Trigger Finger

[mugbucket]

I'm about a month into recovering from trigger finger surgery (middle finger - fretting hand). While picking scales & melody lines are without pain, chop chords requiring a stretch are still making me wince a bit. Doc didn't prescribe anything special concerning rehab other than avoiding power tools (vibration), and heavy lifting.

Anyone know of any strengthening/stretching techniques to help accelerate a less painful G chop?

Thanks!

Ski

[GRW3]

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this!"

"Don't do that!"

An old joke but true in many ways. Why not use an alternate form while you are getting rehabed? You might also find it helpful to have other voicings in your bag of tricks in the future.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I had an op.on my left hand ring finger & thumb for trigger finger around 8 years ago. I have 'slight' triggering of my left hand middle finger now,but i can live with it at the moment.
Whatever you do,take it easy & your hand/finger will be 100% - it just takes time. I couldn't play Banjo for over 3 months (wasn't playing Mandolin then) & it was a real bind.
One thing that my physio.told me to do & i still do it to his day as a way of easing off my triggering finger,is to bathe my left hand in water as hot as i can stand it for a few minutes.Then,i take a face cloth,soak it in the water & wring it out gently several times. It puts tension on the tendon & then releases it & just eases the tendon into behaving itself. But DO take it easy & you'll be fine,
Best wishes - Ivan

[mandolirius]

I'm about a month into recovering from trigger finger surgery (middle finger - fretting hand). While picking scales & melody lines are without pain, chop chords requiring a stretch are still making me wince a bit. Doc didn't prescribe anything special concerning rehab other than avoiding power tools (vibration), and heavy lifting.

Anyone know of any strengthening/stretching techniques to help accelerate a less painful G chop?

Thanks!

Ski

Had t.f. surgery on my left index about six months ago. I didn't do anything special, just started playing as soon as I could and did what I could. Took about three months for full recovery.