Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Finger Can't Straighten

Hi, my name is Brendan.
I haven't been playing the piano for too long. I started playing in my Freshman year of highschool and I'm only a Junior right now. Can't remember if my right pinky finger could completely straighten out before, but it can't anymore. I stopped playing after my freshman year due to my wrist pains and my pinky losing flexibility/dexterity. I thought left alone it'd heal over time, but here we are two years later... haha.

I've gone to see many therapists, docs and hand specialists. A doc took an x-ray of my hand and at first said my ulna was dislocated but later said it wasn't. After an MRI, they said my TRCC?? tendon was torn or damaged. Currently the doc is putting me under therapy for half a year before they want to attempt surgery. But so far, all the exercises given were only meant to strengthen my wrist, not increase the flexibility I had lost.

I know many of you have a lot of experience with piano, so please help. Have any of you ever encountered or had this problem personally (chronic pain in wrist, trembling pinky finger when tried to raise, inability to straighten pinky finger)? And if so, how did you over-come it? Any help would be appreciated, piano is not something I want to give up on.

Also, what are the causes of this injury? Improper form on the piano? I also had a punching bag before, but I've quit.

I have some pictures, hope they help.
http://gyazo.com/08b1967c8ccdc163b4bc0e0d46d98b61
http://gyazo.com/c14effde7f0fcf926a00c836c485bbb1
http://gyazo.com/61b106f689e733826332d47d1c51380f

Thanks in advance, Brendan.

I'm sorry, it's not clear to me, are the wrist pains on both hands, or just one hand?

I can't straighten one of my fingers, using the finger (forearm muscles), either, but I can straighten it using the other hand. It does not affect my playing at all, but my level is quite modest and I'm not aiming for concert pianist.

It's not clear how the bent pinkie affects you, and you don't say too much about the other problems, just in passing, chronic wrist pain and trembling pinkie. So I guess they are the main problems? How exactly are they impeding you?

Google TFCC, not TRCC, maybe you had a TFCC injury, ligament tear, and it has not resolved satisfactorily with wrist bones misaligned. That would create problems with dexterity and control, but a physician needs to make the diagnosis before considering treatment options, which may include physio and strengthening.

The pain is only affecting my right wrist. It's toned down a lot since I've started OT but haven't regained any flexibility in my right pinky.

Yeah, it's the same with me. My pinky can't straighten out, but I can do it with the help of my other hand. When I attempt to raise my pinky without assistance, it begins to tremble or shake a lot.

The main problem is that, because of this my right hand can't stretch an octave anymore. It was probably TFCC then, my mistake.

The main thing you'll want is to get rid of the pain, heal completely; then work on improving your flexibility over time.

Until then, work on practicing the piano with your left hand only. The things you learn will eventually float over to your right hand, too.

Is it the same problem that's causing the inflexibility? I'm afraid of causing permanent damage. Would stretching help any?

Stretching will be effective but if it hurts, or if your doctor tells you not to, then don't do it. Heal first, stretch later, that's the fastest way.

Alright. I'll give it a try. Thanks so much for all the responses, I'll come back to post on this thread with any updates/new questions.

Brendan,

Here's a link to an FAQ about pianists' injuries:

https://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubb...iano_Injuries-First_Aid.html#Post2129006

Some of the information you want can be found there. Let us know what you think.

Thanks for the link. I wasn't aware that RICE could be applied to this type of injury. I've been using heat packs but I'll try ice and elevation.

Brendan888, Dorothy Taubman's approach is interesting and may be helpful. Here is the wikipedia entry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Taubman

+1

Also google Golandsky, who now carries the torch of the late Dorothy Taubman.

I believe that ice and elevation will only help in the immediate aftermath of an injury, to control swelling and inflammation. Brendan888, it sounds as if this problem has been chronic for some time, so I wouldn't expect a lot of benefit from RICE. I would definitely look into Taubman/Golandsky.

Tell me more about your heavybag routine. When did you start/stop? What did you do while using the bag? Did you wear gloves? Which knuckles/cracks (if any) were red after the workout?

Thanks for all the information on Golandsky. Got a few tabs open, I'll check them out after this post.

My punching bag routine wasn't too much, about half hour a day for a few weeks. Afterwards I was suggested to stop because of piano so I did. I had bandage on and gloves as well, which should be sufficient. All my knuckles were red, I was hitting something, haha. I thought it would be a given. It might not have been the punching bag; whenever frustrated I'd punch a door frame with my right hand. Only happened maybe 2-3 times? There was never any sharp pain in my wrist when doing either of those activities.

Your doctor may have covered this already, but you might want to see if it's similar to boxing/karate injuries.

If playing the piano is a strain of any kind, are there other instruments you might be inclined to play, increasing your musical knowledge without this distraction? Brass, reeds, strings...? Each instrument has its own physical issues, but I don't know reed or brass players who've had hand problems from playing or aggravated by playing.

No, I've only ever been interested in the piano. The only other instrument that gives me the same "goosebumps" like piano is the violin. But it still doesn't strike me the same way piano does.

I don't think the doctor has brought up anything related to sports injuries. I'll finish up OT and check back with the doctor. Worst comes to worst, I'll have to take her up on surgery.

Well, the door frame may have been a larger contributing factor. I ask specifically because I'm a much better martial artist than I am a pianist, and from those questions could point you towards issues that might have been caused by that specific kind of contact sport.

PS- until very recently, when I broke my wrist doing something very stupid (minor stupidity, but still stupid for me to have done), I never had an issue with martial arts and piano. I mixed the two for approximately 25 years. Be happy to talk more about it.

Sorry to hear about the wrist, Derulux! Hope it's healing well.

Thanks, me too! I haven't touched a piano since June.