Injured Middle Finger.

July 22, 2005 at 01:13 PM · Yeah sounds like you could be right Brian. Yikes I hate doctors and I hate having surgery even more!

July 22, 2005 at 01:41 PM · I would see the doctor but if he recommends surgery, not schedule it until after your auditions. In the meantime, if you are able to adapt ways around it in your playing and surgery isn't recommended, then you haven't lost any ground.

But I understand your fears....I have been lifting weights in the gym for like 10 years now and recently when I use free weights on my left arm, my shoulder clicks at the socket and I cannot lift it as high as the other one and it has me quite concerned...

July 22, 2005 at 02:01 PM · Thanks Sarah, that actually seems like a good idea. You know, I used to lift a lot of weights too. Now I find that my left shoulder cracks really loudly and a lot (probably not what you were referring to though) but kind of similiar. And when I used to lift heavy weights, I found I couldn't lift my left arm as high as my right. May have been because my left arm isn't as strong as my right and maybe I was straining a little.

July 22, 2005 at 02:22 PM · I recommend that you track down a hand clinic that sees professional musicians. There is one in Baltimore, for example.

July 22, 2005 at 02:24 PM · The first step would be to ask your primary doctor for an x-ray. You'd know for certain if you had a small bone chip which may require surgery. If it's affecting your playing (even mentally) do it now.

August 17, 2005 at 06:46 PM · Nearly ten years ago I dislocated my left index finger (of course, it was because I was being stupid). I dutifully went to the hospital instead of trying to reset it myself, and happened to get a doctor that screwed it up as much as fixing it. I've never had the same range of motion since (I don't think he put it back quite right, but since he swelled the finger up so badly with anesthetic, I couldn't tell until it was already quite set). It took a full year before I could play again (I couldn't bend enough to get an f-natural on the e-string). I ended up playing the clarinet in a local concert band as therapy, which helped greatly with both speed and range of motion.

I still cock my hand in odd ways to reach some things, but for the most part I don't notice while playing anymore.

August 17, 2005 at 10:14 PM · Achk! You all are scaring us "healthy" ones...

What was that crack? AAAAAAAHKCH! MY NECK JUST FELL OFF!

(it's a joke)

August 18, 2005 at 08:33 AM · While we're on the topic, I have just joined my school netball team for a bit of fun, but my mum says I should give it up incase I break a finger. My friends said their broken fingers healed fine, but I'm still a bit worried about never being able to play violin properly ever again if I do happen to break something. Has anyone broken a finger and can still play violin? Any advice would be greatly appreciated:)Note: I am willing to give netball up, so please tell me if you think it's a bad idea to keep playing netball

Sorry..I didnt answer your question