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No options left - It's surgery for my tendinitis

Commreman

Commreman

Faith, Family, Fitness, and Frets
Feb 12, 2005
2,360
742
66
Naples, Florida/New Jersey
www.jobonanno.com
#1
Well, as some of you may know, I have been battling tendinitis in both of my elbows going on three years now. I got my left elbow under control, but my right has been getting progressively worse, no matter what. The modalities that I have undergone are:

1. Rest.
2. Ice massage twice daily.
3. Ultrasound treatments
4. Accupuncture
5. Three shots of cortisone in each elbow.
6. Lots of prayer!!

Last night I spent the better part of the evening in an MRI tube (thank God for valium, I hate those damn things!), and reviewed the films with my orthopedic specialist this morning. My left elbow will be OK, and in all likelihood will heal well. My right is a different story.

I will be scheduled for surgery for sometime next week. They will go in and literally scrape the inflamed areas out right down to the bone, and then reconstruct the tendons. I will be in a splint for about a week, and then will require a healing period of 4 to 5 weeks thereafter.

Following this, I will get back into action with only 4 string basses, and use lighter strings for a while. This sucks, but it's my only alternative left.

I have always taken very good care of myself, but age and time will have its' way with you, like it or not. I'm 48 now, and played my first pro gig at 15 (that lets you know how long this took to build up), so this was bound to happen.

I'll keep you posted to my progress. Pray for me!
 
#2
Dude, that blows. Best of luck, let us know how it goes.

I took a couple of years off after my own bout with tendonitis / carpel tunnel. I got back into it VERY slowly. I stuck with a short-scale 4-string (less of a reach needed, softer action), and found that playing with a pick was a bit easier on my right hand (though that might not work for you -- depends on the exact injury).
 
#8
You know, it's funny -- I read your original post, and the first thing I thought was, "Well, this guy must have bad technique -- wearing the bass too low, too high, wrapping his hand all around the fingerboard."

But I clicked on the link to your band (Jo Bonanno and the Godsons of Soul) and there's a picture of you -- displaying textbook technique. I mean, I could quibble a little bit with the arch in your right wrist, but it's nothing serious. And you said both elbows, so I don't understand what happened to your left.

Picture here:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

This scares me, because I've been playing about 16 years myself (15 strictly on electric, and 1 on upright). I've made a point of cultivating good technique (very similar to your own, in fact) with no problems thus far, thank the Lord.

Just goes to show you -- it can happen to anybody.
 
#9
I have always paid very careful attention to my technique.

My band is a show band, which means that we are very physical - we don't get into wankfests staring at our shoes! Our job is to entertain, and move a lot. That is what gets the arses shakin' on the dancefloor, keeps the drinks flowing, and keeps us getting rehired.

I played upright in college about 1,000 years ago, and would love to get back to that one day. My injuries are really just simply classic overuse injuries. We gig a lot between the months of April through November, and I sub and sit in with other acts as well. I get called for various recording dates, but that really is no stress. On gigs, when the juices get flowing, you can get a little crazy sometimes, but I work hard to temper that.

The problem that killed me is that I am an athlete, and athletes are trained to play through the pain, lest you be considered a pus$y by your peers. As a former competitive soccer player, I have played through concussions, sprains, broken bones, groin injuries, torn calves, and lived to tell the tale. When the first pain in my elbows started, I thought that it was nothing, ignored it, and kept going. Big, big mistake. You should always listen to your body, especially as you get older. Because of my athletic background, my brain still thinks that I'm still 19 and can plow through brick walls, while my body knows otherwise!

My surgery is scheduled for this coming Tuesday. I have to go for bloodwork and EKG's this afternoon.

My advice for everyone is LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. Get in the habit of icing your elbows down for a few minutes after each gig, whether they hurt or not. You want to kill any inflamation before it has a chance to exist. Take a look at a major league pitcher in the dugout after they come out of a game. Their shoulders get wrapped in ice immediately. We as bassists should do the same.

I'll keep everyone posted as to my ongoing saga!
 
#10
barbarbass said:
You know, it's funny -- I read your original post, and the first thing I thought was, "Well, this guy must have bad technique -- wearing the bass too low, too high, wrapping his hand all around the fingerboard."

But I clicked on the link to your band (Jo Bonanno and the Godsons of Soul) and there's a picture of you -- displaying textbook technique. . . . .

Just goes to show you -- it can happen to anybody.
Click to expand...

We CANNOT stress this enough. Tendonitis is NOT just for people with poor technique. I was a classically trained upright bass player, in music school, studying standard, accepted upright technique, and I still got tendonitis / carpel tunnel.

Sometimes poor technique is a factor. Sometimes poor practicing habits (e.g., too long in a sitting, not warming up, etc.) are a factor. But in the end, anyone who plays an instrument seriously is at risk. Musicians are athletes, and athletes can get injuries. Especially when you take into account that we are "small muscle" athletes -- those tiny muscles and the supporting tissues just aren't as resiliant and larger muscles that sports athletes are more liekly to use.

As the OP pointed out, it's sometimes the result of a macho "play through the pain" attitude. Also, the attitude that it couldn't happen to someone unless they have bad technique . . .
 
#11
I have had some issues with tendonitis. I have seen, what I was told and believe to be, the best hand surgeons in the business. Dr Robert Markison in San Francisco and Dr Ian Winspur of London (Dr Markison claims Winspur to be the best hand surgeon in the world).

Both doctors had advised me to change postures and have nerve conduction testing to locate any nerve damage over the years. Its a painful testing but it locates where the nerve is damaged. I have subluxing ulnar nerves in my elbow so over the years as my posture got worse, the nerves started to shred from friction of the nerves rubbing over the elbow bones. In combination with bad posture, this caused tendonitis in my left hand between the first and thumb fingers. After that, I had some tedonitis on my right elbow and right hand over the pinky and ring finger.

I had cortisone shots which I truly regret. Cortisone changes the structure of your muscles and you never quite get it back to normal. I noticed at times I was not as fast as I used to be and more than anything, I did not have the stamina that I used to. I fatigued faster.

What really saved me was exercise. I work out with a trainer 4x a week and that has eliminated my right elbow issues. My left side has been resolved with better posture. The only pain I get in my left hand now, can be resolved with physical therapy massage. My issues, as most bilateral issues, start at the C6 and C7 joints in your spine (this is where the nerves that go to your hands/arms start). What I experienced was what they doctors call "refered" pain. Even though I would feel the pain in my elbow or hand, if I had my neck adjusted and muscle fatigue reduced in my neck, the pain disappeared. You need to have a cleared path for the electrical impulse to travel through the nerves. If they are inpinged in any way, then you get pain and tendonitis.

I consider myself lucky because I figured out, after 3 years of doctor appointments and endless hours of research, how to manage any pain. Posture/alignment is vital to healty nerve impulse travel. And as usual, a good diet and exercise. Exercise before you play...get your heartrate up. That gets your circulation going and gets your nerves firing at their best. I play pain free now and I am in the best shape I can remember. Its a win win situation.

Hope this helps,

Juan
 
#12
Juan -

Thank you for sharing your experience. I really appreciate it!

I am a firm believer in exercise and fitness. While I don't play soccer competitvely anymore, I still help to train youth teams, I am a runner, I do very specific body weight strength training exercises, and I also do yoga several times a week. I stated in another thread earlier this week that my favorite drugs are adrenaline, endorphins, and fresh oxygen pumping through me! I also am a very big believer in chiropractic therapy as well, as this cured cluster headaches, herniated discs, and a variety of other maladies for me. My issue, as stated earlier, is that I was dumb in that I thought I could play through the pain without any repercussions. All actions have consequences, good or bad, whether you like it or not.

My tendinitis is not a nerve issue. Tendinitis is a series of "micro tears" in the tendons attaching into your elbow, that are responsible for hand and finger movement. My MRI's showed this. My chiropractor would not let me go through with what I am about to do if he didn't feel that this was the best alternative, and I trust this guy completely.

I agree that cortisone is not a cure, but rather, a cover up. I don't regret getting the shots, but I am done with them for life in each arm (you are only allowed three in any given area). Unfortunately, insurance rules state that you have to exhaust that modality before they will allow the next phase, and I'm not made out of money! The surgeon who will be working on me has also performed this surgery on other musicians, athletes, and microsurgeons - all people that rely on their hands, arms, and elbows to put food on their tables.

I agree that getting in, and staying in shape is a "win-win". You feel positively electric, and it has a very beneficial impact on everything that you do. It also shortens recovery times for medical procedures.

I'm off to my EKG.
 
#14
Hey- just a note to say that sometimes surgery can be the answer. It was for me anyway.

After almost 2 years of trying everything in the book short of surgery for pain in my right wrist, I relented. In my case, a tendon became inflamed and rubbed against a 'sheath', sort of like a belt thru a belt loop. The inflammation caused the rubbing which in turn kept it inflamed. Very painful.

Long story short, in less than a week after surgery to cut that sheath away I was pain free. 10 years later and no recurrence. Doh! In hindsight I shouldn't have been so pig headed about it.

You hit it on the head-LISTEN TO YOUR BODY- and take action immediately if it begins yelling at you. Good luck with your proceedure. It can turn out very well and I hope it does for you.
 
#15
I just got back from blood work and the EKG. In choosing between dealing with my insurance company or getting waterboarded, I would probably choose the latter, but that's another story!

Emblymouse, I'm good friends with a classical pianist who went through exactly the same thing you did, had the surgery, and was performing pain free within a week. She was the one who encouraged me to quit screwing around and get something done!

My doctor tells me that my recovery will be somewhat longer, but we'll see. In any event, I'm not gonna push it too hard after surgery, as I want to give my body every opportunity to heal properly. I'll have a very heavy gig schedule commencing in the spring, and I want to be dead certain that I'm healthy and ready, and that I won't reinjure myself.
 
#19
Commreman said:
Well, as some of you may know, I have been battling tendinitis in both of my elbows going on three years now. I got my left elbow under control, but my right has been getting progressively worse, no matter what. The modalities that I have undergone are:

1. Rest.
2. Ice massage twice daily.
3. Ultrasound treatments
4. Accupuncture
5. Three shots of cortisone in each elbow.
6. Lots of prayer!!

Last night I spent the better part of the evening in an MRI tube (thank God for valium, I hate those damn things!), and reviewed the films with my orthopedic specialist this morning. My left elbow will be OK, and in all likelihood will heal well. My right is a different story.

I will be scheduled for surgery for sometime next week. They will go in and literally scrape the inflamed areas out right down to the bone, and then reconstruct the tendons. I will be in a splint for about a week, and then will require a healing period of 4 to 5 weeks thereafter.

Following this, I will get back into action with only 4 string basses, and use lighter strings for a while. This sucks, but it's my only alternative left.

I have always taken very good care of myself, but age and time will have its' way with you, like it or not. I'm 48 now, and played my first pro gig at 15 (that lets you know how long this took to build up), so this was bound to happen.

I'll keep you posted to my progress. Pray for me!
Click to expand...
Oohh been there Commreman, I wish you well. I had my right elbow done a few years ago, along with an Ulner nerve transposition (moved my funny bone) and it was a tough year. I was in a 45 degree angle cast for 7 months and lots and lots of physical therapy. That was a terrible year for me....no work...no hunting...no bass playing...thank goodness for Sega Genesis game at that time,lol... the only thing to occupy me. I wish you well, but my first advice to you is, when you're ready to go.....physical therapy! Dont slack on it...no matter how painful and discouraging. You spend your whole life stretching those tendons, when they get cut all that stretching is gone, you have to start from square one all over again to restretch them, its tough but dont get discouraged. So, its now 12 years later (damn!) and my arm is as good as it ever was! Which is how you'll be if you take P.T. seriously, I dont just say that because Im in Healthcare, I say it because its proven and very necessary. Good luck with your surgery / recovery, let us know how its going.
 

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