Frequency and Health

Frequency and Health

 View Only
  • 1.  Osteoarthritis hand pain

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-22-2025 21:15

    Hello techs, 

    I don't usually use forums but I'd really like some advice from people in our trade. I've recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and I am having a fair amount of hand pain. I can assume some of you have faced the same issues as me. I'm switching to a "C" lever from Dan Levitan, and a Reyburn impact lever for verticals. I have over 30 years of experience and I'm struggling to adapt. What advice or other tools can you recommend? I'm pretty upset about this all. I love my job and I also play guitar at a pro level and I don't want to lose my playing.



    ------------------------------
    Jeff Hall RPT
    Wyoming MI
    (616) 550-0121
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Osteoarthritis hand pain

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-23-2025 06:01

    You've made excellent choices for alternate tuning levers. You may benefit from trying out key striker tools: I frequently use the one made by Reyburn. Charles Faulk also makes one (shaped like a door knob). 

    Discuss with your physician what analgesics may be appropriate for you (prescription strength naproxen helps with pain/imflamation for me). Physical/occupational  therapy and rest may be advisable.

    Good luck!



    ------------------------------
    Patrick Draine RPT
    Billerica MA
    (978) 663-9690
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Osteoarthritis hand pain

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-23-2025 09:25

    Another suggestion is using a weight lifter's glove to stabilize the offending hand/wrist.  I've used one like this for years for a similar reason:  https://www.amazon.com/Trideer-Lifting-Exercise-Powerlifting-Training/dp/B01I956VR8/ref=sr_1_26?crid=78UDSS9UF3FI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WKoCcvfnVnQdpe3D3W7HvvGzqoeWwIad46J8foClDNeeMqx274ZaL8XHFJ1YV5uyUwLonxKvuSRLAv8gNui6x-EJBoRWgACl4glfdztqso7F-anl4Vc6qShvPMu63RarAyUr5wJrTL434urAI1snQGHn638l2u3N4ib3zxeD3BdiI14zYsOSS9NRqjqHmNgFDtKcZR_IwohuhHVYXdOc653ZVdeLYltlizdPKBA2NOPgUtCovqp_AC06Th8TxH0zQ5GPbnLklPMfe6dqcLCqzorfeSCl2fyYzT65A0JpH7Y.4OnE7PWrxE_iVzJ3NNpZkt4XZLMNxR9JXvKYR8QpRhM&dib_tag=se&keywords=weight%2Blifters%2Bglove&qid=1753277045&sprefix=weight%2Blifter%27s%2Bglove%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-26&th=1 



    ------------------------------
    Tim Coates RPT
    Sioux Falls SD
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Osteoarthritis hand pain

    Member
    Posted 07-23-2025 10:56

    You may want to get a referral to a certified hand therapist to see whatn they can recommend in the way of exercises and work modification . I had severe carpal tunnel in my right hand so bad I woke up in pain. A steroid shot calmed it down but that is not a long term solution. I had my Chas Faulk lever wrapped by the hand therapist so that i did not curl my fingers around it. I was able to continue tuning but not every day or too many times a week. In April I had a new procedure done that uses ultra sound with a specialized cutting blade. It is done under local anesthesia and the down time is only a few days, I am right hand dominant and my thumb joint hurts but is bearable, Before changing over to other levers and trying to tune with your left hand do some more research . Rest will not fix the problem and masking pain with pain killers is not a good approach. My left hand has had more then a half dozen surgeries including tendon surgeries, open wound carpal tunnel surgery, knuckle replacement surgery.  BTW it is a good time to look at the foods you eat , what you drink, driving habits, sleep issues. Inflammation is a big factor . I found that using ice in an ice bag helps quite a bit. Heat feels good but ice is the way to go . Its a real bummer but dont give up.



    ------------------------------
    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Osteoarthritis hand pain

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-24-2025 11:38

    Arthritis is an issue of toxicity. The body works together as a whole system. When the organs of elimination (liver, kidneys, skin, lungs) are over burdened and there are insufficient nutrients, the body stores toxins that are back-logged into areas it deems as 'inert'. The blood must remain a specific way to properly carry oxygen. Toxins that the liver cannot filter from the blood are dumped into the lymphatic system and pulsed out back into the blood when it can filter more. As things accumulate, joint spaces are used to store toxic material and can then cause localized inflammation and subsequent calcification. The typical arthritic complaints one develops over time are caused by these accumulations.

    To heal arthritis, cleanse the organ systems, increase key nutrients and balance the terrain pH. Assist all the routes of elimination to work properly once again. To help the crystallized deposits return to solution (blood to liver and kidneys), drink parsley and corn silk tea 2 cups daily, rub castor oil into the joints daily, as well as drink hibiscus and chia seed water during the day (2L ideally, see below for recipe).

    Turmeric and boron are both powerful anti-inflammatory medicines. Use my All-Natural Joint Care Pepper Rub which will also support this process. Eat a milk, grain and GMO free diet as well as meat free, juice often and eat many superfoods. Avoid medication which further damages the organs of elimination and suppresses the proper body mechanics to act as they require to heal the body properly. Come slowly off of all medications, they are only poison and must be halted.

    Coffee enemas should be used as well as castor oil packs.

    Steps to Osteoarthritis and bone loss

    -Processed white sugar depresses blood phosphorus
    -Calcium and Phosphorus are in a delicate balance
    -This leads to a relative increase in calcium in the blood
    -The parathyroid gland starts to bring in more calcium from the bones, adding more calcium into the blood.
    -This weakens the bones.
    -But this is too much so the kidneys work to remove it and the blood deposits the excess in the joints.
    -Now we have damaged tissue which becomes the junk drawer for other wastes in the body. Hence osteoarthritis and eventually RA once the toxicity levels build up.

    Amandha D Vollmer (ADV)
    BSc, Herbalist, Reiki Master,
    Holistic Health Practitioner,
    Degree of Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine



    ------------------------------
    Vince Mrykalo RPT
    www.mrykalopiano.com
    Visit my blog at: www.mrykalopiano.blogspot.com
    Success in tuning, as has been said of genius, is the result of an infinite capacity for taking pains.- Tom O'Meara (Editor, Tuners' Journal 1925)
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Osteoarthritis hand pain

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-25-2025 16:39

    I forgot to include the recipe:

    HIBISCUS FLOWER & CHIA SEED INFUSION RECIPE

    ~Chia seeds are packed with protein and are anti-inflammatory!
    ~Hibiscus flowers are full of antioxidants, reduces hypertension (high blood pressure)
    & removes tissue calcification (the main cause of high cholesterol).

    Take a large mason jar full of room temperature, pure water. Add 2 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers. Let sit for 4 hours. Strain. Add 2 tbsp chia seeds and STIR, STIR, STIR, or else you will get a big mat of gel. Let sit another 20–30 minutes, drink this all day. Chew some of the seeds for better protein availability. Make a few jars at a time to store in the fridge, so you always have some available.



    ------------------------------
    Vince Mrykalo RPT
    www.mrykalopiano.com
    Visit my blog at: www.mrykalopiano.blogspot.com
    Success in tuning, as has been said of genius, is the result of an infinite capacity for taking pains.- Tom O'Meara (Editor, Tuners' Journal 1925)
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Osteoarthritis hand pain

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-24-2025 14:12

    I started using a Mehaffey impact hammer in 1981, never looked back.  I now take Standard Process Livaplex and Betacol at night for liver cleanse. Eat a more plant based diet avoiding sugar and alcohol.  Reyburn beater helped with cramping in left hand,  I tune right handed.



    ------------------------------
    Parker Leigh RPT
    Winchester VA
    (540) 722-3865
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Osteoarthritis hand pain

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-24-2025 14:13

    Might also try Nervive and/or alphalipoic acid for joint pain.



    ------------------------------
    Parker Leigh RPT
    Winchester VA
    (540) 722-3865
    ------------------------------