OT: Wrist pain...

[Katana6506]

Whenever I finish playing (and sometimes before), I notice this tingling feeling in my left wrist that eventually develops into a dull ache. I'm not deprived of feeling in my fingers or anything, but it takes a long while to fade-it's usually gone by the next day. I use a generally light touch when playing, but that doesn't seem to affect this- a few barre chords and it becomes present.

Could it be that the Petrucci's neck just isn't giving me enough support? I have another guitar with me in my dorm that has a much rounder, thicker neck, which seems to help matters somewhat. Could a switch to a Music Man with a greater neck depth help me? I faintly remember the Morse, Luke, and Silhouette as having varyingly thicker necks than the Pet.

Has anyone else conquered this issue, and if so, what was your solution? I'd hate to quit playing over something so mundane as this.

 

[Colin]

very hard to give advice on this because it's hard to know what you are really doing and we are not doctors. If you are experiencing pain albeit from the guitar neck, poor technique etc ,go and seek medical advice. I played professionally for 9 years and never had a problem. I now suffer terribly from RSI in my left hand. I don't play 4-5 nights a week anymore but I think the problem is when I pick up the guitar I play like am still am doing the regular gigs. Bit like a retired marathon runner that doesn't train and still thinks he can run those distances.

 

[puppyonacid]

I've had a couple of similar problems over the past 18 months or so. Summer last year and I was getting pains in my right hand wrist (i'm right handed). I had to wear a support. The problem was tendon related the pharmacist said so it would just need time to heal. He said if it had been an actual joint it'd be more serious. At the beginning of the year i was getting awful stiffness and pain in my left hand index finger. It eventually swelled up at the knuckle to the pint where i couldn't bend it. So I went to the docs. He said it's a case of ruling things out. So he prescribed me Ibuprofen at the max dose, 3 times a day for a week because it's an anti-inflamatory. I'm not saying you should do the same tho as I'm not a doctor.

So I took the iboprufen and also started taking omega oil supplements. I decided to lay of practising for a couple of weeks and only play at rehearsals. It took a little while, maybe a couple of months for the problem to to totally go away.

I also go to the gym quite a bit and I guess in some circumstances it's just the same as straining a muscle or tendon. The only way is to let it heal which won't happend if you constantly use it.

First stop is the docs i'd say. I hope it gets better soon

 

[Colin]

I'm on the anti-inflammatory's as well, twice a day

 

[SharonG]

Hey, I am a doc and the best thing I can tell you is to go actually see one. What you are describing could be the same carpal tunnel problems that have plagued me lately. Anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy and stretching are all possible treatments, but you need to get seen to figure out what's needed. The tingling could mean a nerve is involved, so don't let it go. Your hands are too important. Hopefully, you'll get it sorted out soon, but resting never hurts! Good luck!

 

[eliot323]

Hi there
I'm also a doctor and have had similar problems with what in my case was tendinitis - I agree that you should seek medical advice for an expert opinion

Some things that I've learned that help me:

1. Never ever play through pain - stop immediately!!!!

2. Do some simple warm up exercises for a few minutes before tackling anything technical

3. Play for shorter periods at a time - if you know the pain starts after about 20 mins, play for 15 and then do something else. There's always something you can work on - do some theory or transcribing, learn some new chords, listen to some new players/music - it's all part of the musical journey and you can learn a lot without even touching the guitar

4. Vary the repertoire you play - don't always shred - try something less challenging or chordal and mix up easy stuff with the difficult - it all counts; work on your feel for the easy stuff

5. I now only use 8 gauge strings - I know they may not sound as "rich and full" as heavier gauges but I don't get pain and I can play for longer stretches. And a lot of the greats have used such light gauges (Jimmy Page and Brian May for example)

6. Ensure that your playing posture and position is correct; use a guitar strap; balance the guitar on your knee to take the strain off your left hand.

Take care and don't rush into changing your guitar too quickly...I've done it myself and regretted it later

 

[tommyindelaware]

Hopefully, you'll get it sorted out soon, but resting never hurts! Good luck!

great advice !!!!!!! givin by a highly skilled doctor who can't take her own most excellent advice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[candid_x]

Agrees, naturally, with seeking pro-doc advise, but just fwiw:

I played a very thin neck (girth) guitar for awhile and it was murder on my left hand and wrist, which surprised me since I have fairly small hands. My playing time was considerably shortened. Since getting a Sil Sp I’ve never had that problem return.

My right wrist has a problem, which I think may be carpal tunnel related. I use a product called Dyna-Flex, which my son gave me awhile back, and which is designed for golf and tennis players. It’s about the size of a baseball, made of very hard plastic. It’s a ball within a ball, which spins inside like a gyro. You keep it in motion through a subtle but strenuous wrist motion. It seems to be very helpful in relieving the pain. If I use it at night for about 15 minutes, the following day my wrist is considerably less painful. It also builds up forearm muscles and grip. You can find and order them online. I’m not one for gimmicks, but this thing really works.

Just looked it up. Mine is the Dyna-Flex Pro model. http://www.dynaflexstore.com/

 

[fbecir]

Hello

Be careful with your hands ... the doctors here gave you advices : better listen to them
I had also some problems. In fact, it was my general position that was bad. Now I play with the classical position (my foot on a support, my left thumb in the middle of the neck ...). In fact, if the classical guys use this position, it is because it is the best one.
In the Dream Theater DVD (Live in Budokan), Petrucci explains why he is using two metal blocks near his pedals : in order to adopt the classical position when he is playing hard stuff.
So play like Segovia

Good luck

 

[SharonG]

great advice !!!!!!! givin by a highly skilled doctor who can't take her own most excellent advice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(how's that for professionalism?)

Seriously, I did back way off playing for a while until I got the go ahead from my physical therapist. So once again, !
Once you've figured out the problem, giving it time to heal will be important.

 

[Beavis5150]

I had a lot of pain/stiffness in my left hand joints.

I started taking glucosamine just for giggles and within a week it was much better. Shortly after that it was gone.

I was amazed.

 

[Outrider]

See a medical professional

I am not a physician, naturopath or chiropractor. I did break both wrists in my teens and for years have experienced what you describe, with and without loss of circulation. My physician advised that due to the state of my wrists I was more susceptible to carpal tunnel (I work for a software company so that's not helping either). He advised plenty of warming and stretching exercises, and aspirin on the bad days. It worked but about five years back I found I could not play barre chords for more than ten minutes without pain. I was fortunate that the chiropractor I was seeing proposed two things, first being laser therapy for my left hand (I'm still cautious about whether this made a tangible difference) and second, repositioning the guitar. I now never play without a strap, and am hanging the guitar much higher than I have in the past and have also changed the neck angle from the Claptonesc postion (mostly horizontal) to a steep incline. Since doing so, the pain is gone and I can play again. See a medical professional and try some simple stretching and repositioning. It may make all the difference.

Good luck

 

[Progdude]

I have had several problems with my left arm over the past several years. I had surgery last November called Ulnar Nerve Transposition and that cured 1 of the problems. Now Im under going Cortozonesque injections called Stellate Ganglion Block. That shot is in my neck. Im going for my second tomarrow. My suggestion......

SEE A DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Katana6506]

Thanks for the advice; I'll be sure to see the campus' physical therapist about it this week. I'll try and take it easy on guitar, piano, and typing...

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

The thing to remember is that too much of anything is not good for you! I love guitar, but sometimes you have got to take a break.

 

[Colin]

It may not be your playing, is there something else that you regularly do with your hands that may be causing it...

 

[eliot323]

Yeah - knitting can do that...

 

[Bungo]

I was wondering how long it'd take!

 

[eliot323]

Whatever do you mean? You don't knit?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Whatever do you mean? You don't knit?

Knitting rocks!