Classical Pianist with Finger Pain Nervous About Upcoming Audition

by Veronica



Hi! I am a 43 female and a classical pianist, just getting ready to a big audition in February.

Besides the natural nervousness caused by the challenge, I started to feel a little pain and soreness in my left index finger that got worse after practicing for an extended period of time (the funny thing is that I was on vacation prior to that, not practicing or working hard on anything for 6 weeks!).

Scared, I stopped playing for couple of days and started using an anti-inflammatory cream. It got better. I resumed my piano practice. The pain then traveled to the base of the finger, in the palm of the hand.

I continued with the cream and started applying moxibustion. It got better. I got braver and resumed practicing.

The pain then traveled to my forearm and it comes and goes in waves. Last night, I woke up feeling uncomfortable. It is been around 3 weeks in this dance.

Now, I am scared again. I just run into your website and will be doing the 7 days protocol starting tomorrow (today is 11/10). But what about my piano practice? When can I go back to practice again? The audition is very important to me and the repertoire is not exactly light.

Please, help me!

Thanks a lot,
Veronica



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Joshua Answers:


Hi Veronica.

Definitely do the Icing Dipping and Ice Massage as
described on the How To Reduce Inflammation page.

That is definitely a primary issue.

I would also make sure that your Vitamin D levels were up where they should be (it's a safe bet that you are deficient).

I would also start making and eating Bone Broth and increasing your protein intake to help any irritation damage repair, and to keep your structures as strong as possible.


As far as practice, I would continue to practice, with attention on form and ease. Meaning, be as gentle on that finger as possible. And with the icing, even if you don't go easy, then you just need to ice enough to counter the negative effects of all the playing on that finger.



Keep me updated with the results of the icing and the rest, and feel free to ask more questions.




Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com
















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Nov 15, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		PART 2 - You are a godsend! - Classical Pianist with Finger Pain Nervous About Upcoming Audition
by: Veronica

Thanks a lot Joshua!

I will definitely follow your suggestions and keep you posted.

Veronica

P.S. And most importantly thanks for giving such a clear, direct answer. It helps not only with my tendons, but certainly with my inflamed emotions!


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Joshua Comments:

You are very welcome Veronica.

I'm here for you.

And fear and concern is just as much a player in the Tendonitis dynamic as tightness and inflammation.

It will take some work and effort to learn how to outsmart the negative factors at play.

In a perfect we wouldn't have to worry about it, but since our bodies are sturdy -and- frail, looking at all this as a learning opportunity is about as good as it gets:)

Just like you learned how to play piano, you can learn how to play as much as you want and not get into pain and problem.




Nov 16, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		PART 3 - supplement - Classical Pianist with Finger Pain Nervous About Upcoming Audition
by: Anonymous

By the way, Joshua,
Talking about the effects of tension: with this problem with my finger and the concern about being able to perform at the audition, I feel my muscles tense in general and I am having trouble to sleep.

It seems that my muscles are 'jumpy'(sometimes I even can see my arms or thigh's muscles pulsing!) and when I lay down on bed, it seems that my body does not "want" to touch the mattress completely.

It becomes hard to relax.

Should I go and work out at the gymn, take vitamins?

I have heard the complex B helps with this issue.

What's your take on that?

Thanks again,
Veronica
PS Ah! How often should I take the bone broth?


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Veronica.

B vitamins may be playing a role.

Let's start with Classical Pianist with Magnesium.

Restlessness, not being able to sleep, twitchy and jumpy, tight muscles chronically pulling on tendons (which can help cause Tendonitis) those all point to being Magnesium deficient.

Supplement as described on the above page. There is a link at the bottom that will tell you about what kind of magnesium, and how to find out how much is an optimal dose for you.

You also want to get your Vit D levels up, pronto. (Vit D supplements require magnesium to convert to it's active form in your blood, and will pull magnesium to do that, sometimes making people twitchy, not able to sleep at night, etc)


Bone broth is food. Eat as much as you want, daily. That's not a very specific answer, but consider it something to eat regularly.

You can put it over rice, poach eggs in it, soups, stews, consume, etc.

Historically we constantly had a pot full of bones and meat and vegetables going. Now we make one meal at a time, and don't get the nutritional benefits of stewing the nutrients from the bones.

So start with the magnesium, get a Vit D test, and we'll add in B vitamins depending on what the Magnesium does. (Can't hurt to throw in B anyway, but this seems somehow more along the lines of the scientific method:)



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