Alternative treatments for wrist problems?

[paradigm_shift]

Basically I was wondering if people have had any success with methods that werent strictly western medicine?

I'm starting to get some serious problems with my wrist. I suspect carpal tunnel/tendonitus, and basically am willing to try almost ANYTHING to fix/minimize it. I am eating properly and doing stretches and what not, but will try other ideas in conjunction if it will (even slightly!) help.

I've heard of acupunture being used to minimize pain, but really I was wanting to hear what any of you have heard/tried and proven to be effective,

[paradigm_shift]

anyone?

[Cristo]

Have you changed your technique to straighten your wrists? Adjust strap height/bass position as necessary.

[paradigm_shift]

I havent had to. I was already good in this regard.I've become alot more concious of it ,both how I stand and play.Really I want this problem healed as completely (and preferably quickly if possible) as possible.Thus am I looking at alternative method to use in conjunction.

[Mindabout]

I know this probably isn't what you want to hear... If things are that bad taking a break from playing bass at all for a week or two might be the most responsible and effective thing to do. You can work through the pain or you can take painkillers and keep going but your body is telling you with the pain that something is wrong.

A few seasons ago when I was playing a club soccer game I kicked the ball at the same time as someone coming from the opposite direction and my foot rolled and I pulled some ligaments. My foot and ankle swelled to about twice the size and was really bruised and painful. I was frustrated that I might have to sit out as it left my team short so I kept playing and just went to the physio twice a week. This went on for many weeks - I keep playing, playing training and going about my normal life and the swelling and bruising remained - the physio told me I should take a break or I wouldn't heal for a very long time. Eventually I heeded his advice and stopped playing soccer and slowed down in general and the swelling and brusing disappeared over the next couple of weeks.

I am telling you this because I know its easy to get frustrated with your body giving you the message that you need to slow down - it really seems like its going to disrupt your life. But, the thing is - if you stop for a week or two the world won't end... if you're in a band maybe just play out the gigs you've got booked and then make sure you get a break.

Anyway, just my two cents...

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Cristo

Have you changed your technique to straighten your wrists? Adjust strap height/bass position as necessary.

+1 It is a technique issue and you have to make sure the forearm and wrist are close to being straight. Check out classical guitarists that left arm position is what you need especially if you are having trouble.

As could be other factors too. Do you use a computer a lot or other things that are repetitive. You have to watch the wrist position there too, no severe bends in the wrist.

If you don't deal with this now you're looking at years of problems. Try to find a doctor who speciallizes in CTS and repeative movement injuries. There is a book that might help its called: The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health by Randall Kertz D.C.

Last here's a link I just stumbled across.

Musicians and Injuries

[paradigm_shift]

I think I may have been misinterpretted( or not have been clear in what i was asking). Im not saying I'm using alternative methods in place of western ideas and medicines( adjusting technique,streching, laying off ,dietary supplements, etc.)
Ive done a search and read all the threads saying the same things (and there are MANY of these) I am looking for alternative ideas/healing aids and or successes people have found so that I might use them in CONJUNCTION with what im already doing

[Poop-Loops]

[30hrz]

I've started taking apple cider vinegar with a lil baking soda (to cut the acid) twice a day. Gotta mix it with OJ but it still taste like someone dared you to drink it.

I think it helps but I've only been doin it a couple weeks. Also I am often stretching and rotating my joints every day when I'm on the subway or where ever. I've herd some good stuff about shark cartilage but it may be all phooey.

[fungihead]

ive never had that much trouble with hand and wrist pain but i heard these help

http://www.powerball-gyros.com/powerballs.htm

i have one, just for a laugh, but there suppost to help rsi as well as cts, arthritis and tendonitis

worth a look at least

u can get them off amazon for around £15 - £20

[louieeadg]

p shift,

I pitched and played 3rd base in college(we were pretty good too!), I know a very good amount about tendons, muscles, and taking care of the body. Not only is pitching alot on the arm, not getting a break and playing 3rd was real fun! I've also, never been a fan of western medicin, could have something to do with growing up in a house where both my parent were black belts; and my dad was the head of the organization...anyway, here's some things I would try...

First, like the other posts said, you definetely need about a a week or two off, even if you're not technically 'playing' there's still plenty you could do to continue your learning.
Second, if you haven't already, please critically examine your technique, you shouldn't have wrist problems if your doing things right. And like another post said, if you use computers alot at work, etc. get one of those pads for your keyboard or mouse.
Third, yes, accupuncture is an option and does work. I had it on my shoulder the one time I ever had trouble with it(only one shoulder incident in 10 years of pitching!). But if you don't do this other stuff to take care of yourself afterward, you're wasting money.
Fourth, before you begin playing, and even before you stretch your hands, run your hands/wrist under hot, not scolding, water to warm up the muscles and tendons. Or you can always use a heat pack for 5-10 minutes before stretching. Then ice your wrists after you play, whether you played for 10 minutes or 10 hours. Its the 'miracle medicine' as our pitching coach liked to call it.
Fifth, add Tumeric to your diet. Its a spice that they use in a lot of Thai dishes but you can add it to almost anything. And its easy to cover up if you get tired of the taste, you need a total of about a half teaspoon a day. Nutmeg is also something else you need to get in your diet.
Six, Omega 3's! Best thing you can do here is take the fish oil pills. 500mg or something like that a pill....take one a day. For some reason they work very well for arthritis(my pops has arthritis in both knees! He's greatly improved his mobility in the past year adding this stuff to his diet)
Seven, this should actually be first but, lay off the caffeine and add WATER!!! So simple, so effective, and SO detrimental if you don't do this. Caffeine DRAINS your body of fluid and without enough water in your body, those muscles, and especially the tendons will slowly tear and not be able to repair themselves. Make sure you get your 8 cups a day and for every 8 ounces of caffeine, you need to replace that with about 10 oz of water. Drink up!
I can go on....if you want more info, email me and I can send you some stuff on taking care of tendons and such...Try this stuff first for a week or two and try to cut down on playing. About 10-20 minutes a day at the most.

Take care and I hope this helps you...cheers.

ps,
please don't just pop pain pills, ever. if your body hurts, there's always a reason.

[user101]

supposedly drumming (with proper wrist techniques) helps cure carpal tunnel. Ever thought of picking up a 2nd instrument?

[Stuggi]

There are some wristband you might wanna try out, are supposed to work very well. I don't remember the link, but I'll post it when I get home.

Secondly, be a little careful with drinking water. More then 3 liters a day isn't that good. You can accually get sick from drinking to much water (called water sickness, not pretty). A good gauge is watching the colour of your urin when you go and take a leak. When it looses it's yellow colour, and looks more like water, you need to lower your intake (if you don't work in a desert or something, then it's accually a good idea to drink til you praciticly piss water)

[bigbeefdog]

Vitamin B6 is said to help. Google it for more info.

[paradigm_shift]

louieeadg pm sent

[steve66]

I read in a article that Billy Sheehan had similar issues. He mentioned that a low carb diet fixed it with out medicine

[louieeadg]

Sorry I haven't sent you that stuff yet, I'll get it to you asap.

cheers

[ThunderSix66]

cortisone shot to the wrist

[Dave Muscato]

Originally Posted by louieeadg

Fifth, add Tumeric to your diet. Its a spice that they use in a lot of Thai dishes but you can add it to almost anything. And its easy to cover up if you get tired of the taste, you need a total of about a half teaspoon a day. Nutmeg is also something else you need to get in your diet.
Six, Omega 3's! Best thing you can do here is take the fish oil pills. 500mg or something like that a pill....take one a day....

Your post was great advice, except for this part. What happens when this guy turns out to be allergic to fish oil and dies? Can his family sue you for malpractice? Don't take this the wrong way, but don't give out medical advice over the internet unless 1) you've seen his chart and done a complete history and 2) you have a license to practice medicine.

To the original poster, have you seen a doctor? No offense to anybody who answered his question, but your doctor, frankly, knows what he's talking about, and can give you good advice, if you ask.

I know a lot of people have a fascination with obscure, exotic remedies, but 99.9% of the time, you should just listen to your doctor. "Serious wrist problems" are not something you should be asking about on an internet discussion board. See someone who is trained to diagnose what's wrong and give you real steps to fix it, or at least slow the damage.

In case I pissed anybody off, I should probably give some background.... both of my parents are doctors, and they get very frustrated with people who turn to the Internet when they have a health problem, because invariably, whatever problem the person has becomes worse. As an example: a patient of my mother's had cancer, and my mother put him on a chemotherapy regimen. The patient asked a friend of his, who owns an organic foods store, for advice. His friend recommended that he drink plenty of fluids, particularly grape juice, because the antioxidants would "cleanse [his] body of impurities and help the treatments work more efficiently...." FYI, Antioxidants negate the effects of chemotherapy. The guy died within a few weeks. Any doctor could have told him NOT to take them.... if he'd only asked...

My 2 cents
- Dave

[paradigm_shift]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

To the original poster, have you seen a doctor? No offense to anybody who answered his question, but your doctor, frankly, knows what he's talking about, and can give you good advice, if you ask.

My 2 cents
- Dave

As for going to a doctor. yes I have. Basically I was told I have Rsi and sent to a physio theoropist.And yes I have been doing her stretches and what not. I'm not looking for a magic cure all . All I asked was of what successes people have had with methods that weren't western medicine.I figure why not try some other methods aswell to help?Obviously I'm going to be somewhat analytical about this and look into why these things would work.I'm not going to do anything that would obviously harm me