Advice on sprained fingers

November 3, 2004 at 07:24 AM · Greetings,

learn the pieces in your head. I -know- you of all people are smart enough to do that. Also you can mimic the hand movements without holding the instrument which is non straining.

Why risk your career for a few concerts?

If you must practice do it in very short increments of a few minutes (use a timer) and longrests.

Also leanr your piece swithout a fourth finger. Pretend you are Kreisler or something..

Hope you get well soon,

Buri

November 3, 2004 at 07:29 AM · I read that Nadya Solerno-Sonnenberg sliced off the end of her left pinky completely and had to learn all her pieces without her 4th finger until it healed up. You can do it, too, v.com is rooting for you!

November 3, 2004 at 08:09 AM · heat and ice, alternate, it does wonders. and i'm sure you can find ways to learn things. mark sokol, one of my teachers lost use of his fourth finger in an accident and quit the violin and fell into depression i think. dont go that route.

November 3, 2004 at 12:42 PM · u mean dont be depressed or dont lose a finger?

November 3, 2004 at 01:25 PM · kelsey,

Recovery need time. the best treatment is rest.

You can apply antiinflammatory unguent and put a plaster around your pinky and ringfinger used as splint for a few days. Buri is right ,don't spoil a carreer for a few concert.

November 3, 2004 at 04:46 PM · thanks everyone! Yes, no I definetly won't spoil my career! I've been you as you had suggested Buri, no 4th finger coming up in my parts. I'm one of three second violins and it's a professional engagement so it's just causing a little extra stress. :)

Thanks for all the encouragment!!

November 3, 2004 at 09:58 PM · I've found that a sprain gets better if you try to move it as much as you did before. Strange logic on the outside, but it seems to work for me, and sortof make sense.

November 4, 2004 at 01:51 AM · When I was working full time as a newspaper reporter I really did in my left hand. I was handwriting notes (with my left hand), typing, and playing quite a lot in orchestras. At one point the pain was so bad that I had to stop all three. I called Alice Branfronbrennner at the Northwestern University Med School Performance Injury program, and she said to stop using the hand for two weeks and stay on ibuprofen for that long. I believe the ibuprofen as some anti-inflammatory qualities that help? Anyway, I did it, and it worked, along with getting a computer keyboard with better action. I have not had injuries since, knock on wood.

November 4, 2004 at 05:44 AM · well whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger

November 4, 2004 at 06:28 AM · Greetings,

so how come Nietzche`s dead and only prannies take his books seriously?

Cheers,

Buri

November 4, 2004 at 06:09 AM · Kelsey, definitely give a rest for your pinky. I just remember how often my daughters were injured when they were kids and what really helped was just 'vaseline'. After the only one application in any area, including fingers, they recovered very fast. I like to put my hands into hot water for about 10 minutes and...pray...

Good luck and get well soon.

November 4, 2004 at 11:27 AM · buri make me cry :(

*sticks a golden star on my forehead*

November 4, 2004 at 03:24 PM · Thanks again everyone! I sprained my finger Saturday, and now, 5 days later, it's mostly back to normal. I've spent the last few days not overdoing the playing with my pinky and doing tons of mental practicing for these concerts this weekend.