Re: weird hand problem

bobcat561@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

hey there......its my first time posting here,im 27 and ive been
playing for about 11 years.i tend to practice anywhere between like
3,4.....maybe 8 hours a day. it can vary a lot,depending on the
day.lately ive been getting this weird feeling,especially in my 3rd and
4th fingers,like they are kinda numb....not like drastically,but its
noticeable.i dont have any pain however....its like i dont have as much
strength,it doesnt really affect playing fast licks ,but i cant get as
good a vibrato as i want(which really sucks,cause thats one of the main
things i concentrate on in my playing)and also the "independance",if
you know what i mean,in my 3rd and 4th fingers,is not quite what it
was....basically what im wondering is,am i playing too much,or not
enough? i mean i know that may seem like a stupid question,since i play
a lot,but i dont wanna put the guitar down for a week just to come back
and have it be ten times worse,you know?.also,ive been on the comp a
lot more over the past couple of months,so i was wondering if typing a
lot could have caused this.....anyways,whatever input anyone has would
be greatly appreciated...

thanks in advance,

Robert


I share your problem. My older sister has had both wrists operated on and my younger sister has had one. I passed and do some Aikido exercises.

Its been six years since I had much feeling in the last two fingers and they feel 'Pins and needles'. No pain and oddly at 50 plus years old it has not affected my playing.
I have always had to warm up gradually and stretch often.

Here is a description of the exercises but remember they are martial arts and they can cause more serious injury than you presently suffer.

CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION
DO NOT repeat more than recommended, more is NOT better
Do Not use ANY pressure, these are meant to be gentle stretching exercises.
NONE of these requires ANY strength AT ALL.

So be careful, TWICE A DAY ONLY

- Place left hand, palm down, at belt level.
-Grasp left hand with right hand, palm over the large knuckles and thumb
around left thumb. (control the thumb you control the person)
- GENTLY use the right hand to bring the left up toward the chest. Keep close to the chest and keep the elbows down.
- AS SOON as you feel any pressure at all STOP. It is not how far you bend it that matters.
-Repeat three times ONLY and repeat for right hand.

-Extend left arm straight out at shoulder level with thumb down, palm outward.
-Place right hand over left with fingers in the palm and thumb in centre of hand behind the knuckles.
-Gently use the right hand to rotate and bring edge of your left hand toward the nose.
-Three times ONLY

-Place left hand against chest with thumb out palm facing left.
-Grasp left thumb with right fingers and place right thumb in centre of the back of the hand below the knuckles.
-GENTLY use right hand to rotate and pull towards the belt.
-Three times each side.
Police often employ this behind your back in a takedown.
Keep the hand being stretched as limp as possible.

Contact between hands should be broken between stretches and re- grasped each time. This teaches how to instinctually grab anothers hand.

Gordo
.

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