A little history..........
I have been an amateur hobbyist for many years and enjoyed playing the classics as well as the privilege of being prinicpal pianist in local theater several years ago. While I was never at a professional level, I was not bad, either. I developed arthritis by age 45 and had knobby knuckles by age 50, so I began lessons again at age 51 to keep my skills with the changes in my fingers. All was going well until I had carpel tunnel surgery in October, 2004.
Almost immediately, I had electric pains and had 3 steroid injections and an oral treatment during the first 3 months post-op. The surgeion never found out the problem but I ended up with a decreased grip strength (I drop things all the time), poor muscle use (even my handwriting and driving have changed), and I had to stop playing for 4 months to "relieve the inflammation". Nothing helped and a second opinion yielded nothing. I can isolate the 2 movements that trigger the pain and I've learned to limit them but I really, really miss the piano! Music has always been a mediation to me and a way to express emotions.
About 3 months ago, I tried to play some simple Bach and easy Mozart but the pains returned within 20 minutes and I ended up crying like a baby. Not only did the pains return but my arthritis had become much worse and I could not work out the stiffness effectively. It has been a downward cascade for several months.
Anyway......... it is time to prepare for school solo & ensemble contests and I have decided to do some accompaniment. None of the music is hard and I think that I can play them in a fashion to avoid the triggers. If not, I will be taking extra Advil for a few weeks.
I absolutely love to play for the kids at contest! It is such a joy to see them succeed and I am always blessed to be a part of it. It will be worth the pain but I could still use some pixie dust and prayers to pull it off. Contest is on 2/4/06.
Thanks for letting me vent/share/pray!
I have been an amateur hobbyist for many years and enjoyed playing the classics as well as the privilege of being prinicpal pianist in local theater several years ago. While I was never at a professional level, I was not bad, either. I developed arthritis by age 45 and had knobby knuckles by age 50, so I began lessons again at age 51 to keep my skills with the changes in my fingers. All was going well until I had carpel tunnel surgery in October, 2004.
Almost immediately, I had electric pains and had 3 steroid injections and an oral treatment during the first 3 months post-op. The surgeion never found out the problem but I ended up with a decreased grip strength (I drop things all the time), poor muscle use (even my handwriting and driving have changed), and I had to stop playing for 4 months to "relieve the inflammation". Nothing helped and a second opinion yielded nothing. I can isolate the 2 movements that trigger the pain and I've learned to limit them but I really, really miss the piano! Music has always been a mediation to me and a way to express emotions.
About 3 months ago, I tried to play some simple Bach and easy Mozart but the pains returned within 20 minutes and I ended up crying like a baby. Not only did the pains return but my arthritis had become much worse and I could not work out the stiffness effectively. It has been a downward cascade for several months.
Anyway......... it is time to prepare for school solo & ensemble contests and I have decided to do some accompaniment. None of the music is hard and I think that I can play them in a fashion to avoid the triggers. If not, I will be taking extra Advil for a few weeks.
I absolutely love to play for the kids at contest! It is such a joy to see them succeed and I am always blessed to be a part of it. It will be worth the pain but I could still use some pixie dust and prayers to pull it off. Contest is on 2/4/06.
Thanks for letting me vent/share/pray!
