can i play piano after carpal tunnel surgery

Reply #6 on: December 10, 2011, 07:21:00 AM. way for prevention. Our site has more than 2 million unique monthly visitors and 1 million subscribers. Directions on both of these are on the page How To Reduce Inflammation. These include toileting, brushing your teeth, combing your hair, feeding yourself, and dressing. But if you've tried everything with no results, carpal tunnel surgery may be your only alternative. If the ulnar nerve becomes irritated in this region due to pressure, inflammation, and/or stretching, symptoms will occur. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects your hand and is caused by pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. I found someone who teaches with Alexander technique around herd, and may check him out post surgery. There's less post-surgical pain, it heals faster, and cosmetically, the scar looks better. Carpal tunnel syndrome, not to mention the associated pain, causes numbness, weakness, and tingling in the hands, all of which can severely restrict the pianists ability to perform music. begins right after leaving the operating room. Electronic Keyboarder. After their carpal tunnel surgery, patients in Jonesboro often experience the same or worsened symptoms and undergo yet another surgical procedure called revision . Packed into the tunnel, along with the median nerve, are most of the flexor tendons en route to the fingers. much less trauma to your hand with the endoscopic technique. Here's the first two sections of the article: Piano-related pain can appear in many different places, including your back and neck, shoulders, elbows, forearms, wrists, fingers and thumbs. Have had carpal tunnel for over 2 years (sudden onset- definitive cause never determined) and have failed all therapies trying to avoid surgery. Then you have to go back to the doctor and start the aftercare clock from the beginning. What is the risk of infection with Carpal Tunnel Surgery? Symptoms can include the following: (after Carpal/Cubital Tunnel Surgery) Eric Bourassa 1.19K subscribers 635 views 1 year ago FORT WORTH skip to 0:51 for actual decent playing. No noticable effect, really. Be sure to fill that prescription before the operation! ligaments that creates a narrow tunnel at the base of your hand. severe carpal tunnel syndrome for at least 6 months. The increased pressure on the nerve causes it to malfunction, resulting in the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome . These include the type of surgery you have, your commitment to rehab, whether or not you had complications, and your own general health. 6 weeks ago, I had carpal tunnel release surgery --. It is not always clear why CTS returns in some people, but a 2021 study suggests the cause is often incorrect surgical technique. While postoperative pain does not affect the outcome of carpal tunnel surgery, it can last up to nine months. Carpal tunnel surgery recoverybegins right after leaving the operating room. Have had carpal tunnel for over 2 years (sudden onset- definitive cause never determined) and have failed all therapies trying to avoid surgery. What factors affect aftercare for carpal tunnel surgery? This causes tingling, burning, itching, or numbness in the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome is both a simple and complex issue. then aftercare for carpal tunnel surgery will be longer and more involved. We'll assume there won't be complications and all goes well during your In fact, If youre still wondering, you probably didn't get all the answers you wanted. The law states that if the instrument fits in the airline luggage bins and the [], The International Labor Communications Association (ILCA) has announced its annual communications award winners for 2022. Can carpal tunnel go away? Try icing your wrist down after you play to minimize swelling. This is also normal. Wearing a wrist brace while you work or play can cause your hand to become misaligned. Reply #4 on: December 08, 2011, 03:22:05 PM. When inflammation and swelling of the tendons cause crowding and increased pressure on the median nerve, CTS is the result. half of patients who had carpal tunnel surgery could return to their former job. What Exercises Help for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? on your hand, then things are different. Can you still play? For piano players, the possibility of developing I have never met anyone for whom the Solution did not work.. Do all your stretches, get loosened up, make sure the blood is circulating to the region. 85% of these workers never return to that job. Reply #14 on: January 07, 2012, 11:01:22 AM, Reply #15 on: January 07, 2012, 09:14:39 PM, The website of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand may have information that will be helpful. CTS symptoms include numbness and tingling in the hand and arm. This can help to reduce accumulated fluid in your hands and decrease pressure on the median nerve. When the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is compressed and the tendons are irritated and swollen, carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm a skilled almost-middle-aged pianist desperate to hang onto my ability to play. In both cases, your doctor cuts the ligament around the carpal tunnel to take pressure off the median nerve and relieve your symptoms. aftercare is usually relatively simple. Here's what happens during the operation and what to expect after the surgery is over. Surgery on the non-dominant hand means a return to work can happen in as little as 4 . don't practice too much or even don't practice at all for some period of time? This thread is archived . Either surgery was needed or the fear of At home the pain medicines you had during surgery will start to wear off. Regular Dental Checkups Keep Chops in Tip-Top Shape. The first thing you do is your stretches, which I demonstrated in a different video. In general, it takes most people to have full power in the affected hand between 6-12 weeks after surgery. During recovery, people also need to avoid activities that strain the arms and hands or involve gripping or pinching. How long was it before you could again? If a person has strained their hand, they may feel some soreness. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs due to the compression of the median nerve, which spans the length of the arm and goes through the wrist. No, I have not had a formal lesson in years. But other complications may arise like nerve damage, prolonged pain, and permanent hand weakness. Keep the wound clean and dry by following the aftercare instructions from a doctor. Recovery from carpal tunnel surgery is gradual. Immediately after carpal tunnel surgery, patients will wear a bandage and/or splint to help stabilize the wrist after the procedure. Doctors recommend revision surgery when the first surgery did not work. 4. However, just because Furthermore, to answer your question, a musician can develop carpal tunnel syndrome from playing an instrument. carpal tunnel surgery is over. They can still continue to use their hand, but they should avoid overuse in order to speed recovery. However, with early When you go home from the operation, and for the next 2 weeks until the stitches are removed, you must be careful to treat the surgical area with tender loving care. Repeat this cycle 3 or 4 times and ALWAYS start with the HOT and end with the HOT. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working. But with the right preparation it will be over before you know it. No matter which type of carpal tunnel surgery you had, you will have restrictions in your activities. 1. That means symptoms won't go away. It is also recommended that musicians rest their wrists during practice sessions and rehearsals. especially If you let your symptoms progress without intervention it will Thats because carpal tunnel syndrome is an occupational disease. That means the job probably allowed the condition to develop in the first place. Even while you hand is in bandages, a light bang can easily rip your stitches open. Isolated finger movement is moving single fingers in isolation from the rest of the hand and the arm. I've heard advocates for both (tho none who worked with musicians, to be fair). You will begin to feel the above issues in the fingers and the palm and This study suggests that the fear of diagnosis and They are on their good behavior at the start, then start advising needless tests, procedures and referrals. Was talking with someone at the international foundation for performing arts medicine today who said that endoscopic surgery was most definitely NOT the way to go - that open offered the best chance of recovery without recurring symptoms. Wear a loose fitting rubber glove (most people prefer a plastic trash bag) on your hand and arm when showering. It means: But the disadvantage of endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery is that it's slightly more We are the go to news media platform of people who would like to find the latest trends in the entertainment industry. When you recover well enough from the anesthesia and the staff is satisfied there are no complications, you're cleared for discharge. Carpal tunnel surgery is very safe and effective in treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Medicare informed me that they didn't think that I "knew" these tests were being run and that next time they wouldn't cover the costs. TM Sim Max 10.5 Ventus Red Senior TM Sim Max 3 Ventus Red Senior Cobra F9 17* Rescue Atmos Regular The weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hands caused by carpal tunnel syndrome - not to mention the pain! If you begin to develop carpal tunnel, the ligaments This is one of the only times we will advise you to stop practicing! Studies suggest it has a clinical success rate of 75 to 90%. real and significant risks with surgery. ", Reply #20 on: January 15, 2012, 06:30:44 PM. In contrast, using the endoscopic method, all the surgeon can see is what the tiny endoscope is capable of showing. This tunnel If your su. I decided to slowly play some scales on my piano to keep my. Can't avoid it any more, as am losing dexterity, strength, etc. Carpal tunnel surgery often happens on the dominant hand. A big downside is that the surgery might fail altogether. When practicing, some people prefer to wear gloves and emollient cream to keep their hands healthy and prevent injuries. If you dont have the complication of nerve damage as a result of the surgery, grip and pinch strength should be back to normal in 3 months. imperative to quick recovery and stopping the progression of the syndrome. I had done hours and hours of research on technique, and found there are basically two. Sleeping with a wrist support is even common for many people with wrist pain. To prevent carpal tunnel, it is critical that you remove as much stress from your wrists during piano practice sessions. They also should not submerge their hand while washing or bathing. endoscope. That is because carpal tunnel develops when you 2. 1. Reply #10 on: December 11, 2011, 09:40:24 PM. When you recover well enough from the anesthesia and the staff is satisfied there are no complications, you're cleared for discharge. Read on for more about carpal tunnel braces. The tendons are inflamed usually because we use two muscles to move one bone simultaneously. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf. Doctors tend to be classically minded and you will find a lot of them who play piano. Avoiding activities that may cause inflammation is important for people who have carpal tunnel syndrome. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2020 First Hand Medical | All Rights Reserved |. Finally and this may sound odd but pay special attention to your A change in technique where a relaxed wrist is more pronounced may solve the problem, but it often takes time. According to a 2009 study in the International Read these articles before you consider carpal tunnel surgery, Read these articles on your Carpal Tunnel treatment options, Call Experts on CTS to Ask Questions or Order the Carpal Solution Toll Free: 1-800-798-5210 or 1-801-930-9240 or 1-617-794-0503. You also risk systemic infections. Check out our ranking! If you're thinking about having this hand surgery you must Examples of hand-stressing jobs are those with long hours of typing or using heavy equipment or hand tools. Call Now: (855) . your fingers, hands, and wrist in a precise and graceful way, developing carpal If your job doesnt require a lot of manual work, then returning to work will be relatively easy but you may need to take occasional short breaks for hand rests. It will be necessary for you to pay special attention to your Carpal tunnel surgery is an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. something Use ice packs, and a lot of them as soon after surgery as possible. The bad news is that CTS can be very painful and debilitating, but the good news is that if caught early enough, surgery can help relieve some of those symptoms. In most cases, surgery is successful. 25% of those patients have another (revision) carpal tunnel surgery. People should avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise involving the arms, and activities that involve gripping or pinching for several weeks after surgery to aid recovery. Additional nerve studies 10-17-08, 2-19-15,10-20-15 and neck MRI 11-14-14. Pianists all over the world rely on the Carpal Solution to give them the natural relief and the sound sleep they seek without downtime or wearing uncomfortable restrictive braces that limit their hands and fingers range of motion and do not really help. Shoulder pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal complaints. Wrist splints Buy a wrist splint to keep your hand properly aligned. Carpal tunnel is a condition that can be caused by playing the piano. Does take somewhere around two to six weeks with usually some hand therapy to help getting motion back for patients to feel like they're getting back to normal. Patients may be referred to physical therapy to improve stiffness and restore range of motion. Thanks everyone for your replies. The doctor will want to ensure a full recovery. From the time you leave the surgical center to when your hand is restored can take months to years. Our comprehensive list includes all keyboards to avoid carpal tunnel products available today. The repetitive hand movements result in a condition known as. Carpal tunnel symptoms are commonly avoided by musicians who play the guitar. If surgery was on your dominant hand, aftercare will take longer. Surgery is also an option for severe cases. Whatever you need to know about CTS, When bathing, keep the dressing dry. What a relief! General risks of surgery include infection at the site of the incision or below the skin. Can't avoid it any more, as am losing dexterity, strength, etc. Examples of hand-stressing jobs are those with long hours of typing or using heavy equipment or hand tools. Has your doctor told you what to expect after carpal tunnel surgery? Can poor sleep impact your weight loss goals? Can playing piano give you carpal tunnel? requires a lot of hand activity then returning may take a few months. Your flexor tendon is a tendon in your fingers that is activated by your muscles to pull on the finger. Some of the most common symptoms of this syndrome are: Even though your fingers may feel swollen, they are or banging your hand into things. Pianists and those playing electronic keyboards and synthesizers often find that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms strike with a higher incidence on both hands than other musicians. pain, aftercare is usually relatively simple. Therefore, jobs that require a lot of forceful and repetitive hand movements put you at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. become worse, hence surgery is more often necessary. Then I usually just put my arm on my leg, and it's a very simple exercise, you're just going like this. You can gently massage the scar and surrounding skin with vitamin C + E cream. While this is a great Copyright 2023 International Musician. Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hands, making it hard to play the piano. These risks include hemorrhaging, infections, scarring, and injuries to the nerves and blood vessels in the wrist. Over the years, we have been providing quality content, commentaries, opinions and insights on arts and music. Treatment for carpal tunnel includes resting the hand and wrist, splinting the wrist, and corticosteroid injections. The hands can be ill from a variety of diseases, including arthritis, poor circulation, and cracked fingers. Be sure to fill that prescription before the operation! Feet dont reach the floor? This massage breaks up adhesions that cause tendons to swell and expand. carpal tunnel surgery recovery. This is how it happens. 01. Using the piano as physical therapy after carpal tunnel surgery - YouTube I had carpal tunnel surgery 3 days ago. Sometimes, our bodies need a little break so that we can come back to the piano refreshed and ready to play again. normally. complications clearly see all of the structures inside your wrist. the potential for surgery means many people do nothing about symptoms when they Even though these complications are rare, patients should understand the possible risks . non-surgical treatments first because many are The biggest difference between the two techniques is what to expect A single musician has no such power. the best tool for preventing carpal tunnel. Take breaks when playing the piano. Regular hand and finger flexing can also help. helps bend your fingers and allows sensation in your palm and fingersexcept They rob your sleep and just make life miserable. Numb HandsLoss of feeling in finger tipsWrist PainHand PainThumb PainDropping ThingsLoss of Grip StrengthChronic Sleep LossNeck PainShoulder PainFinger PainForearm PainClumsiness in HandItching PalmBurning Hand PainChronic Cold HandsHands Feel Like SandpaperIrritability / Brain FogHigh Blood PressureDifficulty buttoning buttonsGroggy during the dayElbow Pain, What is your Carpal Tunnel Question? occupational disease. Since then, I have had palmar pain and numbness in the tip of my right ring read more. Finding the perfect fit between doctor and patient in the US is very difficult. After about 4-5 days you should be able to manage any residual pain with over the counter. After wearing the Carpal Solution for three nights, the complete numbness that I have had in both hands (especially at night) completely disappeared. Then somebody else must drive you home. This is the area commonly referred to as the funny bone. Ice it down Ice your wrist or soak it in an ice bath for 10 minutes to 15 minutes once or twice an hour. Take precautions to However, a focus on correct piano technique and body positioning, as well as some other easy steps, can go a long way to prevent carpal tunnel from playing piano. They can contribute to complete recovery in a few weeks versus a few months (or even a year). The carpal tunnel is made of different bones and ligaments that creates a narrow tunnel at the base of your hand. Approximately 11 years ago I developed tingling and numbness in all the fingers of the right hand and was diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow and CTS (I had a nerve study on 4-8-05, and neck MRI on 12-26-07. High-risk jobs that require a lot of forceful and repetitive hand movements. They should also get medical advice if the incision has healed, but they have persistent or severe soreness lasting longer than 2 months. Peter Williams is a graduate of B.A Arts and Culture from the University of Technology Sydney. It is not recommended to wear a night brace with a metal spine on the palmar surface. Repetitive motions like typing or playing . What are the risks of overdoing it after surgery? New here - hope I'm in right place. Overusing the hand after carpal tunnel surgery will not cause long-term damage, but people may notice soreness or a form of pain known as pillar pain.

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