WOW
its actually interesting that looking at the pics... my issue ,or so i believe comes more from the "Invalid Link Removed"
...anyone can relate?
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TENDINITIS - just got back from the doctor
- Thread starter heavyfunkmachin
- Start date
WOW
its actually interesting that looking at the pics... my issue ,or so i believe comes more from the "Invalid Link Removed"
...anyone can relate?
Mountain Biker maybe? Someone will chime in.
I have a little sporatic pain but its the opposite side, thumb side of inside face of wrist, right at the bend. I get a lump there occasionally but with rest it disappears. I dont gig more than 3 hours a week and its not speed metal thankfully. I have recently employed the spider exercise so my technique there may be suspect as well.
I have a little sporatic pain but its the opposite side, thumb side of inside face of wrist, right at the bend. I get a lump there occasionally but with rest it disappears. I dont gig more than 3 hours a week and its not speed metal thankfully. I have recently employed the spider exercise so my technique there may be suspect as well.
The infamous spider exercise can really exacerbate things if you do it incorrectly or in too low a position. People's natural tendency is to drop the wrist and not bend the fingers to make the 4-fret stretch, and that's a dangerous mistake.
your Tai Chi experience will be invaluable here (I studied it myself for years and even taught it for a brief while, although my practice is years behind me). There are different flavors of it - I studied Yang style short form - but the principles should be universal.
Start treating any further practice as if it were Tai Chi practice. Keep your t'an t'ien firmly in mind; draw energy from the center rather than willing it into the extremities. Keep a natural curve in your limbs, particularly your wrists, to make a clear unobstructed channel for the flow - no sharp or harsh angles, complete relaxation. Breathe through the limbs.
You can't go wrong applying Tai Chi principles to your playing, on pretty much every level, from developing safe and healthy technique to imparting a quality of intense focus to your musicianship. I didn't initially connect my Tai Chi practice to my playing, but in '85 I got the opportunity to study with Dave Holland at the Banff School of Fine Arts and he was big on applying martial arts technique to bass (karate in his case if I recall, but the most important thing to me was discovering that they were not merely connected, but that they were in fact precisely the same thing with different physical manifestations). Even with that increased mindfulness I still go wrong from time to time, but at least now I know I'm going wrong and why
I suspect that when you discover what's causing this, whether computing or playing, you'll find it is something you're doing without mindfulness and something that can be addressed by keeping to those principles.
Start treating any further practice as if it were Tai Chi practice. Keep your t'an t'ien firmly in mind; draw energy from the center rather than willing it into the extremities. Keep a natural curve in your limbs, particularly your wrists, to make a clear unobstructed channel for the flow - no sharp or harsh angles, complete relaxation. Breathe through the limbs.
You can't go wrong applying Tai Chi principles to your playing, on pretty much every level, from developing safe and healthy technique to imparting a quality of intense focus to your musicianship. I didn't initially connect my Tai Chi practice to my playing, but in '85 I got the opportunity to study with Dave Holland at the Banff School of Fine Arts and he was big on applying martial arts technique to bass (karate in his case if I recall, but the most important thing to me was discovering that they were not merely connected, but that they were in fact precisely the same thing with different physical manifestations). Even with that increased mindfulness I still go wrong from time to time, but at least now I know I'm going wrong and why
I suspect that when you discover what's causing this, whether computing or playing, you'll find it is something you're doing without mindfulness and something that can be addressed by keeping to those principles.
I have this book. I always thought it was a great one, but I can only do the exercises in small doses. It can get pretty rough!
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I haven't read the entire thread yet... But one word
CHIROPRACTER.
I had it so bad about 8 years ago that I couldn't bend either wrist back any amount without extreme pain. Went to a couple of Dr.s heard the same thing most everyone else hears and decided it couldnt hurt to give an alternative a try before suffering through meds or even surgeries. Went two-three times a week for a month and a half and then less frequent for several months after. To this day I have absolutely NO PAIN whatsoever. I haven't been back to the chiro in at least 4-5 years.
CHIROPRACTER.
I had it so bad about 8 years ago that I couldn't bend either wrist back any amount without extreme pain. Went to a couple of Dr.s heard the same thing most everyone else hears and decided it couldnt hurt to give an alternative a try before suffering through meds or even surgeries. Went two-three times a week for a month and a half and then less frequent for several months after. To this day I have absolutely NO PAIN whatsoever. I haven't been back to the chiro in at least 4-5 years.
leftymike beat me to it. This past Dec. was really good for me gig wise but highlighted some problems that were developing in my right wrist (numbness, limited movement, and pain). The guitar player I work with often spoke of the benefits he found from seeing a chiropractor for problems in his left shoulder and wrist as he spends about 40-50 hrs. a week on the guitar between gigs, practice, and teaching. I went to see the same doctor and he brought back the feeling in my hand and minimized my pain within the first two adjustments. I went in for an adjustment and ultrasound therapy about five times over the next week and everything cleared up. I'm now going in about once every 3 weeks just for maintenance.
I never thought of a chiropractor for anything other than back problems before this. However, while he adjusts my upper back as part of the problem is there as well, he also adjusts my wrist. Additionally, he is of the philosophy that he can't help everyone and if there isn't a significant difference in the first six visits he probably wont be able to help.
Hope this helps.
I never thought of a chiropractor for anything other than back problems before this. However, while he adjusts my upper back as part of the problem is there as well, he also adjusts my wrist. Additionally, he is of the philosophy that he can't help everyone and if there isn't a significant difference in the first six visits he probably wont be able to help.
Hope this helps.
Commreman
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Frets
I have a very serious case of tendonitis in my right arm. What I have is commonly referred to as "tennis elbow." It is painful as hell. It doesn't allow you to grip anything, and even lifting a heavy object is tough.
I have had three shots of cortizone in the last 6 months. I can't have another. I use ice therapy when I'm done playing to help heal the inflammation. I'm currently undergoing accupuncture. If these remedies don't work, my only option left is arthroscopic surgery to remove the inflamed area of the tendon, and physical therapy thereafter. This will take me out of commission for a month.
I'm doing whatever it takes to avoid the knife, but it may be too late. We'll see.
I have had three shots of cortizone in the last 6 months. I can't have another. I use ice therapy when I'm done playing to help heal the inflammation. I'm currently undergoing accupuncture. If these remedies don't work, my only option left is arthroscopic surgery to remove the inflamed area of the tendon, and physical therapy thereafter. This will take me out of commission for a month.
I'm doing whatever it takes to avoid the knife, but it may be too late. We'll see.
I have an appointement with a doc and acupunturist... kind of a real doc with a holistic aproach... i might take my bass so she can check my fretting hand...
about the tai-chi... im finding it hard to "apply" since when i play u just let myself go... but i´ll try. by the way, its amazing because im finding that the pain is following some how the heart channel
anyway, im not givving up, i just have to find the way to keep on. i´ll try to get myself that mustang bass as soon as i can ($)... i hope i can still play harmonics and harmonic chords on a shortscale...
about the tai-chi... im finding it hard to "apply" since when i play u just let myself go... but i´ll try. by the way, its amazing because im finding that the pain is following some how the heart channel
anyway, im not givving up, i just have to find the way to keep on. i´ll try to get myself that mustang bass as soon as i can ($)... i hope i can still play harmonics and harmonic chords on a shortscale...
Eh, I'm a little more of a western medicine kinda guy. I have a case of tendonitis in my left arm. Doc prescribed a few corticosteroid pills, a NSAID, and advised me to take it easy on the arm. Thus far, it seems to be working. I'm back to maybe 90% just a few days later. I have no issues with gigging a short scale bass right now. Maybe I got lucky and caught it earlier than some of you.
To the OP, that Mustang does seem to be easier on my injured arm. Harmonics just don't seem to work that well with it though. Really needs a bridge J pickup like you were talking about. First night I gigged mine I tried playing a song that has a rather prominent melody played by bass harmonics. That melody just wasn't there. I might as well have been playing root notes. Then again, I feel that way about most P style basses.
To the OP, that Mustang does seem to be easier on my injured arm. Harmonics just don't seem to work that well with it though. Really needs a bridge J pickup like you were talking about. First night I gigged mine I tried playing a song that has a rather prominent melody played by bass harmonics. That melody just wasn't there. I might as well have been playing root notes. Then again, I feel that way about most P style basses.
Had "tennis elbow" myself so bad it sent me to Dr.... gave me anti inflammatories and muscle relaxers and told me to lay off it for a few days. Ever try playing while on muscle relaxers? Had to stop takin those cause I felt like jello..... but it did subside in a few days.
I get flareups if I practice long or get too enthusiastic at a gig/whatever. I have found that putting a tennis type wrist band on the *instant* I feel a twinge really helps. I've bought out most of the ones from the local mall shops..... same idea as a Ace (or whoever) wrist brace but doesn't get in my way when playing (actually...... works good to dampen strings at end of songs
). And you can get some neat ones in the little shops, just make sure they fit snuggly (I have small wrists so i have to get kid ones). Sometimes I have to do one wrist, sometimes both. They also make a different band for tendonitis, but it actually goes around the arm up by the elbow-my teacher shows up with his during busy weeks. My teacher told me he takes an aleeve or iburprophen in the morning when he knows he's got to play a lot, and does it every day, says it helps but you have to take it before it starts hurting for best effect. I tend to forget to take things if nothings hurtin though 
Matter of fact.....gotta go find another wrist band... ouch....
I get flareups if I practice long or get too enthusiastic at a gig/whatever. I have found that putting a tennis type wrist band on the *instant* I feel a twinge really helps. I've bought out most of the ones from the local mall shops..... same idea as a Ace (or whoever) wrist brace but doesn't get in my way when playing (actually...... works good to dampen strings at end of songs
). And you can get some neat ones in the little shops, just make sure they fit snuggly (I have small wrists so i have to get kid ones). Sometimes I have to do one wrist, sometimes both. They also make a different band for tendonitis, but it actually goes around the arm up by the elbow-my teacher shows up with his during busy weeks. My teacher told me he takes an aleeve or iburprophen in the morning when he knows he's got to play a lot, and does it every day, says it helps but you have to take it before it starts hurting for best effect. I tend to forget to take things if nothings hurtin though Matter of fact.....gotta go find another wrist band... ouch....
Tendinitis is usually misnamed - most likely Tendinosis if it lasts a LONG time.
http://www.tendinosis.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendinosis
I got it in my index on my fretting hand, after using a cheap tool AND gripping it the wrong way(and too hard) in June 2006(wire crimpers with a thin handle).
My finger took about 7 months to heal - after a while, I felt I could play bass, played for an hour, and was sore again for another month...very frustrating!
I found doing reverse isometric exercises very gently helped it to get stronger gradually...ie: "negatives"
You'll get through this.
http://www.tendinosis.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendinosis
I got it in my index on my fretting hand, after using a cheap tool AND gripping it the wrong way(and too hard) in June 2006(wire crimpers with a thin handle).
My finger took about 7 months to heal - after a while, I felt I could play bass, played for an hour, and was sore again for another month...very frustrating!
I found doing reverse isometric exercises very gently helped it to get stronger gradually...ie: "negatives"
You'll get through this.
First of all, rest your wrist, 2 weeks sounds pretty ok. Most propably you don't need any brace, if you're letting it rest. Secondly, if you really play a lot, you should be careful about your technique as already stated many times. Then you should also practise your wrist other ways too, versatile training is one of the key terms in a long run.
And about NSAIDs, for short time usage, they really are pretty good drugs, and you should not be too afraid to use them when having pain. Let say for a one week, maximum 2400mg ibuprofein per day.
Man writing in English is still so slow
Good luck with everything and don't let this stop you playing.
And about NSAIDs, for short time usage, they really are pretty good drugs, and you should not be too afraid to use them when having pain. Let say for a one week, maximum 2400mg ibuprofein per day.
Man writing in English is still so slow
Good luck with everything and don't let this stop you playing.
On the flip side of Ibuprofen, I saw a picture of Joe Satriani
wearing what appears to be a hand and wrist gel pack icing
down his wrist. If you look at his gigging schedule he is out
10-13 days in a row. No doubt the touring pros have to live
with some of this.
Worst case for me is icing my wrist during breaks and asking
the barkeep to refrigerate my gel pack. It ain't fun but it
gets me by.
wearing what appears to be a hand and wrist gel pack icing
down his wrist. If you look at his gigging schedule he is out
10-13 days in a row. No doubt the touring pros have to live
with some of this.
Worst case for me is icing my wrist during breaks and asking
the barkeep to refrigerate my gel pack. It ain't fun but it
gets me by.
i asked victor wooten a similar question after a concert a couple years ago- he claimed yoga had done his body good. Never underestimate the value of stretching before, during, and after playing.
also, ibuporfen can help if you take 1 or 2 pills after a long, intense workout.
also, ibuporfen can help if you take 1 or 2 pills after a long, intense workout.
hi all again.
so, this is how it goes. i went to the accupunturist, got myself a session of needles, this was my first time, and i felt misteriously cool and relaxed, she treated my hand and arm with needles and a bit of electricity, also very very pleasent and relaxing...
then she send me to an ostheopat (the bones-articulations doctor, is it the right name in enlgish?), and recomended me to take a sports oriented "thing" (liquid stuff once a day), to help articulations and tendons...
yesterday i went to the ostheopat guy, he craked my bones from head to toes, in the first place, the we chated about how i felt in general, what things i´ve been doing lately besides playing and all kind of stuff... he tested my back, shoulder, arm, hand and fingers one by one and very very carefully, he streched my wrist and fingers in a slow way and the he proceded to do this kind of "slow motion" massage in the arm, very interesting, it felt like doing rehabilitation for the arm muscles.
afterwards i felt like i´ve been doing LOTS of work with the hand, i felt it tired and sore... he explained me that i got an strain injury, only tendinitis, and then he explained me exactly WHAT move caused it: lifting pinky and heart fingers (4# and 5#).
it all maked sense then, i believe my thing was doing those book streches repetively day by day in a matter of a week, without warming up and taking the "numbling" or "tingling" feeling, not as an advise but as a sign of weakness that i needed to work on... :scowl:
so here´s my new deal:
+ ALLWAYS warm up and strech, before and after playing. no excuses.
+ work in a PROGRESSIVE way, never speeding up or working hard when not ready yet. 1 day of playing with disconfort or not relaxed = days of soreness and inflamation, no way.
+ LISTEN to my body, carefully. And take any advise from it. it´s allways better to stop today and start over tomorrow. if im perseverant, ill get there.
thanks for listening so far, and for being around... as soon is i get a job, im supporting talk bass.
so, this is how it goes. i went to the accupunturist, got myself a session of needles, this was my first time, and i felt misteriously cool and relaxed, she treated my hand and arm with needles and a bit of electricity, also very very pleasent and relaxing...
then she send me to an ostheopat (the bones-articulations doctor, is it the right name in enlgish?), and recomended me to take a sports oriented "thing" (liquid stuff once a day), to help articulations and tendons...
yesterday i went to the ostheopat guy, he craked my bones from head to toes, in the first place, the we chated about how i felt in general, what things i´ve been doing lately besides playing and all kind of stuff... he tested my back, shoulder, arm, hand and fingers one by one and very very carefully, he streched my wrist and fingers in a slow way and the he proceded to do this kind of "slow motion" massage in the arm, very interesting, it felt like doing rehabilitation for the arm muscles.
afterwards i felt like i´ve been doing LOTS of work with the hand, i felt it tired and sore... he explained me that i got an strain injury, only tendinitis, and then he explained me exactly WHAT move caused it: lifting pinky and heart fingers (4# and 5#).
it all maked sense then, i believe my thing was doing those book streches repetively day by day in a matter of a week, without warming up and taking the "numbling" or "tingling" feeling, not as an advise but as a sign of weakness that i needed to work on... :scowl:
so here´s my new deal:
+ ALLWAYS warm up and strech, before and after playing. no excuses.
+ work in a PROGRESSIVE way, never speeding up or working hard when not ready yet. 1 day of playing with disconfort or not relaxed = days of soreness and inflamation, no way.
+ LISTEN to my body, carefully. And take any advise from it. it´s allways better to stop today and start over tomorrow. if im perseverant, ill get there.
thanks for listening so far, and for being around... as soon is i get a job, im supporting talk bass.
I had tendinitis in my thumb that lasted for months. On the last visit, the doctor pulled out a cortisone shot from her desk that healed it in 2 days. If I have it again, I'll demand the shot up front.
It reminds me of when my wife took my son to get blood drawn. My wife requested a butterfly needle to ease my son's fears. The nurse insisted that they were the same gage and proceeded to use the regular needle. When I took him in the next time, I asked for a butterfly needle as well - I got the same response. But, I pleasantly insisted that she use the butterfly needle - she did so with not the best attitude, but she did it none the less. Sometimes you have to demand certain things.
I'm done with my semi-rant now. Please proceed with caution.
It reminds me of when my wife took my son to get blood drawn. My wife requested a butterfly needle to ease my son's fears. The nurse insisted that they were the same gage and proceeded to use the regular needle. When I took him in the next time, I asked for a butterfly needle as well - I got the same response. But, I pleasantly insisted that she use the butterfly needle - she did so with not the best attitude, but she did it none the less. Sometimes you have to demand certain things.
I'm done with my semi-rant now. Please proceed with caution.
