Numb Thumb

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Numb Thumb

I've been playing my new (well, new to me:) Alex 103 since just before xmas, and have recently noticed that after practising (~1 hour) or an orchestra rehearal part of the thumb on my left hand has been numb. If you hold your thumb up in front of you, it's mainly on the right hand side, on the soft bit fron the tip to the knuckle that goes numb. I played at a band rehearsal last night (~2 hours) and it is still numb now (10:10 am).

I have the Alex thumb valve set so that it is normally in F, and goes into Bb when I put the valve down. Because I played a Yamaha single Bb for about 5 years (I never had any problems like this on it) I had virtually forgotten my F fingering. Because of this I tend to use Bb more than F, because in the fast passages it is so much easier. I make sure that when practising at home I use the F a lot, and I am having less trouble with the F fingering now. Anyway, I was just wondering is anyone else had ever found this, and if it is anything to worry about?

It is not unusual for musicians to develop problems with their wrists and hands. Playing and holding a musical instrument was not in the original design plan when homo sapien was created.

The only way to tell if a finger is really numb is to have either a needle point test or a nerve conduction test. Many horn players experience numbness in their left little finger after years of holding the weight of the horn on their pinkie. More than likely a numb thumb [or a reduction of sensation in part of the thumb] is the result of the finger coming into repetitive contact with either the valve or part of the first branch of the instrument near the thumb valve. There may be other causes of a numb thumb having to do with a nerve impingement somewhere in the wrist, elbow, or neck, or the development of a callous on a particular area. Again, only a physician can determine whether the numbness is real or phantom.

Nerves rarely regenerate once they are bruised, but nerve bruising is not an overnight thing. The wisest thing you can do if you begin having unusual symptoms in your hands is to seek medical attention. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Good advice, certainly. Remember to bring the horn along to the medical examination. The problem might be with the thumb, or it could result from tensions on the wrist or elsewhere. Make sure it isn't something obvious, like adopting a death grip on your thumb valve when playing high.

Although this problem is medical, it's quite possible the solution will be in the realm of the mechanical. Hand sizes, postures, and body proportions vary greatly, and the grip on your horn may just be all wrong for you. Often the grip can be altered inexpensively to eliminate whatever it is that affects your thumb. This includes things like:

- Removal of the pinky ring and addition of a duck foot. You might be using too much pressure and tension in your hand, and this can eliminate a lot of it.

- Bending the valve levers up or down, or even left or right. (I have large hands and the thumb lever on my 103 is greatly opened from the original factory pattern.)

- Lengthening valve levers if too short.

- Addition of a leather grip to make the grip larger.

- Removal of same to make the grip smaller.

But first you should find out the likely cause.

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