Since Saturday (recorder exam) I have been getting nasty pains in my index and little finger of my left hand. Actually, it was relatively OK yesterday but I did some violin practice which I think may have made it worse.

I'm hoping I've just fatigued the fingers and that they'll recover with some rest. I've never had RSI and was just wondering if this is a similar kind of pain or something very different. (Not trying to be hypochondriacal here, honest!)

Anyone have any experiences?

I remember an article in Libretto a couple of terms back on RSI. If I find it I'll post the link. Hope it's nothing too bad.

Here. September 2005 page 12.

I was achy for a half-week after my last exam too - index and ring finger, having played far too many fast forked Bbs on my descant - it's better now.

The peculiar thing in my case, though, is that the finger that is causing the biggest problem is the one finger you don't use in recorder playing... I suspect my hour of Mozart's 5th vln cnc 1st mvt on Sunday is to blame (all practice that week had been recorder-focused, not violin).

Glad yours is better, anacrusis.

Is it the palm side or the back of the hand which hurts?
If the palm side, then one explanation could be that in many of us the tendon sheaths for the two fingers, ring and little, are linked, so irritation from using one finger lots could have a knock-on effect for the other.
The difference in grip between recorder and violin may then have something to do with it, though I'm not a violinist.
Hope yours settles quickly.

Not better today Missing a rehearsal this very moment...

It's mainly the back of the hand, anacrusis, and seems to be mainly the little finger today.

Not to scare you, but I had wrist problems and ended up being banned from the cello for 136 days. Go and see a doctor and get a scan, don't delay it because you think you're fussing or you don't want to hear a negative diagnosis. The worst thing is not knowing. It could be just your fingers telling you you're overworked, or it could be actual problems, but either way you want to find out and work out whether the best way to treat it would be to rest for a couple of days or have physiotherapy or whatever. It could be nothing, in which case you need to find out to stop yourself worrying. It could also be something, in which case you need to find out to stop it getting worse and make it better as soon as possible. Remember to tell your doctor you're a musician, they'll take it much more seriously.

I got physiotherapy and acupuncture for my wrist (both on the NHS, which was great), and now it's not perfect but certainly holding up through preparation for my diploma, so even if it is something, don't despair because it will get better.

Let us know how it all goes, and good luck.

For "cures" relax in hot water, it really helps soothe the muscles

Benjaminja, how is your hand now? I hope it's better...

Thank you! Yes, it seems to be fine now. Just a few days of pain and then it was gone. I reckon it was a bit of over-use at the weekend that did it. I'm still going to take it easy, though, and not do too much practice for a while...

I'd listen to cellocase.

If not a doctor, then at least search out a teacher or physiologist who knows about this stuff. It may be that you're holding the instrument in a way that doesn't suit your hand for example.

Getting some specialist advice now to ensure that you're practising in the correct way might save you a lot of hassle further down the road!

I was banned by my oboe teacher for playing my oboe for a whole term after a problem in my neck. I had a term's worth of lessons just on holding the instrument, not learning repertoire.

If it is RSI take it seriously. Being parted froma musical instrument that you feel is part of you as a result on injury is heartbreaking.