Achy Old Fingers - any advice ???

[GringoKC]

Been playing a lot lately, and I’m having a problem with sore & stiff fretting hand fingers. Not in the fingertips, but in the joints and muscles, particularly between the knuckles on my left index finger. It’s especially bad the morning after a long session.

I’m 42, been playing since 13, and only started having this problem the last 6 months or so. Anyone have any advice on how to treat it?

 

[monty]

Put a rocking chair on your porch and sit in it while you think about the good old days.

Okay, try cutting out all sugar from your diet, seriously...just try it. The sugar that's in food naturally, okay. Bananas, raisins, apple juice, etc, okay

Ice cream, candy, soda pop, drinks with added sugar, etc. not good.

 

[SalJustSal]

I get that problem every once in a while too, and I haven't even hit 25 yet. The area that you are talking about is a common area. The index finger is the least independent and agile finger because it has tendons binding both to the middle and pinky fingers. I wish I could show you the diagram in my piano book.

There are piano exercises that will help work that area, but I don't know much on guitar. Maybe try some preliminary stretches across the fret board before you play (maybe take up the bass for this!) and focus on stretching that index finger. Treat this like you would with normal exercises, slow stretch, hold, don't bounce, etc. You could also soak your hands in warm water before playing, this increases circulation.

 

[MenT-aL]

I hate to be the one to say it but it could be *dum dum duuuummmmmm* arthrightious (or how ever you spell it!)

Don't crack your fingers and try a few simple excercises. For instance get a bowl of water, not at all warm, just cold tap water will do, not too cold mind, and gently move your fingers about in a "typing" kind of way. I aint no expert though.

Hope it clears up soon

good luck.

P.S. Atleast you don't have a one in a million thumb problem (cheack earlier posts about thumbs)

 

[ausrock]

Get some anti-inflamatories from a pharmacist, or as was suggested to me by UpStateNY, some glucosamine from a health food retailer. It is shark cartilage extract which if taken in sufficient quantities, will over time improve "arthritic" symptoms.

 

[GringoKC]

Thanks for the advice everyone. The stiffness seems to go away pretty much after I play a while and loosen up. Almost seemed like there was some swelling this morning and so it has me a little worried. Hope it ain't the dreaded arthritis. My old lady had a hip replaced last year, and she was only 39. Maybe I should soak in cider, make it smell good too!

Anybody ever heard of icing down yer hand after playing (like ball players)?

 

[Cyrokk]

Do you do any warming up before you start playing? If not, then you need to start doing fretboard exercises before you do any serious playing. There was a time a few years ago when I didn't warm up at all, and after an hour or so I would get a pain in between my index and middle fingers. I never get any serious pains anymore because I spend about five minutes each session going through a basic exercise before tackling the music.

A good way to warm up is to do a repeated pattern, for example, playing the 12,13,14,15 frets up the neck with your respective 1,2,3,4th fingers on the sixth string and then repeating the pattern on the other five strings, then going down one position to the 11th fret and so on all the way down the neck, and then back up until you get back to the 12th position. Play naturally and do not try and go fast or play hard, just let your fingers gradually increase in speed. Starting at the 12th position also eases your fingers into the motions without dealing with stretching..

Yeah it sounds silly, and many brush off the idea of warming up.. But there have been many people who have cut their playing short due to tendonitis and all the other evils of guitarists. Warming up can also help to improve your playing as well..

Experiencing minor, little pains from time to time is OK. Just make sure to take a break here and there and shake the tension out of your hands.

 

[philboyd studge]

Today was my day off after the usual 5 nights, but I had an outside 6 hour solo instrumental gig followed by a two hour gig tonight. So, my left hand is tired and it ought to be. If I had any sense it would be on ice and I wouldn't be fucking around with this bbs.

 

[Clive Hugh]

I too hate to suggest this but being an old bastard not far off 60 it sounds like arthritis, go and see your Doctor, I have bouts of arthritis and get anti inflamatorys and it settles down again. But get in first before it gets a hold.
Good luck with it.

 

[Clive Hugh]

I just read what I typed and the words were not as clear as I meant, I am referring to me as the old bastard nearly 60, and the comment on arthritis is based on my own experience

 

[GringoKC]

Thanks everyone for all your inputs. I'm worried about the arthritis possibility, thing is it's only in the fret hand fingers. I usually warm up a little with scales. I have been trying to play a lot of stuff lately that is pretty challenging for me, maybe I've been overdoing it a little.

philboyd - do you use ice on a regular basis?

 

[eyeslikefire]

Put your hand in your ass crack for 20 minutes a day and call Dr. Strawl in the morning.

Actually, that started happening to my playing hand a couple of months ago. I started taking Glucosamine like ausrock said and it worked great.

 

[philboyd studge]

eyeslikefire,
It's just like you pitched 6 or 7 innings of baseball and things are tired so you use ice.....on and off a few times at fifteen minute intervals.

 

[Buck62]

Let me whack all your toes toes with a sledgehammer.

I guarantee you won't complain about those fingers for a looong time!

 

[Axeslinger]

Get some anti-inflamatories from a pharmacist, or as was suggested to me by UpStateNY, some glucosamine from a health food retailer. It is shark cartilage extract which if taken in sufficient quantities, will over time improve "arthritic" symptoms.

Yep,, Glucosamine Chondroitin is what it is called.. I've taken it for months now for a severe case of tendonitus in my left hand..
It's not an overnight miracle cure but given time it will definately help

 

[mojka]

Narcotics man, that's the key.

 

[Richard Monroe]

achy fingers

Try Tiger Balm, available at almost any Chinese grocery. Use the Red, not the white. Rub it into both hands afer playing at bedtime, and cover with cheap disposeable cotton work gloves. I learned this one from 12 years in martial arts. No kidding, just try it. Good luck- Richie

 

[Evildick]

Vitamin B-6

You could also just try upping your dosage of Vitamin B-6. There are quite a few guys in the machine shop that I work in that swear by it. Their doctors said it would help reduce soreness and numbing. It helps to alleviate the arthritic symptoms caused by repetetive motion or holding wrenches for long periods of time. If your hands get sore, and feel a little bit numb this would be my first guess. You said you had been playing a lot recently, as opposed having gradual symptoms arise over a period of months. Just another suggestion.

Dick

http://www.go-symmetry.com/vitamin-b.htm

 

[monty]

When I eat one of those little buckets of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, my fingers/hands begin to ache within minutes. Sugar makes my fingers/hands ache. If I don’t eat sugar I have no problems. I could continue to eat sugar and try to alleviate the symptoms, but it seems more logical and healthier for me to alleviate the cause. This is my experience with finger/hand pain and may be unique only to me. Good luck with whatever ails you.