Hand/wrist pain?????

[onewilyfool]

Hey guys and gals....do you ever get tight forearms or tight wrists or sore hands from playing? I'm playing a lot, but this is the first time I have had this happen, any advice? I'm trying to do streching, but still getting the pain. Any advice/links/meds suggestions appreciated.....thanks

[TheLiveSoundGuy]

There was a time a few years back where I was playing literally 8 to 10 hours a day, every day. My left hand would get extremely painful and numb. Had a Dr. tell me it was the starting symptoms of carpel tunnel. He had me wear a wrist brace with a steel shank in it for about 8 weeks. It was that or surgery.

It was a biatch to play while wearing it , but not impossible.

It helped, but didn't fix the problem. Sorry, but the only solution was to cut back on my playing time.

[Johnt]

Hey guys and gals....do you ever get tight forearms or tight wrists or sore hands from playing? I'm playing a lot' date=' but this is the first time I have had this happen, any advice? I'm trying to do streching, but still getting the pain. Any advice/links/meds suggestions appreciated.....thanks[/quote']

 

Hi Wily

 

Will watch answers to this thread with great interest!

 

There is "a touch of rheumatics" which tries to affect me sometimes and I wear a cheap copper braclet which seems to have the required effect!

 

I have been away from playing for a while until I realised that a J45 and ES335 had better things to do than sit in their cases. Now I am playing a bit more I think playing is possibly it's helping in a perverse way.

 

The arrival of the 12 string seems to have the opposite effect, my hands ache like hell after a couple of hours, but that's Ok 30 minutes on the 335 puts that straight!

 

It's funny you know we got an old dog and we give him supplements (green mussell something or other) to help his joints......I get diddly squat except a bottle of scotch!

 

Sorry I digress ( scotch came early tonight as wife is away in Spain)>>>>>>

 

I think in my case it's down to age and as I said I too will be really greatful for any tips.

 

Also I will wait TWilson's reply to your post as he vies with Methusala for the oldest Gibson plucker in Oregan.

 

Thanks for posting this

 

John

[Johnt]

There was a time a few years back where I was playing literally 8 to 10 hours a day' date=' every day. My left hand would get extremely painful and numb. Had a Dr. tell me it was the starting symptoms of carpel tunnel. He had me wear a wrist brace with a steel shank in it for about 8 weeks. It was that or surgery.

It was a biatch to play while wearing it , but not impossible.

It helped, but didn't fix the problem. Sorry, but the only solution was to cut back on my playing time.

 

[/quote']

 

All my life pepole said

 

do not hit your sister

do not fail your exams

do not speed

do Not do that (they're still saying that!)

 

Couldn't resist it LSG you old porn pedlar you

[Rollie LeBay]

I usually spend 6-8 hours per day, 7 days per week playing one or another of my guitars. Luckily, my wife enjoys my playing and singing, so I don't get any complaints about it. And she's a multi-instrument musician too; piano, violin, mandolin, etcetera. We both despise TV and movies (don't even own a TV), and like to stay home, way out here in the backwoods, "Far from the Madding Crowd."

 

If I throttle back to say, only 2 hours per day for awhile because I'm busy, a condition I desperately try to avoid, when I ramp it back up to the usual 6-8 hours per day, my hands ache the next day, my forearms get sore, etcetera.

 

But before long, everything is back to normal, the soreness goes away as the playing muscles re-adapt, and my calluses continue to get so monumental that I have to grind my fingertips down with the rough side of an emery board (even on my pinky).

 

So, all will be well. The soreness just shows that you're spending lots of time playing, indicating that you have your priorities right in life!

 

Uncle Buck

[gearbasher]

I constantly get pain in my left hand (fretting hand). But, I grew up playing cheap guitars that were better suited for shooting arrows. I play with a death grip on the neck. Can't unlearn that. BTW, It's rough on the frets. I found playing a shorter scale neck (J-45) makes it easier on me.

[Les Paul Fanatic]

Heavy wrist supports, for me it's my leather cuffs, I use them to build up my endurance.

[Hoss]

I've been getting some serious bicep area pain-- from playing the banjo. I've had to rethink how I'm holding the instrument and make certain that I'm not adding any stress to my left arm/shoulder/hand while playing. My suggestion is to do this: become more aware of your playing position. Check to see if you have a 'death grip' with your left hand- and lighten up if Necessary.

 

I was practicing for 3 -4 hours at a time, and just a little bit of extra tension steadily applied for that duration can mess you up good!! Things have improved since I've modified my playing position, and I'm just about Pain free. (except when I have to fill up the gas tank....)

[jannusguy]

the only things hurting when i play are my ears.

[Les Paul Fanatic]

Yeah same here the only pain I get is at the gas station but even then don't look just fill 'er up.

[nodehopper]

I am not the person to ask. The last 5 months with my house remodel .....between dropping 3 large trees and all the construction stuff like tiling a room and painting etc. My hand and arms are always sore. Along with much of the skin falling off my fingers due to stains, paint thinners, grout and tile adhesives. I am surprised I haven't been left with useless stumps where my hands used to be....LOL!!!

 

The only real pain I get playing is when I play in key of "C" between the C chord and the "F" with thumb around the top I can get a good burning sensation in the muscle between the thumb and first finger. Feels like it cramps up. I try and work on gripping the chords with less force but can still get a good cramp. I switch over to an E Blues and it goes away in a few minutes. I don't like that I have to limit the amount of time I can spend playing in "C".

 

I get shoulder soreness from the angle I hold my arm to use a mouse so I also switch my computer mouse from the right to the left side so I don't get any repetitive soreness from being on a computer both at work and at home. It can take some retraining. But after doing it a few times I can switch from mouse on my right to mouse on my left with out any issues and it helps keep my hands and arms rested from all the computer stuff I have to do.

 

Stephen

[eds111]

This happens to me from time to time. I use a wrist brace I got from the drug store, the one with velcro and metal shank.

 

It really helps me.

[eds111]

I use the wrist brace when I sleep at night, not when playing. It helps the tendons rest and the pain goes away faster.

 

A friend with arthritis (non-guitar player) uses them and it helps her wrist pain, so I tried it and it works for me.

[TheLiveSoundGuy]

This happens to me from time to time. I use a wrist brace I got from the drug store' date=' the one with velcro and metal shank.

 

It really helps me.[/quote']

 

Yup. That's the one!

[ballcorner]

Tendon inflammation is the most common cause of this pain and is a repetitive strain injury. You can temporarily relieve the symptoms with simple anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen, but rest is the best solution if it isn't absolutely necessary for you to play.

 

I got tendinitis regularly from learning classical guitar. Learning to relax my hand and wrist more enabled me to play longer without inflammation.

 

Some music stores can still order a book called Calisthenics for Guitarists (originally published in the 1960s I believe) and this book offers exercises you can do with a 1 or 2 inch dowel and a rubber ball. These exercises - before playing and before bed - can greatly reduce the likelihood of repetitive strain injury such as tendinitis while offering the benefit of stronger hands and better control to the player.

 

Always consult a physician with any health concern. The Internet is not a substitute for the opinion of a qualified clinician.

[ibis]

Ballcorner speaks good sense! +1k for everything he said!

 

RICE is a good mnemonic for treatment of inflammed tissues. Sounds like you have a touch of RSI (repetitive strain injury).

 

Rest

Ice

Compression

Elevation

 

Plus Ibuprofen or Aspirin (paracetamol or acetaminophen in USA is not anti-inflammatory). Do not take these if you are a. asthmatic, b. suffering from stomach problems such as ulcer, c. on anti-coagulants such as Warfarin, d. Suffer from bad tinnitus (esp in case of Aspirin).

 

Rest is important, despite what the mind says!

 

As far as sore finger tips go, don't worry, they will harden in time. Sore finger joints are a sign that either you've been over doing it or you have a touch of OA (osteo-arthritis) which comes with age to most of us. Resting at the right times plus ballcorner's calisthenics will help long term. Use anti-inflammatories short term. I don't like ice for the fingers as it cocks up your circulation. You don't want to go getting frostbite now, do you?!

 

+1 for seeing your physician.

[TWilson]

Johnt said: Also I will wait TWilson's reply to your post as he vies with Methusala for the oldest Gibson plucker in Oregan.

 

Ha, that's Orygun to you, matie! Methusala sat in front of me in 3rd grade, I used to draw on his shirt and steal his lunch. As for the old hands, I use the occasional Ibuprofen, as Ballcorner suggested, also, if I intertwine the ol' digits and bend them back and hold for 15 or 20 seconds and repeat 3 or 4 times this helps. I also just shake my hands down at my sides and just let them relax and flop around. It's usually only my left hand but my right hand gets a bit crampy also if I'm using a pick. Fingerpicking doesn't seem to bother my right hand. I also use actual tools at work, like those wretched wrenches and hand drills, allen wrenches, screwdrivers, the tools of the devil by Gawd!! Now Johnt could probably tell you why the Brits never get hand pain and, I'm not positive, but I think it has to do with some nasty business having to do with the over use of the carpals starting in adolescence and in the darkness of a locked bedroom! Most limeys I know have HUGE wrists! lol Like the father that walks into his son's room and says, " I told you if you didn't stop doing that, you'd go blind!" Son says, "Hey dad, I'm over here." I'm pretty sure Doc Watson and Jose Feliciano are really British. And that's fair dinkum!! As for braces, a couple braces of Jack Daniels never hurts. ( You started it!)

[Greg Ferguson]

I'm 56 and only have one problem. Back in '82 I was hiking in the Sierras and tripped and fell on a perfectly nice path. My hands flew out to break the fall. They did. But the left one landed right on a rock at the palm and fingers, then hyper-extended back something nasty. Two surgeries (real operations where I was put under) and two out-patient procedures later, I can't barre anything other than the bottom 4 strings for more than a few seconds. I don't have any major problems with the wrist other than that, but damn barre chords kill my wrist. I've tried numerous strengthening routines, but nothing has helped. But I've come to really love open chords and there is no end to what one can mine there. And I can play those for as long as I want.

[retrosurfer1959]

Ive had a rough year on hands had carpal tunnel surgeries done on both hands four months apart and now have to have the second procedure on the left hand. I ignored it for way to many years and was ranked severe on botth hands with some permanent loss of feeling and tactile awareness in there words. layman terms hands work but cant feel temperatures and fine touch so gotta be carefula with hot coffee and BBQing the smell might not be the ribs.

 

If you have bad Carpal Tunnel you can't miss it it wake me up everynight with my hands numb like frozen and hurting like hell got so bad i got up and I soaked them in warm water four or five times a night.

 

surgery was a breeze and hands work better tha they have in years, see a doctor if you think your really have Carpal issues.

[JOESTONE]

I think we can all agree that it sucks getting old, but it's better than the alternative. I've played through the pain many times. The worst is when you dehydrate and your hand cramps in the middle of a song. Usually just before the big solo. How bout when you cut your guitar finger and super glue the cut shut. Oh the challenges we guitar players face. Should be a thread of it's own.

[albertjohn]

Now Johnt could probably tell you why the Brits never get hand pain and' date=' I'm not positive, but I think it has to do with some nasty business having to do with the over use of the carpals starting in adolescence and in the darkness of a locked bedroom! Most limeys I know have HUGE wrists! lol [/size']

 

Now steady on Old Chap! As a fellow " Brit" I feel I ought to post some kind of defence. Like shooting animals, the Royal Navy, an adversarial legal system, cricket.....etc.... surely this is just another activity exported to the Former Colonies in which we no longer excel?

[ballcorner]

How bout when you cut your guitar finger and super glue the cut shut.

 

My best injury was having a 168lb. beer keg dropped on my left middle finger by a coworker and it literally blew the end of the finger right off. I had to move a whole pallet of kegs to find the finger and go in to have it sewn on.

 

It was the best thing that ever happened to me musically, because I play three times a day now and never take it for granted. Still, it was a horrifying experience.

[gearbasher]

 

My best injury was having a 168lb. beer keg dropped on my left middle finger by a coworker and it literally blew the end of the finger right off. I had to move a whole pallet of kegs to find the finger and go in to have it sewn on.

 

 

 

 

Gee, if it happened to one of the guys I work with, they would have drank half the keg and forgot about the finger.

[ballcorner]

 

Gee' date=' if it happened to one of the guys I work with, they would have drank half the keg and forgot about the finger.[/quote']

 

I am relatively certain that the guy who dropped the keg on me had already done some sampling before we left the brewery. This, in and of itself might not be such a big deal if he was the helper, but where he was the driver it left a few questions and concerns.

[onewilyfool]

Hey guys and gals.....I talked to my Dr. today, and she turned me on to a great website at the U. of Michigan Health System website. She also said, that the problems often start at the neck, move to the shoulders, down the arms and into wrists and hands.....so NO looking down at the fret board when you play!!!!! LOL....have fun.....read all warnings , do not do these without your doctor's approval.

 

For hands and wrists:

 

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_carptun_rex.htm

 

For wrists and forearms:

 

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_tennisel_rex.htm

 

For Shoulders and upper arm:

 

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_xfrozsho_art.htm

 

for neck:

 

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_xneckspr_art.htm