Carple tunnle and Flutes?

Question:can carpel tunnel be very serious and does playing the flute make it worse?
my finger hurts allot and i am worried it is my pinkie finger.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: can carpel tunnel be very serious and does playing the flute make it worse?
my finger hurts allot and i am worried it is my pinkie finger.

Breathe a sigh of relief: carpal tunnel symptoms concentrate around the palm of the hand, just above the wrist (where the carpal tunnel is located) and will usually be nerve-type symptoms like numbness or tingling--then the hand begins to lose strength and range of motion as the motor nerves get pinched off.

And carpal tunnel among musicians usually befalls those who play keyboard or strings, and it hits them only if their technique is bad (pianists who play with wrists low, guitarists who hook the strings or who fret with fingers too flat).

If it's your right pinkie finger--the one that holds the D# key open for most notes--then it's possible you're pushing down on that key too hard, perhaps subconsciously due to tension. If it's the left pinkie, I have no guess about what could be causing it since that finger has so little to do (nothing but the rare g-sharp) and so perhaps you need to see a doctor if it doesn't clear up.

If it is the right pinkie, then you may need to become conscious of how hard you're mashing down on that key, and practice relaxing that finger and doing it with just the right amount of pressure.

It might also help to experiment with different ways of holding the instrument. I use a little plastic clip-on thing called a "bo pep" which provides a little more support for my left hand at the base of the forefinger--I think it helps keep the flute more stable. You might also consider that alternate right-hand position (forget now what it was called) where instead of putting the thumb on the bottom of the flute, you put it under the key-rod on the side--that moves your hand into a higher position and makes it harder for you to put a death-grip on the flute.

Attached is a link to an article about repetitive motion injuries for the flutist.

Carpal Tunnel is aggravated by any type of repetitive motion. Depending on your technique/hand position while playing, the answer is yes you can make it worse by playing.

It may not be carpul tunnel but It is probably to do with your flute playing! This is a common problem in Flute players! Go to
'http://www.jennifercluff.com/pinky.htm
or
http://www.jennifercluff.com/deathgrip.h...
or
http://www.jennifercluff.com/lineup.htm

It could be a number of things! Your Flute allignment, your hand position , tension in your muscles etc. Go to a flute teacher! They can see HOW you are playing