Carpotunnel AH!

So I went to the Doc. today and I have real mild carpotunnel in my left wrist... What can I do?

I think your doc can better answer that than we can.

Check with a chiropractor...no kidding. A lot of symptoms of a pinched nerve in your neck are simular to CTS. Plus, the fix is a lot better than surgery.

Jerk off with your right?

Sorry. When they're lobbed up like that, I have to....

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by an inflamation of the ligament that covers the median nerve which runs from your forearm to your hand. I'm sure your doctor filled you in on all that stuff.

Check your technique. It's probably flawed. Holding the stick too tight, placement and and angle of your snare - these can cause some serious shock to your wrists over time.

Stretch, warm-up slowly, wear an Ace wrist brace and ice after playing. Do what you got to do to keep that inflamation down. Playing the drums is a very physical activity; think of yourself as an athlete.

Try playing traditional grip. This way, the weight of your hand is under the stick and not receiving as much shock during use. this will at least allow you to play while your wrist settles - and you might be impressed how much more speed you can get with the traditional grip.

Lastly, check-out Steve Smith's Drum Technique and History of the US Beat. The technique portion is priceless. I've been playing for 20 years and there were things in there that I found very useful and refreshing.

Heal quickly.

-Jai

If you play palms down (German grip), try playing with palms facing each other (French grip) or somewhere in between the 2, (American grip). Mixing it up can help relieve the pressure. CTS is generally a repetitive motion problem and changing the motion can help.

It might not even be caused by drumming (though it's a likely candidate). Do you type a lot? If so, you may want to raise your seast or lower the keyboard and mouse. Also, use one of those wrist support pads that you put at the base of the keyboard and the portion of the mouse pad closest to you. I find the when I type, I don't even rest my hand on the wrist thingy which is probably even better, but I'm no doctor.

It can definiately go away on it's own, but you'd have to severly limit your use of the wrist which, as a drummer, I'm sure would be difficult. If it becomes a sever chronic problem, there is a surgical procedure called a carpal tunnel release, but I think that would be a last resort.

Also, take anti-inflammatories (like Alleve or some other form of Naproxen). Tylenol, Motrin, and Advil will reduce the pain, but not the inflammation so much.

I began suffering from the same ailment about 7 years after I first started playing drums. Eventually I solved the problem by just lowering my snare a couple of inches or so. The change took some getting used to, but I've now been playing for about 18 more years and the problem hasn't reoccured. I don't know if this will work for you or not, it's just a thought. You definately want to give it a rest and get some healing time in though.