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Recently started getting a sharp 'twisted' kind of pain between the middle and ring fingers of the left hand. Usually when doing stretches using the little finger, but sometimes just doing normal fingering. Feels like there are two nerves crossing each other between knuckles of the two fingers ? Can be quite sharp sometimes.
Anybody have any idea what this is, and what may cause it?
May be just normal aging (I'm 79) but my right hand is fine, no signs of pain and I only get this 'twisted' pain when playing the guitar. And only in this particular spot.
Before I resort to going to the 'doc, (???) any advice on possible diagnosis?
Hi best advice I can think of is never stretch your pinkie.
Set your pinkie up so it is comfortable (moving your whole arm if need be) then reach back with the rest of the hand and the thumb.
Pretty much all left hand stretching should be done this way.
A good habit busting exercise is to start up the neck and and work down one fret at a time with the same configuration and you will probably find when you get to the open position you are doing things differently.
Just one more time, stretch back with the index always and try and open the whole hand as you do so. Tension comes with holding the hand stiff and trying to stretch only the pinkie.
A great trick is to put the capo up as high as it can go and work down.
Really good for shaking things up, but gently.
Playing if front of a mirror is good too as although we feel pain in the extremities often we are doing something odd with the arm neck or torso which is putting more strain on the fingers.
yr 79 really and that is the only pain you have? im 66 and can barely move my fingers, arthritis and years of power lifting have pretty much destroyed my left hand not to mention stuff like splitting firewood. I would have to say either its arthritis, or just a general stiffening as you get old. get warmed up before playing, try and stay limber. If that's all yr experiencing yr a lucky guy
yr 79 really and that is the only pain you have? im 66 and can barely move my fingers, arthritis and years of power lifting have pretty much destroyed my left hand not to mention stuff like splitting firewood.
It's your neck !
'although we feel pain in the extremities often we are doing something odd with the arm neck or torso which is putting more strain on the fingers.'
yr 79 really and that is the only pain you have? im 66 and can barely move my fingers, arthritis and years of power lifting have pretty much destroyed my left hand not to mention stuff like splitting firewood.
It's your neck !
'although we feel pain in the extremities often we are doing something odd with the arm neck or torso which is putting more strain on the fingers.'
From above. And sincere.
D.
I would agree with GB.....often,but obviously not always,hand pain can be a cause of an issue in the back ,neck or higher arm. I have had a reoccurring thumb pain problem which is caused by a issue /weakness I have in the back. I've had several courses of physio treatment for this and now do regular stretching exercises to help keep it at bay. Needless to say its always worth seeing a doctor/health professional to hopefully get the right diagnosis!!
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