Members mschafft Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 the title says it all... I've decided to leave the guitar for a few weeks until the tendons and ligaments cool down a bit. The next step will be to work on postures I guess. I have found that thicker necks work better for me, but with lighter strings thinner necks can be ok too. I've watched quite a few vids on YouTube about stretching and warming up your hands before playing. Some vids are about carpal tunnel. I'm not sure that it's my problem because it's the outter side of the wrist which hurts. My posture needs to be improved because I tend to play with a very angled wrist. Shortening the straps has helped a little. The SG shape works better for me. Any experience to share ? Tips or warning are welcome !I know it's not the funniest side of our passion, but I'm told it should be taken seriously to prevent durable issues. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 Yep, I only play thick necks now. It helps to keep your wrist/hand at a straight if moderate angle. Don't bend cocking your wrist up, instead, twist your wrist like you are turning a screw driver. It will all help, warming up and the like, especially if you haven't played in awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Raybies Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 I had wrist pain from too much practice, my doctor diagnosed it as tendonitis and recommended I take several months off from playing. I took about 2 months off and it got better but it's still not back to 100%. What helped was raising my strap higher, using lighter gauge strings, using a lighter fretting technique, resting more frequently during practice, and icing my wrist after practices. This site http://www.tendonitisexpert.com/guitar-tendonitis.html has some good information on causes, how to ice your wrist, etc. They have a book they try to sell but there's lots of good information on the site itself that's available without buying anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theManfromAlabam Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 I would take a break...I would then work on stretching and strengthening your arm, forearm and hands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wayne2 Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 I had some pain in my forearm once that started when I was playing aggressively and it took a few months to really get back to normal. Kind of scary. Oddly in my case lengthening the guitar strap actually helped. I think I had it too high. Also I cut back on computer use and tried to relax my arms and hands when typing and type more calmly and gently. I also just play more carefully and try to recruit more fingers when I bend. What really solved the problem was I took a week off from work and went to Florida and didn't touch a keyboard or a guitar the whole time and swam every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kulardenu Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 Vitamin B12 & B6 helped me along with wrist extention excersizes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mschafft Posted October 5, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 Thanks guys. I also found interesting tips on the web, such as putting both hands and wrists in a bucket full of hot water for 3 minutes and then in another one with very cold water for 1 minute. This reduces pain and is incredibly relaxing (I fell asleep after I did it the first time). I understand it brings fresh blood into the damaged tissues and relaxes the muscles. I'm going to do my best to overcome the problem and improve posture after I have recovered. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mschafft Posted October 5, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 I've just ordered this to strengthen complementary muscles when I feel better : http://www.handmasterplus.com/index.htmlPlus I bought some vitamins too. And an electrical screwdriver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PhxdB Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 Try the 'thumb over the top' fretting technique to keep your wrist straight instead of strict 'classical' style. Here's a stretch I do sometimes. Stretch your arm out to the side with your palm up. Turn your hand and fingers downward so your palm is now facing out. Lean your head the opposite direction wile trying to stretch your arm out farther. It should feel nice around your traps/shoulders all the way down your biceps to your forearms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 Be extra mindful of how you are typing and holding a mouse as well. Keep your wrist as straight as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mockchoi Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 Yeah, I think it's tendonitis too, and it sucks. If I'm playing on the first couple of frets more than a little bit, I find if I angle the headstock upward (I go as high as I can and probably look like a dork) it really helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burgess Posted October 5, 2012 Members Share Posted October 5, 2012 Well... I had Carpal and Cubital Ttunnel syndrome On my freeting hand. I wasn't in any particular pain though, at least not before the surgery. I had just basically lost the functional use of the hand. Surgery took care of that issue, though the hand is not quite as strong as it was before. If I played more often that would probably help but long story short, my chops are pretty good once more whereas before the surgery I literally couldn't properly fret a note, seriously. Now I've been diagnosed Carpal Tunnel on my right (picking) hand. Surgery is recommended I will most likely schedule it for the upcoming holidays when we have our plant shutdown. As I refered to earlier, recovery is quite painful and I am not looking forward to it at all. OTOH, I do want to get the surgery while it's still an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mschafft Posted October 6, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 6, 2012 Thanks for sharing. All the best with the new operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members halfwhole Posted October 6, 2012 Members Share Posted October 6, 2012 look up eccentric exercises and do them for your wrist. basically you work/strengthen the alt. muscles. get on a glucosamine supplement and give it a few months and see if that helps. use dictation software and look at your computer ergonomics, too. i've had tendonitis for about 15 years, but it can be controlled if you pay attention to what you're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members straycat113 Posted October 6, 2012 Members Share Posted October 6, 2012 I have had issues with Cubital Tunnel and a Neuroma on the inside of my fretting thumb joint which is a small tumor like mass of live nerve endings that feels like that shock you get when you bang your funny bone in your elbow. The big problem is that I feel it in my thumb if my joint hits the neck. I need two surgeries but no top surgeons take my insurance and I am not going to roll the dice with some shoemaker! Before playing I run my hands under warm water for a good two minutes which gets the blood flowing especially in a cold environment, I then go through a bunch of arm and hand stretches before warming up for 20 minutes. I have to play with the pad of my thumb dead center of the guitar and really had to work on being able to bend a step and a half or two whole steps without the aid of my thumb for leverage but I got there. I still play tuned to 440 though I dropped from 10's to 9's but that is no big deal. A serious word of advice for everyone, unlike working out the term no pain no gain does not apply to guitar playing! If something seriously hurts stop immediately as nothing will make you as scared {censored}less as hearing a doctor tell you that you may never play again, unless he tells you your dying lol. Hopefully I have these issues corrected before the year is out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mschafft Posted October 6, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 6, 2012 Thanks for your input. Yes, the hot water trick definitely helps. Here are two videos from people who have successfully used it : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJSz5gr5rFQ&feature=related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Canadian Jeff Posted October 6, 2012 Members Share Posted October 6, 2012 I took six months off for tendinitis once. It was a bit extreme, but there has been no recurrence at all for the past three years, so I figure it was worth it. Take care of your hands. I've got carpal tunnel in both wrists too but it's well managed. Take enough time off to heal properly or you'll really kick yourself later when it's too late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mschafft Posted October 7, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 7, 2012 I took six months off for tendinitis once. It was a bit extreme, but there has been no recurrence at all for the past three years, so I figure it was worth it.Take care of your hands. I've got carpal tunnel in both wrists too but it's well managed. Take enough time off to heal properly or you'll really kick yourself later when it's too late. Yes, I'm not going to underestimate it and let it become chronicle. I intend to work on theory in the meantime. Cheerio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members etawful Posted October 7, 2012 Members Share Posted October 7, 2012 I've been using one of these for the past few weeks. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007GGCLK8/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00 It actually helps a LOT more than you'd think. There are numerous different exercises you can do with it, and it really seems to help work out and build strength in the hand, wrist and forearm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.