Greetings, Ive been playing for about 10 yrs. Ive also been an outdoorsman for all of my life. In the last few yrs my hands have been bothering me more being cold ..... Im 51 and concerned about this since I love playing the flute . It is more bothersome especially in the winter. There are some circulation problems cause I see the tips of my left hand are white sometimes and a little numb which goes away when I warm them up . Any help will be appreciated !!!! Blessings Mike

Hi Mike,

What you need is a nice, warm cat to warm your hands on!!

Have you talked to your doctor? It could be a result of a medication. I took Tenormen (sp?) a few years back and it had that affect on me. Some medications will do that. He/she could also check out that circulation idea. Carpal tunnel might cause numbness but I don't know about coldness. (No, I am NOT a medical specialist! Just analyzing!)

My advice: go to the doctor and get it checked. Could be something simple. We need all the fluties out there playing so get going! (I am not a medical professional, but I AM a bossy teacher! )

I would certainly ask your doctor about it. Sometimes narrowing of the arteries can be a factor. Also, diabetes can be a factor as can a number of other problems.

Also, have you ever suffered frostbite before? I did once when I was young in the Rocky Mountains and for a number of years afterwards, my toes would be extra sensitive to the cold.