andrewjbryson wrote
I have had pins and needles and numbness in my pinky (almost completely) and ring finger (50 %) on my left hand(fretting hand) .
for about 8 / 9 days now
Possibilties : Ulnar nerve dysfunction , Carpel Tunnel Syndrome , there are many possibilites
I've been through all of this recently, and still have some lingering problems. So I can share some information...
1) It's not carpal tunnel syndrome, or at least not ONLY carpal tunnel syndrome. CTS doesn't cause problems in the pinky as the nerve that feeds the pinky doesn't pass through the carpal tunnel.
2) I did have surgery for carpal tunnel release in my left hand. It's a quick, very straightforward procedure with a very high success rate - as long as the diagnosis is correct in the first place. See my previous comment, anybody having carpal tunnel release to relieve pain or numbness in the pinky is probably not going to consider the procedure to be a success.
3) Posture has a lot to do with things. You need to be sure that if you play a lot you need to be sure to give your hands and arms a good chance to get into other positions. Stretching or yoga or mild aerobics or jogging may all help. I work in IT, play guitar for a hobby, so I spend a lot of time with my elbows in a certain range of angles. Bad.
4) Might be nothing to do or not primarily to do with guitar playing. The surgery I referred to stopped one problem I have (stiffness in the first three fingers of the left hand) almost instantly. But other problems, notably pain in my right elbow, persisted. I got an ergonomic keyboard at work and started using the mouse with my left hand and things got a whole lot better.
5) It happens. People who play guitar a lot can develop repetitive strain injuries. I suspect this is part of the reason why old rock gods like Jimmy Page and Keith Richards wear their guitars low down these days - the elbows are worn out.
