Rt. Shoulder Going to Hell!

[Hamhand]

Well as if on cue, (after reading statements about no longer being able to play dreads due to pain), my right shoulder has gone stiff and made playing my dreads a real painful deal. Since I own nine different dreads, I'm backing off on playing as much. I finally just have to pick 'em up and play. And then my shoulder hurts. Can someone post a different thread about how they cured their shoulder problems so I can go back to playing all evening, lol. I'm turning 53 next Friday and can't stand the idea of not being able to do something as easy as playing a git. I've modified my style to use more wrist, but just the act of elevating my arm to hang over the back to strum is killing me. Help!

[Hudman]

Assuming you are right handed, which leg do you rest your guitar on while playing?

 

I have a right shoulder problem due to sports (baseball pitcher from age 10 - 17) and an old weight lifting injury in my early 20's. The pain only flares up every once in a while (I'm 38 now, I can only imagine how much fun it will be when I'm 53 - ). I find that I can avoid discomfort during flare up periods while playing a dread or jumbo by repositioning my guitar from one leg to the other every 20 minutes or so. The problem is much worse with jumbos. I'm lucky because it only hurts for a couple days every few months or so.

 

OM sized guitars are far more comfortable to play.

[rjoxyz]

OM sized guitars are far more comfortable to play.

 

I bet they are!

[recordingtrack1]

Two words = Naproxyn Sodium

 

RT1:thu:

[DonK]

Why not see a doctor and get the problem diagnosed? If it's bursitis (which is what it sounds like), there's a drug called Clinoril (generic = sulindac) that does wonders - it's typically a lot more effective for shoulder inflammation than ibuprofen or naproxen.

 

My shoulder and arm pain (and it's really more in my arm: on a bad day it feels as if someone threaded a coat hanger down my arm beginning at the shoulder and extending into my forearm) is caused by cervical spinal stenosis (the narrowing of the spine, which then compresses the nerves exiting the spinal column). Guitar size/type has no effect on the degree of pain or muscle weakness I experience when playing.

[Cripes]

 

Well as if on cue, (after reading statements about no longer being able to play dreads due to pain), my right shoulder has gone stiff and made playing my dreads a real painful deal. Since I own nine different dreads, I'm backing off on playing as much. I finally just have to pick 'em up and play. And then my shoulder hurts. Can someone post a different thread about how they cured their shoulder problems so I can go back to playing all evening, lol. I'm turning 53 next Friday and can't stand the idea of not being able to do something as easy as playing a git. I've modified my style to use more wrist, but just the act of elevating my arm to hang over the back to strum is killing me. Help!

 

 

I know your pain. This time last year both elbows were so bad lifting a beer was out of the question - seriously. But, instead of laying off, I went to Walmart and bought a couple 3 pound dumb bells. It hurt like a bitch but I just worked both elbows, starting slowly, to a point they would become numb. Not numb with pain, just numb. The pain would really subside and I could go to sleep comfortably. The next day I'd do it again. Same pain starting out each time, I'd work them until they were numb. Soon, I graduated to 5 pounders and worked the elbows harder. I reached a point where I would simulate throwing the weights. About 3 weeks into this I felt pretty good and the pain...went away.

 

About 3 months ago the left elbow started making noises again so I quickly grabbed those weights and went at it again for a couple of days. I'm currently pain-free.

 

Use it or lose it. That's the name of the game at our ages. You are 6 months older than me, you old fart.

[Hudman]

 

I know your pain. This time last year both elbows were so bad lifting a beer was out of the question - seriously. But, instead of laying off, I went to Walmart and bought a couple 3 pound dumb bells. It hurt like a bitch but I just worked both elbows, starting slowly, to a point they would become numb. Not numb with pain, just numb. The pain would really subside and I could go to sleep comfortably. The next day I'd do it again. Same pain starting out each time, I'd work them until they were numb. Soon, I graduated to 5 pounders and worked the elbows harder. I reached a point where I would simulate throwing the weights. About 3 weeks into this I felt pretty good and the pain...went away. About 3 months ago the left elbow started making noises again so I quickly grabbed those weights and went at it again for a couple of days. I'm currently pain-free. Use it or lose it. That's the name of the game at our ages. You are 6 months older than me, you old fart.

 

 

Excellent advice. I thought about suggesting that he use light dumb bells to do shoulder exercises (military press, lateral lifts, etc.). Building strength in the surrounding muscles helps reduce the strain on the damaged area and improves flexibility. Most people think I'm nuts when I suggest weight lifting for rehabing bad joints. My shoulder used to hurt non stop in my late 20's. The doctor wanted to do surgery to remove the built up scar tissue on the tendons. I went back to the gym and used light weights to rehab my shoulder. It took 3 or 4 months, but the pain went away. I stuck with weight lifting for 5 straight years (I stopped 4 years ago). Now that I am fat and out of shape, my chronic shoulder pain is gradually coming back.

 

Time to start working out again.....

[Clif Schlicher]

About 10 years ago, I began to experience pain, sometimes severe, in my left shoulder when I moved it to certain positions. It was diagnosed as a combination of tendonitis and bursitis. Went through several weeks of thrice a week, expensive physical therapy, and the problem went away.

 

Anywho, some years back the pain began to return. I'm working in my shop one day and the pain is there. I'm thinking, "Geez, I don't want to go through that again." Then I noticed a scrap of heavy copper wire left over from when I grounded my generator after Hurricane Lily.

 

I figured "What the hey!". I measured my left wrist, cut and bent the wire to fit and put it on. Haven't had pain since.

 

My evidence is purely anecdotal, and having searched the Internet have found as many doctors saying it doesn't work as I have found vendors ready to sell you a bracelet, some with magnets and some who will even put the gris gris on it for a few extra shekels. But, for about 50 cents worth of copper at the hardware store, it's worth a try.

 

By the way, I'm all for the exercise too. And though use a Total Gym 3 times a week, that has been only over the the last year. I started using the bracelet about 3 1/2 years ago.

 

I play a 12 string and will be 59 Monday week.

 

By the way, I have since heard that it doesn't matter where you wear it. It will work just the same. Do remove with your shoes and belt when going through the TSA checkpoint.

 

Works pour moi!

 

Clif

[Hamhand]

Wow, great responses. It IS a fact we get weaker as we age, and I have thought about doing weights. You guys may just encourage me to get some again. (Lifted weights for endurance years ago). If I even push and pull, playing around with my 13 year old son, I feel like I'm rippin' my shoulder up. I cannot give up on guitar now, I'm finally able to dedicate some time.

I guess I'll make an appointment to get it checked out by xray, just to make sure I haven't done any damage. (I hate thinking about aches and pains). Thanks to all. I'm off to the medicine cabinet for now.....

[Queequeg]

I did three months of physical therapy after a shoulder injury while riding my bike to work a few years ago. Most health plans will cover this with a small co-pay. Therapists have a wonderful understanding of how the shoulder is designed and works. Therapy may involve weight-lifting, but other exercises as well which together provide the quickest and most thorough results. PT is no joke. It was a rather painful 30 minutes three times a week for 90 days. My doctor provided x-rays so they could see the problem. I guess I'd like to see the problem before commencing with a weight-lifting regimen. Possible to exacerbate the problem.

I support my guitar on the left thigh (classical style) which might lower the angle for the right shoulder. I play smaller body guitars most times. (oh yeah, except for this here new baritone monster). Perhaps you know somebody who can let you borrow a small bodied guitar over night or long enough to see if you get some relief from that.

Ibuprofen, in addition to its pain relieving properties, is also an anti-inflammatory, so will reduce swelling which in turn reduces the pressure on the nerve, thus further reducing the pain.

Perhaps through all of this you will discover the beauty of the small-bodied guitar. or perhaps not; I don't know.

Good luck, Hamhand.

 

edit: I'm 54 yrs old.

[guit30]

My problem is same as Donk, though like him, I have found guitar size makes no difference and I play a Dread. I have been playing more lately, even with the pain. I am on pain management and therapy.

Jim

[T.B.]

 

Why not see a doctor and get the problem diagnosed? If it's bursitis (which is what it sounds like), there's a drug called Clinoril (generic = sulindac) that does wonders - it's typically a lot more effective for shoulder inflammation than ibuprofen or naproxen. My shoulder and arm pain (and it's really more in my arm: on a bad day it feels as if someone threaded a coat hanger down my arm beginning at the shoulder and extending into my forearm) is caused by cervical spinal stenosis (the narrowing of the spine, which then compresses the nerves exiting the spinal column). Guitar size/type has no effect on the degree of pain or muscle weakness I experience when playing.

 

 

Don's right. Assuming or self diagnosing why your right shoulder is stiff and hurts, may cause you more harm. Have your G.P. recommend an Orthopedic physician who also specializes in treating musician and related injuries ..... if that's the cause/reason. I had a Orthopedic doctor tell me the two most important thing in getting an accurate diagnosis requires 2 things: one, the injured tissue must be identified whether it is muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, cartilage, nerve, blood supply or lymph two, the stage of damage that this tissue is experiencing. An accurate diagnosis is the most important aspect in developing the best treatment plan because the best treatment plan facilitates the quickest recovery time and it will address the "removal" of the CAUSE not just the symptom. As Jim mentioned, some form of therapy may to be involved.

 

Trina

 

P.S. Here's a link that you may find interesting. http://www.cumpiano.com/Home/Guitars/Special/Wedge/Wedge-page.html

[Dave W.]

Another vote for physical therapy. Both my shoulders are worn from a lifetime of lifting paper into a printing press, I am 54. A good physical therapist can work up a set of custom exercises to help a lot of ills. It is amazing how much building up the muscles around a joint can help. Get a pro though, home brew therapy can do more harm than good.