Nerve damage in left index finger - tips? (no pun intended)

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dirtyfunkg

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About 7 weeks ago, my left index finger got into a sparring match with my hedge trimmer.

The good:
-There was no bone/ligament damage.
-Blood is flowing to the finger tip and I have normal feeling right on the tip, so I'm able to play single string runs reasonably compared to pre-injury.
-It doesn't hurt to play guitar for the most part.

The bad:
-It was a deep cut into the finger pad just above the last knuckle, below the finger tip. It didn't go in straight perpendicular to the finger, rather it went at a diagonal so lifted a good part of finger pad out. 8 stitches, and it kind of chewed up the flesh.
-There's a decent bump where the cut happened where there's scar tissue.
-There's a good 1.5 sq cm area where I have no feeling (nerve damage) just below the finger tip but above that last knuckle. I'm finding that I am fretting multiple strings at once or otherwise making major mistakes but can't feel it, only hear it as it happens. Barre chords are difficult because I can't really tell if I'm fretting all of the strings.
-There are certain parts around where I have no feeling that are extremely sensitive to anything remotely sharp, like, say, the corner of the guitar nut.


I had a follow up doctor's appointment yesterday and was told that, IF I get full feeling back in the finger, it could take a long time (several months to even over a year).

Any of you ever had a similar injury? Do you have any guidance on how to adjust?
 
I don't have anything to add here about your injury specifically except good luck and I hope it all turns out alright. Positive thoughts going your way.
 
I can't say for sure, but you'll probably be fine after some time. It may take a long time (perhaps years) but you'll probably find ways around any handicap you may have. I mean there are people that have way worse disabilities that can play the fuck out of a guitar. I broke my ring finger on my right hand, and it's all bent, and crooked I cant even bend it at the first knuckle, it was awkward to play for quite some time, but i make due. I certainly cannot finger pick like I used to, but I have not really tried hard enough, I bet I could if I set out to do it.
 
I lost part of one of my fingers on my left hand prior to playing guitar, it was a shop class when I was 11 years old. It got stuck in a big disc sander. I had no tearing, it was literally grinded away. I remember it being weird for quite a while, but I have full sensation now, and the finger tip kind of grew back. It will take some time to regain sensation. I think youth may have been in my favor, but from my minuscule understanding of neuro science it will regenerate through time. Try to exercise it if possible, and consider seeing a physical therapist. Also there are neuro stim machines that you can get that may be able to help you.

I would stick to doctors advice, but I highly recommend a seeing a physical therapist if possible. Even just try it for a one time consult. They may or may not be able to help but if it were me I would give it a shot.
 
I smashed my right hand ring finger while moving my P.A. cabs at one of my cover band gigs. I was bleeding, thought I cut it, and didn't think anything of it. I noticed at times that I didn't have any feeling sensation on my right hand ring finger. Over time, the nerves on my finger regained its sensation of feeling and I'm relieved about it. We all have to be careful of our body in every day activities outside of music.
 
I broke the tip of my index finger about 18 months ago so couldn't play at all for about 4 weeks and then could slowly start to put pressure on the strings again. Even now it still feels numb along the front of the finger nail, no pain at all and playing is fine. I also have an almost inch long scare on my middle finger (the "pad" side) from 35 years ago, it is to low to affect any playing but every now and then if I am doing 3 finger bends or long slides my fingers will be angled enough where the scare hits/scrapes the low E string and it still stings a little
 
I crushed my left middle & ring finger in 2002 when a piece of heavy equipment slipped in the back of my service truck while rigging up lifting straps. Crushed the ring finger from just behind the finger nail and severed the tip of my middle finger off just behind the nail. The ring finger healed with minimal lasting effect but the middle finger was not a clean amputation; more like it was crushed off.

Maybe 1 year after the surgery I picked up the guitar (acoustic); hurt like hell to play guitar for about the first year or so. Gradually became less painful. Now I play with little pain most of the time some 18 years later, however the middle finger is significantly larger and slightly flattened compared to what it was. I'll never play to what may have been my full potential, but it's relatively pain free. Sensitivity in my case will never be the same; feels weird even 18 years later, but that finger had serious trauma/nerve damage.

That said, I enjoy the shit out of playing today; a bit handicapped, but it's still fun.

Give it time...you'd be surprised what you can do despite injury.
 
I have gotten great benefits from using vitamin B1, not just any B. B1 or thiamine is a very important element in nerves sheats. Whenever there is a nerve damage or high pressure on it, vitamin B1 helps a lot.
I have experienced this on back nerves... those that can hurt really badly and put you on knees in tears.
There are tablets of pure B1 you can take, 1 or 2 in a day. Talk to a good doctor about this. Thiamine is vital for those tissues.
 
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