Hi folks, Medical advice time...again. I have advanced osteoarthritis in the middle finger of my right hand, so much so that the finger is now ‘frozen’ at the first knuckle out from the hand (between the metacarpal bone and the proximal phalanges) and it can no longer be bent. X-rays show that there is no cartilage at all between the bones. I have adapted my horn playing with a Clebsch strap for support and by using the fleshy padding under the metacarpals to depress the keys. It looks cumbersome but the adaptation seems to work, although rapid fingerings just can't happen.
My hand surgeon has given me three options: do nothing since there is no pain, do a silicon implant between the bones, or do a knuckle replacement. The old school of thought is to live with the arthritis and stiffness since there is so much packed in the small space around the knuckle that surgery is risky and gives only a small chance of permanent help. Question one: Is there anyone out there (or who knows of someone) who has had either the silicon implant or the knuckle replacement done? Has it helped on a long-term basis? Has someone in the horn community encountered an alternative solution? Question two: My horn is an early- to mid-1930s Kruspe in superb condition. I can minimize the throw of the keys and make the playing easier (and faster) by installing mechanical linkages (and probably in doing so postpone the need for surgery)…but would it be a travesty to adapt such a beautiful and historic instrument? Many, many thanks in advance for whatever help and advice can be sent my way. Michael David Cox Senior Chemistry Lecturer Singapore American School 40 Woodlands St. 41 Singapore 738547 Republic of Singapore Tel: (65) 6363-3404 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
