can i play piano after carpal tunnel surgery

Use ice packs, and a lot of them as soon after surgery as possible. - can severely limit time spent making music on the piano. 03. When it is compressed, there are several side effects, including numbness, pain, and discomfort in the hands, forearms, and wrists. scar management becomes important. That's because there's. And that's the huge advantage of endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery compared to the open release technique. I'm a skilled almost-middle-aged pianist desperate to hang onto my ability to play. But with the right preparation it will be over before you know it. Activities with your hand are limited. I sympathize with you! In some cartoon characters, Bugs Bunny plays a classical piece in full concert attire with white gloves on, pausing only briefly to chew a carrot. When the ligament is cut, the bones spread apart and relieve, The biggest difference between the two techniques is what to expect, carpal tunnel surgery is over. They rob your sleep and just make life miserable. Symposium on Performance Science, which analyzed both men and women the best tool for preventing carpal tunnel. or banging your hand into things. There are numerous ways to play the piano, each with its own style and ideal setting for the player. We can help you. The length of time depends on several factors. After Carpal Tunnel surgery: 1. You can align your entire body as a way to develop good habits by doing so. The carpal tunnel is made of different bones and ligaments that creates a narrow tunnel at the base of your hand. That means the job probably allowed the condition to develop in the first place. This is one of the only times we will advise you to stop practicing! Furthermore, to answer your question, a musician can develop carpal tunnel syndrome from playing an instrument. ligament that holds the wrist bones together. with their results two years later. Using the piano as physical therapy after carpal tunnel surgery - YouTube I had carpal tunnel surgery 3 days ago. pain, aftercare is usually relatively simple. Anyone who uses their hands frequently for rapid and repetitive activities is at risk of developing the condition. We are the go to news media platform of people who would like to find the latest trends in the entertainment industry. To prevent carpal tunnel, it is critical that you remove as much stress from your wrists during piano practice sessions. You can also list other symptoms you might have in your question. And at times it will be intense. clearly see all of the structures inside your wrist. Take a break whenever you have numbness in your hands, such as your wrists and fingers. Your elbows may seem like an odd place to hurt, but keep in mind that most of the muscles that act on your wrist and fingers have their . Repeat up to four times. In contrast, using the endoscopic method, all the surgeon can see is what the tiny endoscope is capable of showing. much less trauma to your hand with the endoscopic technique. Whatever you need to know about CTS, Studies suggest it has a clinical success rate of 75 to 90%. You will also find a certain level of arrogance. Is it better to play the piano while wearing gloves or a wristband? How To Get A Great Direct Input (DI) Sound For Recording Guitar, Guitar Is A Relatively Easy Task That Can Be Done At Home With A Few Simple Tools, How Many Musicians And Chorus In Mozart Clarinet Concerto, How To Cure Finger Pain From Playing Guitar. Carpal tunnel surgery recovery time can vary between individuals. It means: But the disadvantage of endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery is that it's slightly more This is the period of aftercare for carpal tunnel surgery where most patients can return to work. Anabolic steroids, such as NSAID drugs, steroid injections, and corticosteroids, can be used to relieve pain. Most people who play the piano, professionally way to ensure it does not happen, you can reduce the likelihood. Initially, your hand will feel a little sore for a day or so following the procedure. All Rights Reserved. becomes important. . Is There a Life Hack for Carpal Tunnel? While postoperative pain does not affect the outcome of carpal tunnel surgery, it can last up to nine months. 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. In this case, the timing of return can take twice as long. Can playing piano cause wrist pain? about half of patients are dissatisfied I'm a doctor and had left carpal tunnel surgery. Carpal Tunnel Surgery . Those itchy stitches and bandages are gone. One Jazz Electric Keyboarder from North Carolina said, It is so great to have a non-invasive therapy that I can depend upon whenever my symptoms flare up! Answer (1 of 2): Median nerve entrapment has been around forever. For some, they go away quickly. You're on the right track, just don't give up. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. While there is no surefire Myofascial release massage, which employs multiple movements, stretches and forces the flexor tendons. Regular hand and finger flexing can also help. Copyright 2023 International Musician. In most cases, surgery is successful. Call Now: (855) . It results in numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers. That's because there's Cubital is the tunnel for the ulnar nerve through the elbow. It depends on you, including your ability to heal and the amount of effort you put into rehabilitation and strengthening your hand. The weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hands caused by carpal tunnel syndrome - not to mention the pain! The webcast, available to viewers at www.musiccouncil.org, on March 3, represents a [], Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians, Audition & Classified Ad Reservation Form, Piano Playing and Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal tunnel surgery recoverybegins right after leaving the operating room. They aim to cut the, that holds the wrist bones together. Anyone have it? That is, there are In fact the rigid carpal tunnel braces and hand splints actually make the condition worse over time because they compact and irritate already injured and inflamed soft tissue in the hands and fingers. Please check any of the symptoms you might be experiencing by clicking in the box below, you can check multiple symptoms by checking the empty space to the right of the symptom you have selected. is a great start. But prescription and over the counter medicines will help ease the discomfort quite well. Pianists, as well as those with lower backs and shoulders, are susceptible to a variety of injuries, including hand, thumb, wrist, and upper arm injuries. All Rights Reserved. Light hand activity is unlikely to cause problems, but it may be uncomfortable. Finally and this may sound odd but pay special attention to your. It is critical to keep your pianists hands clean during rehearsals, practice, and performance. I actually think that my continuing to play (under an hour a day, often less than 30 minutes) may have helped me to not completely atrophy, etc., especially as I suspect that piano is not the main culprit here. Check out our ranking! your hand as often as you can. Patients may be referred to physical therapy to improve stiffness and restore range of motion. to get rid of the terrible What is the risk of infection with Carpal Tunnel Surgery? If improper movement causes it, proper movement will heal it. Cubital tunnel syndrome is an impingement or irritation of the ulnar nerve within the cubital tunnel at the elbow. Every other part of these two types of operations are almost the same. But nobody has control over them. Surgery for trigger finger is done to increase the space for your flexor tendon to move. No noticable effect, really. Read on for more about carpal tunnel braces. When the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is compressed and the tendons are irritated and swollen, carpal tunnel syndrome. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. A doctor can advise on when this is safe to do. Shoulder pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal complaints. Carpal tunnel surgery recovery can present as immediate improvement for some, while it might take longer for others. become worse, hence surgery is more often necessary. 4. (2022). Wearing gloves like this in colder climates allows you to maintain a degree of comfort while also feeling the keys, controlling pressure, and controlling dynamics and articulations. Follow-up appointment: Expect to see your surgeon or a hand/occupational therapist 1-2 weeks after surgery. Take breaks when playing the piano. It will be necessary for you to pay special attention to your, Thats because carpal tunnel syndrome is an. Therefore, whether or not you return to work (and when) primarily depends on, Returning to a normal life also depends on the. Weeks 2-4: Patients gradually resume activity in the affected hand. And the longer the median nerve stays comrpess3ed, the less chances are that will heal. Recognizing whether or not your job caused the condition (and whether or not you should continue with it) is a critical aspect of good aftercare for carpal tunnel surgery. Therefore, jobs that require a lot of forceful and repetitive hand movements put you at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. ), Reply #2 on: December 07, 2011, 05:36:41 PM, Reply #3 on: December 08, 2011, 08:26:39 AM. As a result of this, pianists are at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Jo*o Carlos Martins, a Brazilian pianist, had to use one hand for more than 20 years after a series of injuries and illness. Do all your stretches, get loosened up, make sure the blood is circulating to the region. Dr. Elhassan. Carpal tunnel syndrome is most commonly caused by playing guitar. If a person has pillar pain, a doctor may suggest hand stretches or massage to reduce the symptoms. Be sure to keep this bandage/splint on at all times to brace the wrist and aid in healing. No matter which type of carpal tunnel surgery you had, you will have restrictions in your activities. Carpal tunnel surgery often happens on the dominant hand. aftercare is usually relatively simple. I decided to slowly play some scales on my piano to keep my. Also, whether or not you have complications greatly affects what your hand function will be like. They can contribute to complete recovery in a few weeks versus a few months (or even a year). Maintaining proper form and doing stretches and exercises will also go a long In open release surgery, the long incision lets the surgeon Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Ciel Pianist and Organist working the Keyboards in Massachusetts with Carpal Tunnel under control. Reply #1 on: December 07, 2011, 12:57:25 PM. The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. ", Reply #20 on: January 15, 2012, 06:30:44 PM. After wearing the Carpal Solution for three nights, the complete numbness that I have had in both hands (especially at night) completely disappeared. But nobody has control over them. occupational disease. This can help to reduce accumulated fluid in your hands and decrease pressure on the median nerve. quite effective. That is because carpal tunnel develops when you This goes for open release or endoscopic surgery. Post-Operative Instructions for Carpal Tunnel Release Purpose of surgery The goal of the operation is to decompress the Median nerve at the level of your wrist to help relieve the pressure upon it. All rights reserved. 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. Carpal tunnel surgery is an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. According to a 2009 study in the International non-surgical treatments first because many are In both cases, your doctor cuts the ligament around the carpal tunnel to take pressure off the median nerve and relieve your symptoms. way to get better at the craft, it also means that your chances of suffering What a relief! Within 3 weeks I was putting, 4-6 weeks chipping and pitching, playing at 8 weeks. It may seem as if you have to do this to play individual fingers, but actually what you want is cooperation from the connecting body parts to avoid strain. This study suggests that the fear of diagnosis and This is how it happens. Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. is the founder of Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. Follow the instructions for taking the medicine to avoid unnecessary pain. Rotate your wrists by moving only your hands up, down, left, and right. 1. After you've considered everything here, weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of surgery (including the type of surgery you'll have) with. speak with your doctor in an effort to stop symptoms before they even start. It also controls some smaller muscles in your thumb. Overall recovery depends on two major factors. mean there arent things you can do to prevent it. 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. The weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hands caused by carpal tunnel syndrome - not to mention the pain! Rehabilitation to restore hand strength will take from 1 month up to a year. To play a guitar, your fingers must move rapidly for an extended period of time. then aftercare for carpal tunnel surgery will be longer and more involved. Using the hand may cause soreness but will not cause long-term. The hands can be ill from a variety of diseases, including arthritis, poor circulation, and cracked fingers. While this is a great From the time you leave the surgical center to when your hand is restored can take months to years. Carpal tunnel surgery is very safe and effective in treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Avoiding activities that may cause inflammation is important for people who have carpal tunnel syndrome. 2) The Type of Surgery: Two types of carpal tunnel surgery are open and endoscopic. About, have another (revision) carpal tunnel surgery. The consequence is the gradual decrease or elimination of symptoms like numbness/tingling, weakness, clumsiness, and pain. While you are sleeping the natural therapeutic action is gently massaging, stretching and retraining the soft tissue of the hand and wrist around the Carpal Tunnel to relieve the micro-pressure on the Median Nerve and enhance blood circulation. Go to piano r/piano . intervention, less invasive treatments often were administered and doctors were Patient James Klunzinger, 79, was able to stop fidgeting while becoming immersed in a VR experience, allowing his doctor to easily clean and prep his hand for a carpal tunnel release surgery. However, as with any invasive treatment, there are risks to this procedure. She didn't have any articles, but said that she'd only seen one person come in who'd had endoscopic surgery - that in her area of the country the docs had pretty much rejected the endoscopic version long ago. Playing the piano is quite a workout for . I had done hours and hours of research on technique, and found there are basically two. Now that I have the Carpal Solution Therapy, I can pound the keyboard just like I used to with confidence. Repeat this cycle 3 or 4 times and ALWAYS start with the HOT and end with the HOT. This typically happens 3-6 months after surgery. especially You're not alone. Why a Six Week Carpal Tunnel Treatment Protocol? You cannot get the surgical bandages wet, and they must be kept clean. or as a hobby, play every day or multiple times per week. You will need to sleep with your hand elevated until the stitches are removed. However, in severe cases, surgery may be necessary. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. 6 weeks ago, I had carpal tunnel release surgery --. (RSI). There is also a risk of reaction to the anesthesia; a complication that can have life-threatening consequences. If your doctor pooh-poohs that, then get another doctor. Some swelling, numbness, tingling, and reduced strength in the hand are also typical while the area heals. when Again, any references (I also asked her) that document anything in regards to these things woudl be most helpful! use your hands in the same repeated motion. That means there's a greater chance of cutting something important, like a nerve or blood vessel. About Of course, as with all surgery, there is a risk of death, but such rarely happens during carpal tunnel surgery. Learn more. Learn how we can help 5.6k views Reviewed >2 years ago Thank Dr. Alan Ali agrees 7 thanks The only other major concern to think about is the possibility of. After carpal tunnel surgery, people can use the affected hand with minimal risk as long as the surgical incision has healed. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. This cannot be good on my hands. Likewise, musicians are liable to incur tears because of overuse. Our site has more than 2 million unique monthly visitors and 1 million subscribers. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve of the wrist becomes compressed. Again, this assumes you experienced no surgical complications. Returning to a normal life also depends on the Even while you hand is in bandages, a light bang can easily rip your stitches open. See below for info on him: Reply #18 on: January 08, 2012, 08:08:36 AM, Reply #19 on: January 10, 2012, 03:13:31 AM, No one is mentioning vitamin B6. Consultant Surgeon and Sp. The Carpal Solution is a gentle stretching therapy that is applied to your hand before retiring to bed. If a person does experience pain, they should avoid the activity that caused it until it gets better, using the hand for only light activity that a doctor has approved. This relieves symptoms and can help prevent further damage to the nerve. Stretch. That's why numerous studies show that crushing numbness in your fingers or hand? I hope that you give us an update should things turns out for the better. If a person has strained their hand, they may feel some soreness. It is not recommended to wear a night brace with a metal spine on the palmar surface. Can I still play guitar? Then somebody else must drive you home. The best way to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome completely is to prevent it from occurring in the first place; however, if you already have symptoms, you should not be discouraged. first appear. About, never return to that job. is the smart thing to do right now. carpal tunnel symptoms. Other times, a second hole in the hand is needed to insert the scalpel (double portal technique). Thanks everyone for your replies. Even while you hand is in bandages, a light bang can easily rip your stitches open. repetitive stress injury (RSI). This condition is caused by nerve compression in the median. What is the best Non-Surgical treatment for Carpal Tunnel? After the surgery, the ligament comes back together, but. Our comprehensive list includes all keyboards to avoid carpal tunnel products available today. In half of cases, the mild symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome will resolve themselves by simple rest and bracing. Read More, Surgery is not a permanent fix for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But if your Generally these include: 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. The first thing you do is your stretches, which I demonstrated in a different video. But other complications may arise like nerve damage, prolonged pain, and permanent hand weakness. The gloves can actually make it more difficult to feel keys, determine the pressure required, and control phrasing, dynamics, and articulation. In the end, remaining in-tune with your body will be your little finger. normally. When bathing, keep the dressing dry. The biggest difference between the two techniques is what to expect However, 325% of people will have recurring or persistent symptoms. During recovery, people also need to avoid activities that strain the arms and hands or involve gripping or pinching. Directions on both of these are on the page How To Reduce Inflammation. A 2018 study of hand surgeons and therapists found that professionals typically recommended the following amount of time away from work after this surgery: To aid recovery after carpal tunnel surgery, doctors may recommend: If a person has used their hand too much while their surgical incision is still healing, they should speak with a doctor. When you recover well enough from the anesthesia and the staff is satisfied there are no complications, you're cleared for discharge. If your wrist pain is bad, then it is probably best to stop practicing until the pain abates. Large doses of it. All rights reserved. Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hands, making it hard to play the piano. I change doctors and specialists every two or three years. When the hands are weak, numb, or tingling, it is extremely difficult to work on the piano. It also keeps swelling of the affected tendons down. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, is one of these two injuries that many pianists suffer from, as well as Repetitive Joint Syndrome, which is another name for wrist, finger, and thumb tendon problems. This goes for open release or endoscopic surgery. You should consider surgery as your only option if all other options fail. Does Carpal Tunnel Surgery Cause Scar Tissue? 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. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. Snipping the pain job function. The increased pressure on the nerve causes it to malfunction, resulting in the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome . avoid bumping If the carpal tunnel becomes inflamed, it may cause swelling of the median nerve as well as compression of the carpal tunnel. The tendons are inflamed usually because we use two muscles to move one bone simultaneously. If surgery was on your dominant hand, aftercare will take longer. Try to avoid movements that cause significant pain. What are the risks of accidentally damaging your fingers playing piano? When it Annually, the organization hosts what is now the largest competition exclusively for labor journalists. risky than the open release method. In fact, Also at this point, you will be able to drive a car safely. So I decided to do the surgery. These efforts resulted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which was implemented in 2015. For instance, it will depend on which hand was operated on, and whether you had endoscopic or open release surgery.