For old guys. Arthritis or Tendonitus?

Skel · #1 08-05-2008, 04:08 PM

I've been noticing my fingers and hands being pretty sore lately, since I've been playing a lot for the past 7 or 8 months. It goes away if I don't touch the guitar for 2 or 3 days. Is this arthritis or maybe just tendonitis? I don't remember ever getting this before (it's not like I trust my memory either).

Kael · #2 08-05-2008, 04:17 PM

Sounds like tendonitis. I'd check with a doctor to be certain of course. I got a case of that recently. I switched to a short scale mustang for a few months, started taking Meloxicam, and problem solved. The location of your tendonitis is different than mine so the same thing that worked for me might not work for you. Still, try a more ergonomic instrument.

Heh, I guess this qualifies me as an old guy. Dammit.

bikeplate · #3 08-05-2008, 04:27 PM

HI

Sounds like the big T. I have it in both elbows, the left one is worse. During the summer, when I golf a ton, its noticeably worse. Not too bad in the winter. I feel it after lugging in gear to a show or pounding golf balls on the range. Overall, really sucks

Rob

CapnSev · #4 08-05-2008, 04:31 PM

It's not just old guys, I get tendonitis too. My left wrist was especially bad. I had to switch basses (get a wider neck) to fix it. Even now it comes and goes, but with some ice and ibuprofen it is fixed/prevented.

Grebig · #5 08-05-2008, 04:33 PM

It could be a little of both arthritis and tendonitis,Another possibilty could be carpal tunnel,I have that and I was getting some discomfort while playing,mainly with cramps.I do a few "warm up" stretching excersices I learned at a previous job (where I got the carpul tunnel from) that have helped out a lot.I run a 62 P-Bass reissue and actually stopped playing it live because even with the stretching I was still getting cramps.I switched the neck to a Jazz neck and my P-Bass is now back in business when I play live.

bikeplate · #6 08-05-2008, 04:33 PM

HI

LOL, yea. Aleeve is one of my closest friends

Rob

Skel · #7 08-05-2008, 04:37 PM

Ok, and lol about the "I guess I'm an old guy, dammit".

I was just wondering if when you have arthritis, it would be isolated to only the areas (like my hands only) where you know you're being pretty hard on them consistently.

Marcury · #8 08-05-2008, 05:33 PM

Osteoarthritis could come from use or injury, but it usually is visible.

Valerus · #9 08-05-2008, 05:39 PM

I'm 19 and I have inflammatory problems. Overuse of the thumb(s).

Skel · #10 08-05-2008, 06:04 PM

I'm gonna have to give Alieve a try - sounds like it might help quite a bit.

E2daGGurl · #11 08-05-2008, 09:18 PM

If you do think you have tendonitis, alleve or another anti-inflammatory will help - but try to take it consistently for a couple of days while resting - don't just pop it when you feel the pain and keep on playing.

Let the tendon settle down. Tendon inflammation is like a skinned elbow, it needs to heal up. The alleve speeds up the process.

For us older players, it takes longer to heal up, but most people should be able to cope - by resting and then not overdoing it. If it keeps coming back, see a hand specialist, of course (there are physical therapies for it).

toytech · #12 08-05-2008, 10:17 PM

I have it in both elbows on and off from work, and in my right thumb at the back joint from using an impact wrench all day, I also have arthritis in my knuckles from past martial arts practice/present profession (Auto Mechanic) I use cats paw, an herbal remedy that seems to help some, naproxin (aleve) works well as does ibuprofen BUT chronic use will make you bleed internally if you are not carefull. I wish I could make it go away as it is impacting my ability to practice.

OtterOnBass · #13 08-05-2008, 10:24 PM

Off topic: in 3d Design we had to make bridges out of two cardboard sheets to be both aesthetically and structurally functional. Everyone had to walk their own 6' long bridge. There was one guy in the class who was very overweight, and he comes up to me after getting the assignment and says "looks like we're screwed."

Oh, and I've got some kind of nerve-choking going on in my elbow that makes my pinky and ring fingers numb. Yes in the left hand. My father-in-law says that happened to him once, lasted 5 or 6 months. Dang. I'm young and skinny, I'm young and skinny, I'm young and skinny.

svtb15 · #14 08-05-2008, 10:27 PM

I had severe arthritis in my left hand with minor tendinitis. and i have no idea if this had anything to do with it but i cleaned up my diet and went vegetarian.. and at times raw vegan.. and all the symptoms have gone away.. I orly did it because the pain was so bad all the time that i would have had to quit playing.. So i went the diet /life change route.

I dont like to take aspirin or alleve.. The only time i took a pain killer is when i had a kidney stone last year.. They gave me morphine in an Iv and pain pills.. i only got high.. and it did nothing to rid the pain... never felt anything like it.. the pain that is

I dont know, but i think the diet change has helped me allot...
I did have a big burger the other day though. but it was months since i did that...

Kael · #15 08-05-2008, 10:29 PM

Big +1 on the taking an anti-inflammatory every day. Even if you feel fine, take it. It builds up in your system over time and prevents recurrences. I've been on Meloxicam for about 5 or so months now. If the anti-inflammatory isn't working, talk to your doctor about cortisone. I took cortisone pills and went from pretty severe tendonitis pain to feeling right back at normal in under two days. Problem was, I wasn't fine. I just felt that way. I had to keep taking it easyand taking the meloxicam. I feel minor twinges still but they are getting further apart over time as well as getting less intense. I think I may even be able to quit taking the meloxicam in a couple months.

CapnSev · #16 08-05-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skel

I'm gonna have to give Alieve a try - sounds like it might help quite a bit.

That's what it's made for!

svtb15 · #17 08-05-2008, 10:33 PM

You have to be careful with cortisone. it is very taxing on the kidneys and it does destroy the cartilage in joints.. be careful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kael

Big +1 on the taking an anti-inflammatory every day. Even if you feel fine, take it. It builds up in your system over time and prevents recurrences. I've been on Meloxicam for about 5 or so months now. If the anti-inflammatory isn't working, talk to your doctor about cortisone. I took cortisone pills and went from pretty severe tendonitis pain to feeling right back at normal in under two days. Problem was, I wasn't fine. I just felt that way. I had to keep taking it easyand taking the meloxicam. I feel minor twinges still but they are getting further apart over time as well as getting less intense. I think I may even be able to quit taking the meloxicam in a couple months.

Kael · #18 08-05-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svtb15

You have to be careful with cortisone. it is very taxing on the kidneys and it does destroy the cartilage in joints.. be careful.

Yep, cortisone shouldn't be your first resort. On the other hand, it ehf'in rocks when used in the proper situation.

CapnSev · #19 08-05-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kael

Yep, cortisone shouldn't be your first resort. On the other hand, it ehf'in rocks when used in the proper situation.

Yes, yes it does.

Dave Muscato · #20 08-05-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skel

I've been noticing my fingers and hands being pretty sore lately, since I've been playing a lot for the past 7 or 8 months. It goes away if I don't touch the guitar for 2 or 3 days. Is this arthritis or maybe just tendonitis? I don't remember ever getting this before (it's not like I trust my memory either).

Time to see a doc. Don't play in the meantime.