing / practicing? I mean without the instrument, doing gentle stretches, curls, squeezes on a rubber ball, finger-tip to thumb for each finger, etc? Can help to avoid injury or strain. DO NOT START NOW!!!

Agree 100%. There are lots of stuff on You Tube. Search for "Hand Stretches for Guitar".

feylya

Go to the Doctor