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Carpal tunnel?

L

LBS-bass

Guest
Nov 22, 2017
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#1
Sigh. A while back I had to deal with trigger finger in my fretting hand. Got that dealt with and now my right wrist is threatening to derail me. Pain in the wrist, right at the place where carpal tunnel would cause it.

I had similar pain a long time ago when I wasn't playing and fixed it with a wrist splint that I wore at work and at night for a few weeks; I'm almost 100% certain that problem was computer related.

This could be a repeat of that, but I'm playing a lot. So I don't know. Dug out the wrist brace and am wearing it now, but I have shows coming up and repertoire to learn, so I hope that I will be ok to practice/play and then put that back on when I'm done. Also taking anti-inflammatories.

I only have pain, no numbness as of yet. Has anyone successfully warded off CTS with these kinds of measures? I'll talk to the orthopedics folks later today but I can't really do anything surgical until after the first part of December since I have shows booked. I guess I shouldn't book anything else.
 
#2
I've read that Vitamin B6 helps, but that's somewhat controversial still. Good luck, I've had bouts with it throughout my adult life but mostly avoid it these days by using good hand / wrist posture.
 
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#5
LBS-bass said:
Sigh. A while back I had to deal with trigger finger in my fretting hand. Got that dealt with and now my right wrist is threatening to derail me. Pain in the wrist, right at the place where carpal tunnel would cause it.

I had similar pain a long time ago when I wasn't playing and fixed it with a wrist splint that I wore at work and at night for a few weeks; I'm almost 100% certain that problem was computer related.

This could be a repeat of that, but I'm playing a lot. So I don't know. Dug out the wrist brace and am wearing it now, but I have shows coming up and repertoire to learn, so I hope that I will be ok to practice/play and then put that back on when I'm done. Also taking anti-inflammatories.

I only have pain, no numbness as of yet. Has anyone successfully warded off CTS with these kinds of measures? I'll talk to the orthopedics folks later today but I can't really do anything surgical until after the first part of December since I have shows booked. I guess I shouldn't book anything else.
Click to expand...
Sorry to say that the only thing that helped me was surgery. Both hands for me. I was only down for a couple of weeks after each surgery. It sucks, but so worth it to get relief.
 
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#9
Barry Vestal said:
As everyone else has already posted, stretching helps alot and I wear a wrist brace or wrap as well...as long as you don't have numbness then you most likely don't have carpal so keep on stretching as well as soaking in hot water preferably before playing...good luck
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I'm stealing your hot water idea Barry! I read somewhere that muscles perform better when at 103-degrees F. Being extremities, a couple laps around the house/gig won't do it.
 
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#12
I've dealt with tendonitis in my wrist for a long time. I generally have problems with my joints, but that's a whole other post. I first decided to deal with it (dumb teenager acting tough) but I really got freaked out one time when my hand got pins and needles like it had fallen asleep when I was in the middle of a practice. I went to a hand surgeon, who really helped me out as far as guidelines while playing, but it's something that I have to watch out for all the time.

I generally keep things okay by warming up slowly (~5 minutes of stuff on the lighter strings) and being very diligent about stretching after playing (like, 10 minutes of stretching every time I play). I also add the tops of my forearms into the foam rolling I do every day to get out any knots, which helps a lot. If you really need to get in there, a lacrosse ball can help you out a lot.

As far as strengthening the wrist, that stuff has never worked for me, but I know people who have been saved by strengthening the muscles around whatever joint they had the problem, so definitely try some things out.

Also, be mindful of how your hands are interacting with the world on a daily basis. This sounds strange, but I no longer open push doors with my hand (usually I push with my shoulder, and if I need to actuate the bar in the middle, I do so with my hip), and I actually think not having those impacts on my wrist several times a day does make a difference. Definitely same if you go to the gym. I can't do straight bar curls because of my wrist, and I have to make sure my form is good for anything where I'm using my hands. All of it adds up.
 
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