Author Topic: Tendonitis (Read 6488 times)

Muso · « **on:** October 28, 2007, 01:22:22 PM »

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread about one of the most horrible things that a guitarist can get, the dreaded "Tendonitis!!"

I have currently been suffering with pain in in my hands, knuckles and wrist for about 2 months, the longest period of time I have ever suffered. But thankfully I am now able to play a little bit again. I stupidly kept playing when I felt a pain in my hands and I think thats what made it last so long. I've had similar problems before simply from over practise with bad technique, wonder if I will ever learn :lol:

So has anyone else suffered from this? if so how did it happen and did you find anything which helped recovery?

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2007, 01:53:50 PM »

Try some arnica gel on the affected areas - known to reduce inflamation.
Also an ice pack can help

I have used arnica gel often for a shoulder injury

Pauldem · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2007, 03:32:34 PM »

A great player I know, began to suffer from RSI and he went a little crazy. This was mainly due to guitar being pretty much his whole life and being depreived of it really hit him hard.

He found a great book, which really helped him.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-Body-Prescription-John-Sarno/dp/0446675156/sr=8-2/qid=1158889935/ref=pd_ka_2/202-6850363-7864604?ie=UTF8&s=books

He's now fully healed and playing better than ever thanks to the techniques in the book and is once again of sound mind. I don't work for amazon or the author by the way :D .

Simon D · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2007, 07:05:54 PM »

The one I'm really scared of is arthritis - it runs in my family, both my grandmother, grandfather and mother have very bad arthritis in their hands, and it started pretty early in life. Worst part about arthritis is there's absolutely bugger all you can do about it.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2007, 08:36:57 PM »

I got diagnosed with reactive arthritis around three months back. I was lucky at first as it didn't affect my hands, but for the past six weeks my 1st finger on my left hand has been totally unusable.

At first I was really upset as there seems to be no end in sight for this, however I've adapted to using my other fingers - it's tough, but I reckon it's doable. I doubt my playing will ever be what it was (a blessing some might say) but at least I can still play something.

I've also been playing slide alot more - my Tele has been in open G for most of it's life so at least it's getting more use.

:twisted:

Dreichlift · « **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2007, 05:24:58 PM »

As far as tendonitis is concerned, I've heard a number of guitarists including Yngwie Malmsteen singing the praises of eating bananas, supposedly the potasium helps or something like that.

Personally I've started suffering from stiff finger joints which i imagine is the onset of arthritis and the result of numerous broken fingers. I've started warming up properly before I play and I think it's helping a lot, there's a John Petrucci video that has some pre performance exercises that are good, I think it's on YouTube.

Now if I could just find a cure for "trigger finger" :D

38thBeatle · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2007, 06:35:37 PM »

Cortaflex is a good treatment for joint pain in the hands.Tried it myself and I swear by it-along with Arnica as mentioned by Jonathan.

Muso · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2007, 07:00:40 PM »

Cool I will have to get hold of some of this stuff. Funnily Enough I have noticed a significant ammount of recovery over the weekend, maybe I'm not doomed after all :D

Gary · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2007, 08:23:13 PM »

I had tendonitis in my left wrist a year ago. I'm fairly sure it was brought on by a difficult repetetive exercise I was doing a lot at the time, aggravated by poor technique. I tried arnica gel but it didn't really do anything for me. Went to see my GP and he put me on a short course of nurofen. The important thing he advised was not to stop playing completely but to keep the joint mobile by only doing gentle exercises, playing lightly and concentrating on good technique i.e. not overextending the wrist. I also temporarily adjusted my guitar strap so the neck was nice and high. It was 99% better in a month and was back to normal after about eight or nine weeks. I'm also now doing a good warm up (from Frank Gambale's Chopbuilder) every time I practice. I feel quite lucky having read what some players have gone through and I was very worried at the time.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2007, 10:18:05 PM »

Spider exercises are great for warming up and they make your tendons a bit more supple over time, although they seem impossible at first. If you do any heavy lifting do be aware that this can strain the tendons in your left arm/wrist/hand as I have found this out the hard way and have used Arnica Gel to good affect as supplied by our very own Mr 38th!

Warming your hands in warm water before playing is supposed to be a good idea if you have cold hands.

Vary what you practise too, different techniques use the hands and fingers in different ways. Legato is heavy on the tendons.

Arthritic pain can be cut down by regular Cod Liver Oil, or there is this great salad dressing called cool oil and it's packed with great stuff.

Oh yes and relax, being tense only creates friction or resistance. Did you notice how relaxed Joe Satriani looks in those modes videos on youtube?

Muzzzz · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2007, 05:29:41 AM »

Arthritis can be managed.

I have VERY early osteoarthritis (15 years old) and I am taking glucosamine, which helps to make it quite manageable, also if you change your playing style so that movement of the fingers is as minimal as can be, you'll reduce the risk of running into troubles.

However, about 3 or 4 months ago, I was playing piano (my main instrument, sorry guys!) and was possibly into my 4th or 5th hour of practise for the day and my right index finger started hurting.... which was when i realised that I had been hammering that joint quite a lot...

THEN i did the dumb thing - i felt the pain go away a few hours later and i was straight back on the piano. Anyway, 3-4 months later (now) I have just gotten back from my physio who has told me to have a few months to let my joint heal

I may have done some permanent damage, which is awful because i am very very serious about music and i'm hoping to go to the conservatiorium after school...

so if something doesnt feel right:
step 1: STOP! and give it a few day's rest
step 2: Change the way you are playing

808 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2007, 12:28:09 PM »

One thing that has helped me out, I practice sitting most of the time, is to place my Les Paul classical style. This has really helped alot for me.