can i play piano after carpal tunnel surgery

The surgery involves cutting the ligament that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel to give the nerve more room. 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. Ice is used to cool down the wrist after practice to help it heal and protect it from further inflammation. Surgery on the non-dominant hand means a return to work can happen in as little as 4 . is the smart thing to do right now. That is, there are. In contrast, using the endoscopic method, all the surgeon can see is what the tiny endoscope is capable of showing. I'm a skilled almost-middle-aged pianist desperate to hang onto my ability to play. That's why numerous studies show that Ask your surgeon for specific guidelines, but you may be allowed to use your hand for non-repetitive motions within a week or two after surgery. (2022). Rotate your wrists by moving only your hands up, down, left, and right. After about 4-5 days you should be able to manage any residual pain with over the counter The URL is, Reply #16 on: January 08, 2012, 04:37:17 AM, Reply #17 on: January 08, 2012, 07:29:11 AM. Use a stool. Return to work recommendations after carpal tunnel release: A survey of UK hand surgeons and hand therapists. Read more, We can help you find the answers If you already have carpal tunnel syndrome, don't despair, it is best to prevent it entirely. Snipping the pain Even though the wrists of piano players arent particularly hard, tension can occur. Recovery from carpal tunnel surgery is gradual. Sometimes a scalpel is inserted along with the endoscope (single portal technique). Carpal tunnel syndrome is most commonly associated with hand or finger numbness. After carpal tunnel surgery, people can use the affected hand with minimal risk as long as the surgical incision has healed. I change doctors and specialists every two or three years. crushing numbness in your fingers or hand? intervention, less invasive treatments often were administered and doctors were At that point, you will graduate to wearing a wrist brace for the remainder of your aftercare. But you should wiggle your fingers periodically to keep them from freezing up. Maintaining proper form and doing stretches and exercises will also go a long But for others it might take weeks or even months for that to happen. But if your key to preventing carpal tunnel syndrome is to immediately seek treatment when - can severely limit time spent making music on the piano. pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts. who had carpal tunnel surgery could return to their former job. I hope that you give us an update should things turns out for the better. Since the hands of a musician strive to reach unique positions and intense strokes to achieve just the right sound on the piano, organ or electronic musical keyboard this puts more stress on the fingers and hand than the negligible impact of a computer keyboard stroke. I have tried the old wrist brace, plus resting my hands and wrists forever with no success. RSI is like a precursor to getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Can You Learn Bass And Guitar At The Same Time? Can't avoid it any more, as am losing dexterity, strength, etc. "I feel like cutting my hand off!". And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more. In addition, my aching, almost non-functioning wrists felt like new ones. 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. Piano players are not required to wear gloves. A condition that develops as a result of repeated exposure to guitar music is more likely to progress as a result of repeated exposure. Sadly, about, What to expect after carpal tunnel surgery 1-2 months later. Carpal Tunnel Pain Worse After Carpal Tunnel Surgery? They also should not submerge their hand while washing or bathing. Rotator cuff injuries are common among athletes, such as baseball players, who make powerful throws, and swimmers and tennis players who continually use overhead motions. Raise your hands above your head throughout the day. That's because there's It's also the beginning of a long haul. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, your wrist pain is not caused by any number of strengthening exercises or stretching sessions. All rights reserved. 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. picking up a. Summary. something What are the risks of overdoing it after surgery? The doctor will want to ensure a full recovery. Read More, Carpal Tunnel can be difficult to diagnose even for a doctor. Try a contrast bath, start with hot (not scalding water) 2 min in and immediately put your hand into ice cold water (fill it with ICE as well) for 1 min. Carpal tunnel surgery recovery can present as immediate improvement for some, while it might take longer for others. They rob your sleep and just make life miserable. High-risk jobs that require a lot of forceful and repetitive hand movements. Take breaks when playing the piano. If left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to weakness and lack of coordination in your fingers and thumb. Does Cold Weather Make Carpal Tunnel Worse? carpal tunnel release surgery Then I usually just put my arm on my leg, and it's a very simple exercise, you're just going like this. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. That means the job probably allowed the condition to develop in the first place. To prevent carpal tunnel, it is critical that you remove as much stress from your wrists during piano practice sessions. 02. Have had carpal tunnel for over 2 years (sudden onset- definitive cause never determined) and have failed all therapies trying to avoid surgery. Rather, it will prevent further . Carpal Tunnel Surgery . You can align your entire body as a way to develop good habits by doing so. Can Carpal Tunnel Come Back After Surgery If you're reading this article, chances are you've been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), or may have a loved one who has it. narrows, your median nerve will begin to compress and squeeze, creating pain Muscle atrophy is unacceptable for an accomplished musician, performing piano instrumentalists, electronic keyboard musician or player of an electronic synthesizer. All Rights Reserved. about half of patients are dissatisfied That means there's a greater chance of cutting something important, like a nerve or blood vessel. with their results two years later. These include the type of surgery you have, your commitment to rehab, whether or not you had complications, and your own general health. If you take breaks every 20-30 minutes to rest and stretch, you can prevent carpal tunnel. When you recover well enough from the anesthesia and the staff is satisfied there are no complications, you're cleared for discharge. 03. 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. When the hands are weak, numb, or tingling, it is extremely difficult to work on the piano. Awake refreshed in the morning with a sound night's sleep and hands that feel ready to play your instrument. When the ligament is cut, the bones spread apart and relieve Avoiding activities that may cause inflammation is important for people who have carpal tunnel syndrome. Read More, Surgery is not a permanent fix for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. After carpal tunnel surgery, people can use the affected hand with minimal risk as long as the surgical incision has healed. Common complications include problems like delayed reaction to the anesthesia, bleeding, infection or nerve damage. I did try, once, to not play for a period of time (among other things). This can help to reduce accumulated fluid in your hands and decrease pressure on the median nerve. And that's the huge advantage of endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery compared to the open release technique. Examples of hand-stressing jobs are those with long hours of typing or using heavy equipment or hand tools. Guide to Aftercare for Carpal Tunnel Surgery, Getting comfortable with knowing what to expect after, is the smart thing to do right now. for playing the piano since you need fine tune motor skills to play This is when you begin to feel the. Getting comfortable with knowing what to expect after 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. 1. Activities with your hand are limited. Recurrent or new symptoms following Carpal Tunnel release can be frustrating, but you still have options. occupational disease. Ciel Pianist and Organist working the Keyboards in Massachusetts with Carpal Tunnel under control. But nobody has control over them. All the best to the OP. You also risk systemic infections. Isolated finger movement is moving single fingers in isolation from the rest of the hand and the arm. Hand surgery is a major step in your life. The National Institutes of Health reports that about. Keep the scar clean and dry. Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. is the founder of Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. But nobody has control over them. The tingling and numbness of carpal tunnel syndrome may ease when a person uses a brace. Is There a Life Hack for Carpal Tunnel? Piano playing as a hobby is not likely to result in carpal tunnel syndrome. Practicing in small segments, using proper technique, stretching the hands, and monitoring pain can help prevent carpal tunnel. Musicians who use their hands for rapid and repetitive activities are at risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and there are stretches that can help. That's why numerous studies show that. don't practice too much or even don't practice at all for some period of time? Overusing the hand or arm after carpal tunnel surgery does not pose a risk of serious or long-term complications, according to the ASSH. Do all your stretches, get loosened up, make sure the blood is circulating to the region. Rest your feet completely on the floor. Be aware of bench height is it too low or high for you to comfortably play? In fact even young people playing Guitar Hero and gaming are developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Hopefully by then the surgical pain will be gone. 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. How long was it before you could again? The thing about carpal tunnel damage is that it's not reversible. Stretching, strengthening, and range of motion exercises are all part of the physical therapy your hand will need. Common complications include problems like delayed reaction to the anesthesia, bleeding, infection or nerve damage. Even while you hand is in bandages, a light bang can easily rip your stitches open. 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. These findings show us that early treatment is There are many different pianists, each of whom has their own style of playing the piano. All Rights Reserved. Follow the instructions for taking the medicine to avoid unnecessary pain. However, 325% of people will have recurring or persistent symptoms. Anyone have it? What to avoid after carpal tunnel surgery, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/18/4208, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140994/, https://www.assh.org/handcare/blog/pillar-pain-after-carpal-tunnel-release. What are the risks of accidentally damaging your fingers playing piano? This includes: People can often start driving and doing lighter lifting or gripping several weeks after surgery. Instead of giving up the piano why not just take a break? Other times, a second hole in the hand is needed to insert the scalpel (, Every other part of these two types of operations are almost the same. Symptoms can include the following: imperative to quick recovery and stopping the progression of the syndrome. I'm a skilled almost-middle-aged pianist desperate to hang onto my ability to play.