Tendinitis

[elvis78]

This maybe concerning technique...

Anyway, the story is like the title says; I'm suffering of Tendinitis in my right hand. The odd thing is that the sore part is on the abow/on top of my hand where the Tendinitis go to the fingers, just "under" the knuckles.

My hand has been ill for almost a year now and it disturbs my playing. I work as an accountant so it is pretty much computer work and writing no. all days.

I has several time went to a few doctors, and the only thing they can do is give me painkillers which I refuse to take. The last time I went to a doctor he said that I'm suffering from milk acid which swell the muscles in my hand which lead to pain in my hand.

I have tried hot-treatment, cold-treatment, massage and acupuncture, but nothing seams to help. Getting tired of this **** when it disturbs my playing, can't play for long times and cannot practise as much as I wanted to.

Has someone suffered from tendinitis and what treatment did you get? How has the treatment worked. Please tell me and give me advises, I'm desperately need them!

Rgds, Rolle

[bullshark]

I've been suffering from tendinitis in my right shoulder for the last 7 years, I've seen many doctors about it and, like for you, the only thing they could suggest is pain killer which I also don't take. It's yet another ailment for which modern medicine is completely clueless about how to treat. I have no advice to give, sorry, except that one eventually get's used to the constant pain to the point that if it magically disappeared one day, I'd probably think something's wrong with me.

[elvis78]

If I may ask, how old are you?! I'm 29 so I've still got many years left until pension.

I have heard that there is some kind of new lasertechnology that could work for issues like this, havn't tried it yet because it's rather expensive.

[Lord_Kitchener]

well i had developed RSI in my wrists which i think its similar to tendinitis.

This was caused primarily by my (then) work in a kitchen as a kitchen hand but also from bass playing and Year 12 school exams. Basically what i did to stop it was i put both wrists in straps 24/7 and quit my job and didn't write or play bass at all for about 2 months. After that my wrists were much better and I just had to learn to change the way i used my wrists and I haven't had any trouble since.

Hope things get better for you man, its a horrible thing to have happen.

[elvis78]

Thanks! Let's hope it would be better. It's really bugging me.

I might have to make som big changes in my life, the biggest finding a new job where I don't write on the computer all day long. Then the problen causing it would be solved. Finding a new job can be hard, unfortunatly it's also a money issue, but the health comes first, still struggling and hoping to get better.

[zcwilkes]

I don't know if you anchor your thumb on the pickup (or b-string) or not, but I have sort of the same problem. Going to more of a floating thumb technique helped me out (at least in my mind it did) It reduces the angle of your wrist quite a bit. Hard to get used to after 19 years playing the other way though, but if I could do it I'm sure you could.

[hunta]

If you work at a computer all day long (as I do), I strongly recommend you get gel wrist wrests. Get one of those long ones for the keyboard and a mousepad with one too. It has helped my wrist/hand problems tremendously.

Also perhaps your bass technique could be examined, a lot of players use awkward positions when playing and don't even think about it. It doesn't always hurt right away, sometimes it just hits you later :-\

[markjazzbassist]

what i did i had "minor" tendidities. try taking off from bass for a month or 2. literally put it away and don't play at all. in the meantime rest that hand/arm. try exercizing and working out (not that hand) but doing cardio and stuff to get your blood moving and your body healing.

when you start playing again try using a better technique, lighter strings, adjust strap height (higher has been better for me) and move into it SLOWLY. do 30 min. first day. then by the end of the week get up to an hour practice. after a week get back into it full go.

this worked for me.

[MrSchpfmut]

Sorry for the essay, but this is a pretty heavy subject...

I too am on a computer all day at work doing data entry, I've suffered through tendonRSItis and lost a good year of playing bass... I was at a point where I could no longer pour milk from a gallon jug or even open a door with one hand. But enough of my sob story

Two of the most important things that have helped me: Posture and Stretching!

Posture, especially while on the computer keep your arms off of your desk, wrist pads, chair arms, and do not lean on them. Try pressing your left palm flat on the underside of your right forearm near your elbow. Now open and close your right hand and you may (or may not) be surprised to feel how much is actually required to move for your hand to do this (not to mention that lovely burn in the back of your hand if you push to hard). Putting any pressure on this area while typing, mousing, etc will seriously restrict movement on this side of the arm and cause much unneeded effort from both the back of your forearm. Basically, don't make your arms do any more work than they already have to.

Second is stretching,
The best one I can tell you which i do 50000000 times a day is somewhat similar to doing a push up, but you won't actually be pushing on anything. Go slowly, don't "bounce" and if it becomes uncomfortable or begins to hurt... STOP, i can't stress this enough

Begin by standing, arms down at your side. Raise your hand straight in front of you with your palm out, as if you were gesturing towards somebody to stop.

Rotate your arm by bending your elbow and raising it to about your shoulder height. This will put you in an "exaggerated push up position" with your palm still facing out and fingertips pointing across your body.

Keep your palm facing out and pull your hand SLOWLY towards your chest and thumb towards your armpit. Hopefully you should feel an incredible stretch at this point from your fingers all the way down your arm. Slowly push your hand away from your body to release the tension, then drop your hand to let it relax. Give it a few moments (do the other hand) before repeating if desired.

I also wear a very loose Ace brand elastic wrist wrap while on the computer and playing bass as it provides some support and compression. I own about 10 of these, really they've done a lot and are maybe $5.




Please understand that I am no health expert (far from it lol) and everone's condition is different, but all of this has helped ease my pain... So please take my advice only for what it's worth... One bass player trying to help another.

I could go on and talk about playing posture and mechanics because it's something everyone should refine until the day they die. All i can say is I think it's amazing how an injury has basically forced improvements to my techniques after returning to the instrument!

And of course as STP says, take time with a wounded hand cause it likes to heal

[john2718]

Originally Posted by MrSchpfmut

Posture, especially while on the computer keep your arms off of your desk, wrist pads, chair arms, and do not lean on them.

Just wanted to second MrSchpfmut that it's important to keep your hands off of wrist pads. Google computer posture or see http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html as one example.

Also, be especially careful with the mouse, which can be even worse than the keyboard. Your wrist was designed to go forwards and backwards, not sideways. Try a trackball or moving your whole forearm instead of bending your wrist.

John

[casualmadness]

I was diagnosed with Tendonitis when I was 20 years old. I had it in my left hand and my doctor pointed entriely to playing bass too often. So for one year, I was unable to play at all. I literally could not touch my bass for a year. In addition, I was in physical therapy three days per week for that whole year. For the rest of the time, my left arm was in a splint. The splint only came off for therapy. I slept, showered, etc. with it on. After a year of this, I slowly started playing again. I eventually built myself back up. Now, many years later, the pain only comes back if I attempt to lift something heavy or if I'm playing something very technical that requires constant and fast movement of all of my left fingers. And then it takes at least an hour or so of that type of playing (think soloing) before the pain is so much that I have to stop playing. In short; it isn't an issue now. And by the way, mine occured 14 years ago.
I never took any pain killers. DOctors never even prescribed them. Intense physical therapy and a hiatus from palying and I don't have to live with it the way a lot of musicians do.

[elvis78]

Thanks to all that have replied so far!

It was interesting to read abount not using rest the forearms/wrist on wrist pads. The ergotech-person that came to see my working position just said the other thing around, use them.

I have a mousetrapper; rollermouse which is a great devise, it really helps alot, though, I think my actual problem is coming from typin numbers all day long. After almost 10 year in business with bank-loan and other liabilities it's kind of scary to know that I might have to study for another branch. However, decided to get a doctors appointment and try to hear what he has to say. Cortison-injection has helped many, for how long I don't know.

I do quite a lot of streching and it helps. Thanks once again to you all that has bothered to answer. Let us keep this horrible but helpful discussion continue.

Best Regards,

[dollenamor]

I have had tendonitis on and off in my left hand first finger for the past three years of so. As far as my experience goes, time and laying off of the injured hand (may not be practical for either work or playing) are the only sure cures for tendonitis. I have occasionally used warm wax treatments which provide short-term relief but the net is that the tendons need to time to heal - each time that you play or type, you reinjure the tissue.

[elvis78]

Hi again!

Well, the story continues. I did go to the doctor, a speciallist. Well, they took ultra-sound-picture of my right hand. Similar to that ultra-sound they do on preagnent woman.. The intresting in the whole case; they didn't find any damages on the tendons. Well, that's of course a big relief, but the problem is still there; pain. The doctor orded pain killers..

Due to very hectic time on my work, I did have a pause in playing in January. I have also tried to make fysical work; kind of a hobby too, log splitting and making fire wood; have the luck of living in the coutnry.. The most intresting, after a hard day in the forests with a chain saw; the hand feels better.

Could it be possible as one doctor told me; that due to to much stress in my right hand, there is milk acid in the muscles. The cure is to relly get sweaty, either with hard fysical work or at the gym?! However, I did also have a pause in playing.. Arghh..makes me crazy...

[pibroch]

My right hand tendinitis was cured instantly by electro-acupuncture. The therapist used a TENS unit on high power to a major forearm muscle - made it jerk like crazy - for about 20 minutes. A bit uncomfortable but quite bearable compared to months of tendinitis!

[makaky]

I used to have that problem a couple of years ago. it was very bad, id wake up in the middle of the night in pain

Heres my advices;

-wrist band
-warm up before playing
-eat well ( this is sooo important, like too much salt is gonna mess you up )
- this may sound stupid but if you smoke, its bad ( especialy weed )