I went to the Orthopedic doctor today re my left wrist. He is sending me to a hand surgeon. He is reluctant to give another shot of cortisone (steroid) because of the risk of rupturing the tendon (doesn't want to risk loosing thumb mobility for playing flute). I'm worried also.

Does anyone have experience/know flute players who have had wrist surgery? How is the recovery time?

If I have to have surgery, I may put it off until June or July.

Dear Kippsix,

It's terrible to hear that you are going through such pain. Does it only bother you when you play the flute? If you stopped playing the flute for a week does the pain recede? I used to go through all sorts of aches and pains in my hands till I finally cut down my practice time and allowed myself time to rest. You don't have to quite playing the flute, you just need to put it down for a bit and allow your body to make itself well.

Probably the most important thing that you can do to help you with your pain is to get a full 8 hours sleep. The difference a full nights rest makes towards pain relief can be amazing if you are depriving yourself of sleep.

Also other things that certainly aggravate your hands can be anything from typing, stapling, pulling/closes drawers and doors, etc. Identify the things that you are doing often that help to add up to the dreadful pain (Electric staplers are a godsend!).

Hopefully you get the pain problem in check soon. It can get pretty painful as well as irritating.

Regards,
Stephen

I once had a similar problem which was eventually solved through physical therapy, you may want to get a second or even third opinion before going for surgery

I'm so sorry to hear about your problem! I personally suffered from tendonitis (sp?) in college, but a short break from practicing and changing to an offset G flute saved me. I hope everything turns out well for you.

Best of luck,
Cynthia

ahhh...i'm sry to hear that. I hope everything will be fine
the only problem i have is that my short stubby pinky locks in place once in a while...it's very weird^^
I have the shortest pinky in the world..it's quite weird..yea.
_

Thanks for everyone's concerns. My wrist/thumb hurts with almost any movement, certainly not limited to when I play. It is deQuervain's Tenosynovitis. I had shot a year ago which did provide relief. I do wear a special splint/brace that places my thumb in isolation (kind of like the hitchhiker position) and immobilizes the wrist and thumb.

This upcoming doctor will be the third opinion. I am also a huge proponent of physical therapy, but it may only be feasible as a post operative intervention at this time.

I'm not sure If the hand surgeon will recommend surgery, or if he will go for another shot of cortizone. I do not want to rupture the tendon.

Here is a link for a site that has some information. The strange "Finkelstein's" test is outrageously painful!! You put your thumb into the palm of your hand, close your fingers, then bend your wrist sideways towards your pinky side. HORRIBLE pain.

http://www.med.und.nodak.edu/users/jwhiting/deQuervain's.html

haha! schoolgirl i have the same problem... everyone laughs at my tiny pinky, it's a cruel world! *sniff* lol jks, yah my pinky locks into place sometimes too. I'm also sad to hear about your problem kipsix, a friend of mine got tendonitis in her wrists and had to wear uncomfortable braces on them. I think maybe you should cut back on the practicing or maybe get a second opinion on your wrist. Hope everything works out for you

Unfortunately cutting back on the practicing will not be the answer for me, because I have already cut practicing. Along the way I have gone without playing for three weeks, yet there was not an improvement.

Weirdly enough schoolgirl and tinuviel, I also have VERY short pinky fingers. But, they've worked just fine, so I can't complain.

I tried the "Finkelstein's test" after your description of it Kippix. It hurt on my left hand, but not my right.

Erin - hmmmm.....interesting. Do you feel any pain with just regular use/movement?

My left hand hurts when I do the following activities: working, practicing, or typing (for more than an hour).

Oh my god kippsix, why did you let me try that? I almost tore my left hand off... For the record I have been having pain in almost allmy joints for the last three years and no-one seems to care. Damn NHS.

Mrs Carbo;
I am so sorry! I DID say that the pain was HORRIBLE!. I'm sorry your health system isn't concerned about your joint pain. I think that I am lucky that my insurance seems to want to keep me healthy at this point. It is sometimes necessary to take them to task and push them a bit.

I am not even going to try it. Thanks Mrs. C for trying it first. Lol!!
I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers Kippsix. I know that surgery is a big step and I hope you are able to over come the problem.

I am so sorry! I DID say that the pain was HORRIBLE!. I'm sorry your health system isn't concerned about your joint pain. I think that I am lucky that my insurance seems to want to keep me healthy at this point. It is sometimes necessary to take them to task and push them a bit.



Ah that's OK- I was being slightly tongue in cheek, though it DID hurt quite a lot, I should have expected it really!

I've been to my doctors a few times about joint pain, but as soon as I make the appointment it usually gets better and so it's pointless.. Ho hum, I'm cool with that