Hello,I'm a new member of this forum. I was diagnosed with FD in my RH middle finger in January 2005. I've had some excellent help from Paul Anders Sogaard, Christopher Wynn-Parry at BAPAM and more recently with Katherine Butler (you should be able to find them on the internet). I'm still struggling desperately and making very slow progress (I think) with this condition and would welcome any advice from other guitarists.
I thought I would offer some bits and pieces that seem to make very good sense to me. I hope they are helpful in some way;
- relaxation is the key and that includes the whole body and the mind
- try to ensure that every movement is the right movement (i.e. when plucking a string).
- before playing each note, ensure the hand is in its relaxed, "neutral" position
- after playing each note ensure that the hand relaxes to this position
- try applying some tape to one or a number of fingers. This seems to send a different message to the brain and might give you some degree of normal mobility.
- practising for no more than 20 minutes at a time has been suggested (although 30 minutes by someone else I have spoken to). I would recommend not returning to your instrument for at least an hour but that might be just me. I think at least half an hour's break is sensible anyway - even when you can play normally. Loosen up/stretch in this break.
- keep to free strokes. Rest strokes don't perform a full movement of the finger, i.e. pluck and return.
- keep at it!
Good luck.
