KnottedYet: Thanks for your suggestions. A visit to LBS may be in order. I also like the look of those splints! I just emailed them to see if they could suggest a hand therapist in my area. I'm thinking this is something I should definitely get checked out. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I've always had a bit of a problem gripping things: umbrellas, can openers, etc. It's never affected my playing, though, so I never worried about it much.