Right hand knuckle joint pain

[baileyboy]

... i have been experiencing pain in the knuckle joint of my 2nd finger in my right hand. It has progressed to the point i have started to play some songs with a pick...

Same happened to me in my index finger some years ago. Could be arthritic, could be inflammation from overuse. Perhaps your playing style is too aggressive. You could then turn up your volume and play much lighter. You could also try a lighter gauge string. Learning to use a pick is a good move. This has helped me on all but the busiest of songs. I also take a Boswellia supplement right before every gig. This has worked for me quite well to diminish inflammation/pain. Best of luck to you.

 

[Dan Neilsen]

So I put on a set of GHS Boomers
It might be my head playing tricks but it certainly seems like the strings have less tension.
One thing is for certain though. I can certainly achieve the tone I want with a lighter touch on these strings as compared to the Ernie Balls and the Warwick strings.

I am expecting the proof will be over the next month or so though.
I think the 6 hour gig tomorrow and the 4 hour gig on saturday night will not be pleasant no matter what I do. :/

I will get some boswellia supplement today and try it tomorrow. Thanks for that tip.

 

[Rabidhamster]

Turn your amp up and pluck softer

 

[Johnny Crab]

@Dan Neilsen analyze what is different, go back to what you had "pain free", add 1 change at a time to figure out which one or ones caused the pain change.

At 61 years old and playing since 10 years old, pains do happen. I did change to all light gauge strings a few years back as it made my hands less tired. Now? 4 hour gig last night, woke up with stiff hands, yard work all day, joints in my pointer finger are sore now. The daily anti-inflammatory and joint nutrition is as-follows(we also take a LOT of other stuff, an interviewer at the Houston Livestock & Rodeo Wine Garden asked me my age and said "Don't bullxxxx me" when I told him):

1 spoon of Carlsons lemon flavored cod liver oil in the morning
Amazon.com: Carlson Labs Cod Liver Oil Nutritional Supplement, Lemon, 16.9 Fluid Ounce: Health & Personal Care
Glucosamine with MSM(Schiff brand) in AM and PM
Amazon.com: Schiff Glucosamine 1500mg Plus MSM 1500mg and Hyaluronic Acid, 150 tablets - Joint Supplement: Health & Personal Care
Powdered L-glutamine ( Amazon.com: BulkSupplements Pure L-Glutamine Powder (100 grams): Health & Personal Care ) with powdered BCAA(branched chain amino acids Amazon.com: BCAA Branched Chain Essential Amino Acids Powder by BulkSupplements (250 grams) | 100% Pure 2:1:1 Instantized Formula | Pre/Post Workout Bodybuilding Supplement | Boost Muscle Growth: Health & Personal Care ) in water post gig
A bit of this magnesium in water once you get home will help you sleep better and recover easier(Amazon.com: BulkSupplements Pure Magnesium Citrate Powder (250 grams): Health & Personal Care ) Do the magnesium AFTER you get home as it may make you relax quickly, not good with a long drive when you may be tired.

The above allow one to move gear, play, tear down, unload when you get home, and wake up the next day mostly pain-free. When a "sore one shows up", besides figuring out what caused it, this ointment works the best of the many I've used(it fixes swelling carpal tendons, at least on me it has). Friday I twisted my back wrong somehow and a small bit of this helped that disappear.
Amazon.com: Penetrex Pain Relief Therapy [2 Oz] :: Breakthrough (Pat. Pend.) for Arthritis, Back Pain, Tennis Elbow, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Plantar Fasciitis, Carpal Tunnel, Sore Muscles, Joints & Chronic Pain: Health & Personal Care

YMMV, and do your best to correct the ergonomic issue(if any) and feed your body the best supporting nutrition you can.

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

A few years ago I ran a competitive Left 4 Dead team, playing several hours an evening. All that heavy mouse use didn't take long to destroy my right hand, and I pay for it regularly now, to the point I use a trackball in place of a mouse when I use my computer, and my videogaming habit has moved to consoles. I also have to turn off controller vibration as that triggers the pain.

Fortunately playing guitar and bass doesn't seem to affect it, but it does have an affect on my grip strength and daily activities.

My point (for I do have one) is that perhaps some other aspect of your life's activities is contributing to the pain in your finger.

 

[maturanesa]

i think the problem is floating thumb. When having no anchor fingers do all the work. Is not for everybody. Just anchor yout thumb to release some of the preassure your fingers are using to pluck the strings

 

[fearceol]

i think the problem is floating thumb. When having no anchor fingers do all the work. Is not for everybody. Just anchor yout thumb to release some of the preassure your fingers are using to pluck the strings

While I accept that the FT is not for everyone, this is the first time I have seen someone refer to it as actually causing a physical problem. The fingers do the same work in plucking the strings regardless of where the thumb is. The advantage of the FT is that the wrist is straight, so the tendons have a "clear run" through the carpel tunnel, rather than going through it at right angles. The latter scenario is akin to rubbing a piece of string backwards and forwards over a rough edge. With this constant rubbing action, the string becomes frayed. It's the same with the tendons.

So, whatever reasons people have for not using it, I doubt very much that it is because it causes injury problems.

 

[maturanesa]

While I accept that the FT is not for everyone, this is the first time I have seen someone refer to it as actually causing a physical problem. The fingers do the same work in plucking the strings regardless of where the thumb is. The advantage of the FT is that the wrist is straight, so the tendons have a "clear run" through the carpel tunnel, rather than going through it at right angles. The latter scenario is akin to rubbing a piece of string backwards and forwards over a rough edge. With this constant rubbing action, the string becomes frayed. It's the same with the tendons.

So, whatever reasons people have for not using it, I doubt very much that it is because it causes injury problems.

"The fingers do the same work in plucking the strings regardless of where the thumb is"
This is incorrect since the anchor creates distance between the fingers and the strings, and floating the thumb across the strings doesnt.

 

[fearceol]

the anchor creates distance between the fingers and the strings, and floating the thumb across the strings doesnt.

Yes, you are correct..the anchor does indeed create a distance between the fingers and the strings...and this is one of the set backs of the anchor IMO. The hand has to constantly shift position depending on the string being plucked. This causes unnecessary wear and tear on the hand and wrist.

Todd Johnson describes it nicely (01.20) in this clip :

 

[Dan Neilsen]

So i think the problem might be solved.
As per my previous post i changed the strings yesterday to a set of ghs boomers.

Today i played a 6 hour gig without having to resort to a pick and with only the normal aches and pains that you can expect from playing for 6 hours. I was previously having to resort to a pick after one set!

I can confirm that the ghs boomers certainly have a lower string tension and i could definitely achieve the tone i was after with lighter playing on these strings.
If anyone else is having issues with right hand finger pain i would certainly suggest trying a set.

Thank you everyone for all the help

 

[maturanesa]

Yes, you are correct..the anchor does indeed create a distance between the fingers and the strings...and this is one of the set backs of the anchor IMO. The hand has to constantly shift position depending on the string being plucked. This causes unnecessary wear and tear on the hand and wrist.

Todd Johnson describes it nicely (01.20) in this clip :

"The hand has to constantly shift position depending on the string being plucked. This causes unnecessary wear and tear on the hand and wrist."
That happens if you stay on the pup. "Anchor " is supposed to be a movable anchor like this:

 

[fearceol]

"The hand has to constantly shift position depending on the string being plucked. This causes unnecessary wear and tear on the hand and wrist."
That happens if you stay on the pup. "Anchor " is supposed to be a movable anchor like this:

The moveable anchor is also a good (as in...safe) technique because... as with the FT, the wrist is straight. When you mentioned.. "anchor"... earlier, I assumed you meant anchoring the thumb on the pick up.

 

[Dan Neilsen]

I guess i got my technique names mixed up.
I use movable anchor not floating thumb.

 

[fearceol]

I guess i got my technique names mixed up.
I use movable anchor not floating thumb.

My point is that BOTH techniques are safe and don't cause any physical problems.