Pianistic nightmare....!
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Posted by: john bruzon ® 08/17/2003, 12:48:32 Author Profile Mail author

Hello, I have been playing the piano for over 30years and started having problems with the 3rd finger of my right hand some six years ago.I began to have difficulty playing chromatic scales, the 3rd finger just didn't seem to want to work, practising more made no real difference.After a lot of analysis trying to understand what was going on I realised that the finger seemed to be lifting more that it needed to particulary on the black keys. Playing any scale where the 3rd finger falls on a black key was becoming a nightmare, I began trying to workout different fingering for passeges that I'd played all my life.The third finger just seems to kick upwards the faster the passage, which of course has a devastating effect on smoothness and control. Two Consultants diagnosed "Trigger Finger" as there was a clicking noise under the knucle of the 3rd finger. I had two cortisone injections which had no effect whatsoever and finally, in my desperation to fix the problem decided to go ahead with surgery. Needless to say the problem is still there and a big hole in my pocket as I decided not to wait for an NHS operation! I now feel as if I have compounded the problem as there is always some scar tissue and a change in sensation after any surgery - this I have to admit is slowly improving. Ironic, but I can't tell you how relieved I am to find others with the same or similar problems. I recently wrote to Carola Grindea who immediatly said I had Focal Dystonia, this was the first time I heard of this condition. I would appreciate any advice and ideas on how to improve matters - is there really any hope of overcoming this?

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Re: Pianistic nightmare....!
Re: Pianistic nightmare....! -- john bruzon		Top of Thread	Archive

Posted by: drums911 ® 08/17/2003, 23:10:34 Author Profile Mail author

The first advice I would give is do some research and whatever you do, don't try excersising the finger as though it were a muscle problem. Dystonia is not a problem of muscles although the symptoms make it appaer so; particularly at first. I believe it is largely to do with neural mapping gone awry and involves emotional & mental factors too. I kept playing & doing excersises through the early stages & beyond and am convinced that that contributed greatly to the terrible shape my left hand is now in. It now severly affects everything I do with the hand: holding a cup, steering the car, shuffling cards etc, etc. I keep hoping for good news or improvment & unfortunatley I've found neither. The linked article below seems to encapsulate the situation fairly well, IMO. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web2/Blumenfeld.html

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Re: Pianistic nightmare....!
Re: Pianistic nightmare....! -- john bruzon		Top of Thread	Archive

Posted by: terry andrew ® 08/18/2003, 20:06:04 Author Profile Mail author

I have the same problem, except primarily with my index finger. I too went thru physical therapy and several consultations before someone diagnosed it properly as focal dystonia. For the past year and a half, i have been on a highly specialized exercise program and i am happy to report that i have made progress. There is no question that i can play better than i could a year ago...but i still have quite a ways to go. The progress is extremely slow but i know there has been improvement. I'd be happy to share with you the program that i am on. Let me know. Terry Andrew

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Terry, check your e-mail...
Re: Re: Pianistic nightmare....! -- terry andrew		Top of Thread	Archive

Posted by: drums911 ® 08/18/2003, 20:50:39 Author Profile Mail author

Thanks!

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Re: Pianistic nightmare....!
Re: Re: Pianistic nightmare....! -- terry andrew		Top of Thread	Archive

Posted by: john bruzon ® 08/19/2003, 13:15:29 Author Profile Mail author

Hello again and thanks for the website details Drums11 I found the information very interesting. I am glad that you are making progress Terry that is good news - I would be interested in the excercises you are doing how will you get them to me? Since my last post I have been to see Carola Grindea, in London, who has given me some good advice on posture and relaxation, and believes that she can help me overcome this, however it will mean relearning my approach to the keyboard and many aspects of my technique - I felt like a clumsy beginner trying to grasp some of the simple movements she was showing me! I am planning to go back and have some regular coaching next month. All the best, John.

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Re: Pianistic nightmare....!
Re: Re: Pianistic nightmare....! -- john bruzon		Top of Thread	Archive

Posted by: terry andrew ® tterry andrew 08/20/2003, 10:18:52 Author Profile Mail author

John...send me an e-mail and I'll get the info to you that I gave Drums. Terry

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Re: Pianistic nightmare....!
Re: Re: Pianistic nightmare....! -- terry andrew		Top of Thread	Archive

Posted by: Leif S. ® 09/02/2003, 20:44:22 Author Profile Mail author

Dear Terry, I would be very interested to know how you are progressing and what exercises you find helpful (I don't know if you remember, but we traded messages a long while back -- our symptoms are very similar). Is there any way you could post that info here? Or should I send you an email? Good luck with your progress! Leif

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Re: Pianistic nightmare....!
Re: Re: Pianistic nightmare....! -- Leif S.		Top of Thread	Archive

Posted by: terry andrew ® 09/03/2003, 08:23:49 Author Profile Mail author

Leif.... I'd be glad to share the info with you. my e-mail is kybdcpa@aol.com Terry

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Re: Pianistic nightmare....!
Re: Re: Pianistic nightmare....! -- terry andrew		Top of Thread	Archive

Posted by: Leif S. ® 09/05/2003, 09:50:33 Author Profile Mail author

Thanks Terry. I sent you an email. Please let me know if you did not receive it. Best, Leif

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