Hand surgeon says it's supernumerary forearm tendons

parentologist · Regular Member Joined: 17 Jul 2010 Posts: 45

I don't know what happened to the thread, which seems to have disappeared, but kid was seen by a very experienced hand surgeon today for the problem of pain in the volar (palmar side) surface of the wrist and forearm after extended practice sessions, due to kicking out the 3rd valve slide with the 4th finger, while 5th was wedged under trumpet. He tried the Vulcan grip but his hand is too small, got pain in the 3rd finger MCP (big knuckle) joint. He is now letting the 5th just fly along with the 4th, next to the 4th in the ring.

Hand surgeon said it is NOT ulnar nerve entrapment. He said it's pain due to supernumerary (extra) tendons in the forearm, a common anatomical variant. He said kid can go ahead and play as much as he wants, okay to ice and naproxen, and that continued growth may resolve it all, since bone growth likely has preceded tendon growth (kid grew 4 inches in the past year). I'm still a little bit worried, but it's nice to know that the nerve is okay.

cheiden · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 1:17 pm Post subject:

I've read enough posts to know that the moderators sometimes shut down threads that have too much arm-chair medical advice.
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Turkle · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 2:02 pm Post subject:

Good to hear. Good luck.
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multiphonic · Veteran Member Joined: 14 Oct 2019 Posts: 139

Glad that it's not serious.

Andy Del · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 11:20 am Post subject:

Really, the issue is WHY does your son have to do ‘extended’ practice sessions at all? Any instrumental teacher worth their salt will tell students to stop when pain occurs.

This is an issue which should not have occurred in the first place!
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TrumpetMD · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the update.

Mike
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Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

HaveTrumpetWillTravel · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 11:00 pm Post subject:

Great news! Best wishes to the kid and his continued musical pursuits.

parentologist · Regular Member Joined: 17 Jul 2010 Posts: 45

Update: Kid is practicing a ton these days, because of school being out, with no recurrence of the pain. Perhaps his hand has gotten bigger (he's a very late bloomer, physically, still in that adolescent growth spurt), also, he did stop wedging that 5th finger under the slide, but instead lets the 5th float freely with the 4th when kicking out the slide. So glad it was transient.

TrumpetMD · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2020 4:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the update. Glad it's working out.

Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.