Finger Injury

mikeRI

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Aug 17, 2023
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I have been dealing with pain and stiffness in my right hand index finger (picking hand) for a few months. X-rays show no fracture but a lot of swelling. My PCP thinks it may be trigger finger. I am seeing an orthopedist in mid-January but I have a few gigs prior to that appointment I really can’t miss.

I hold the pick between my right thumb and index finger. I can get my index finger in the position to hold a pick, but after a 3-hr gig it is basically stuck in a bent position and swells up for a few days.

I have a few Dunlop Herco thumb picks. You can alternate pick with a Herco but you need to stabilize the pick with your index to keep it from popping off your thumb. Ideally I’d like a thumb pick I can alternate pick with using just my thumb. Does such a thing exist?
 
I have one like Doyle Dykes uses that has much less pick surface, it might stay on better. Doyle sure flies with it. You can get the “speed pick” direct on Doyle’s site, or the original version is on Amazon.

(DD site)
. (Amazon)
 
I've had trigger finger twice. If your orthopedist is a surgeon but not a hand specialist, ask him who he'd go to for hand surgery if he needed it. That's your guy.

I had it in my left index finger first - started with pain, gradually got to the point that I couldn't play a lot of chord forms because I couldn't bend the finger in. Went to my orthopedist, he recommended a hand surgeon/specialist with the words, "If I ever need hand surgery, he's the guy I'm going to." Tried cortisone shots, which worked for a period, but eventually had surgery. Doc said he'd wake me up during surgery to evaluate, which they did, and the first thing I heard was, "Okay, let's close this up." My immediate thought was, "You're giving up? Already???" Then he held my hand up and said to make a fist. Finger closed like there'd never been an issue. Did some PT afterwards. Doc was happy - I wasn't. He examined it and laughed and said, "If you didn't play guitar, you wouldn't even notice this." And he's right - it was minimal stuff. Got some OT, and I'd say the hand is 98% - I've lost a little bit of my stretch range, but I have no issues with most guitar functions.

Now I have it in my right ring finger. This time it's catching when I try to straighten it, but because I was aware of the condition, we got on it earlier. So far, cortisone shots are working. I've had two (six months apart) and will probably require another in the next few months. But the symptoms have not returned as much as they did after the first shot, so the hope is that the shots will cure it. As long as I'm not risking damage, I'm sticking with the shots - less intrusive, and so far they're doing the job.

Good luck with whatever path you take!
 
Cancel the gig, get it checked, it's not worth it.

Did they gave you any antibiotics?
They ran bloodwork to rule out infection or systemic conditions, so I'm guessing antibiotics wouldn't help? Years ago I would've just drank 8 beers before the gig but those days are behind me :) Worst case scenario, I can play pain-free with a thumb pick doing only downstrokes. It is limiting for sure, but that is how I have been practicing to keep my left hand in shape.
 
They ran bloodwork to rule out infection or systemic conditions, so I'm guessing antibiotics wouldn't help? Years ago I would've just drank 8 beers before the gig but those days are behind me :) Worst case scenario, I can play pain-free with a thumb pick doing only downstrokes. It is limiting for sure, but that is how I have been practicing to keep my left hand in shape.
Happy to post me some picts? Can be via the private message.
 
If it's trigger finger you'll be playing without your index finger for a little while so better to start adapting ASAP. Thumb and middle finger work for flat picking or get a thumb pick. You probably won't pick like you're used to so view it as an opportunity to expand your technique while you're recovering.

In this video Jerry Reed keeps his index finger curled up, Chet uses his index finger with his thumb pick for single note stuff.

 
I have been dealing with pain and stiffness in my right hand index finger (picking hand) for a few months. X-rays show no fracture but a lot of swelling. My PCP thinks it may be trigger finger. I am seeing an orthopedist in mid-January but I have a few gigs prior to that appointment I really can’t miss.

I hold the pick between my right thumb and index finger. I can get my index finger in the position to hold a pick, but after a 3-hr gig it is basically stuck in a bent position and swells up for a few days.

I have a few Dunlop Herco thumb picks. You can alternate pick with a Herco but you need to stabilize the pick with your index to keep it from popping off your thumb. Ideally I’d like a thumb pick I can alternate pick with using just my thumb. Does such a thing exist?
A while back a finger injury put me in that same situation for a short while. I practiced holding the pick between thumb and middle finger. It worked out better than I expected.
 
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