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Nerve pain at tip of 3rd finger (left hand)

Health: Anyone had this before?

From Ellen Woods
Posted May 22, 2007 at 07:45 PM

About 6 days ago I developed an injury to the tip of my 3rd finger. I had my bridge lowered as the strings on my violin were too high. My luthier asked me to try it out, which I did, but I hadn't warmed up (or played) that day and I think I over-pressed the string with my finger, forgetting that the strings were now lower than what I was used to. Since then I have had a sharp, nerve-like pain at my fingertip whenever the smallest amount of pressure is applied. The pain shoots down my finger and I have not been able to play since. I went to the doctors who told me to rest it for a few days, but its still there 6 days later (although a little better than it was). However, the source of pain now seems to be travelling down my finger.

Has anyone else had this before? If so, did it clear up and how long did it take? I'm starting to worry that I may have done some permanent damage to the nerve endings.

From Addi L
Posted on May 22, 2007 at 08:16 PM

Its quite common. It took me about 7 days before the pin-like sensation almost fade completely. If anything my two previous experience taught me to play much more lightly on the left hand, so there might had been some good out of it for me. Meanwhile enjoy other things and come back to the violin a couple more days later when you're healed!

From Emmanuel Borowsky
Posted on May 23, 2007 at 07:09 PM

I can't imagine how you managed to do that in a short amount of time but a few years ago when I was practicing for an upcoming recital AND solo with orchestra I managed to over practice and had a slight numbness in one finger (can't remember which it was) but I have to say every time I woke up I felt it for about a month. :/ Every thing is fine now and I play a bit more relaxed than I used to. Still working on it though (as we all do)

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