The Session >> Discussions >> Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Comments
Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
I have been going to physical therapy for my shoulder. The therapist thinks I tore my labrum when I separated my shoulder this last summer. Now, when I play the fiddle it bothers my shoulder and I have pain for hours afterwards.
I don't want to give up the fiddle, but I do want my shoulder to get better.
Is playing a mandolin much like a fiddle, would it be a good alternative to a fiddler that can't fiddle? I thought about harp, but I think the pulling action on the strings would be just as bothersome as holding the fiddle out from my body.
I started playing three years ago, and I really enjoy playing. I suppose I can switch over to my mountain dulcimer, but that has a tendency to bother my wrists if I play for more than 20 minutes.
Has anyone else had a similar problem, torn labrum and recovered enough to play fiddle again without surgery?
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
My sympathies. I know how frustrating it can be, when it hurts too much to play the fiddle. I had "frozen shoulder" type tendonitis after straining my left shoulder two years ago, and still have some discomfort. I now slip an extra pad under my shirt to help with it.
For me, mandolin was only a little better--too much tension in the left arm, fingering those tight doubled strings. (Also, if you have wrist troubles, all that fast picking will make your right wrist hurt, for sure.)
I think that pennywhistle is probably the easiest instrument on your body, in general.
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Oh man, that is the worst sort of news. Last year, at this time, I had a severe left elbow injury. The fiddle was absolutely out. For me, with my sort of injury, the mandolin was a natural. The instrument has the same fingering, but picking rhythms and learning chording was another thing altogether. At least it gave me something to focus on for the very long months I couldn't play my fiddle.
In the end, however, I guess it depends upon your injury. Best of luck to you.
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
I believe Tom McConville had all sorts of problems with shoulders and pain and he was greatly helped by something called Alexander Technique....might be worth a try and there's plenty of info on the net.
My sympathies go out to you.
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Well, we haven't heard from her which shoulder - I guess the most practical solution is to borrow someone's mandolin and see if it hurts
If it's the left shoulder, what kind of rest are you using? If it's the right, can you comfortably hold your fiddle more in front of your body (or stop raising your right shoulder)?
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
I have seen a local fiddler play with the chin rest placed in the center of the instrument. Wonder if that might help.
I have chronic "guitar shoulder", but it is much improved since switching to smaller body guitars, but not sure if you can do that with fiddle?
Also try not to sleep on that side. I find that hurts the shoulder. You have to stop any pressure on it for a while. Sometimes anti-inflamatories, rest, will help it back. I knocked mine back a lot, but a good long playing out can get it going again, though never as badly as before. It's tolerable, but never perfect. I have to play, so suffer a bit. It's not so bad once you find the cause and stop doing it as much as you are able without giving up playing.
lorilynn; have you taken your fiddle into the sessions with your physical therapist?
I have an occupational therapist, for a hand injury, & have found her to be the best source of information. BTW I do not play fiddle. Here is a previous discussion regarding Alexander Technique; http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/1973
Good luck & take care of yourself.
Mandolin? . . . What about tenor banjo?
Cheers!
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Yes it's my left shoulder. I use a shoulder rest Khun and a chin rest is on one side towards body, I hold it out at 45 degrees from my body, I try to keep my head straight but I often find I'm looking at the fiddle.
I played my fiddle for my therapist and his suggestion was to play with my left arm supported, I've tried that and I tried playing about 20 minutes - way too long as it turns out. He thinks I should stick to 5 - 10 minutes of playing at the most right now. How depressing is that. I can't even get through one set in that time.
Posture is definitely an issue so watch posture as you play. I'm going to check out the Alexander technique. Thanks for the feedback and support.
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
My brother just had surgery for a torn labrum. Is that not an option in your case? After the recovery period maybe you could still play -- may not ever be quite the same again, but maybe????!!!!
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
To disagree with an earlier reply - I reckon a mandolin, properly set up, of course, should be just the thing while you sort out the shoulder. It's the same fingering and stretch as the fiddle, plus you can hold it down in your lap, unlike the fiddle action, which is quite an unusual posture, if you think about it.
PS Mandolin strings are only tight if you have a heavy guage string; a light guage, or a low action, should be perfectly playable for a fiddler, although of course you have to sort out your plectrum technique - see many previous postings re such for mandolin, tenor banjo, bouzouki, etc.
Good luck.
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Several things you could try:
A center chin rest. I might change positioning enough to make playing more comformtable.
You could do a lap hold like the old-time fiddlers where the violin rests in your lap, and your bow arm is dropped way down.
You could switch sides completely, fingering with your right hand and bowing with your left. You would need a left handed chin rest. This would be like relearning though, and might prove difficult, depending on your ability to retrain your muscles.
Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
I have been going to physical therapy for my shoulder. The therapist thinks I tore my labrum when I separated my shoulder this last summer. Now, when I play the fiddle it bothers my shoulder and I have pain for hours afterwards.
I don't want to give up the fiddle, but I do want my shoulder to get better.
Is playing a mandolin much like a fiddle, would it be a good alternative to a fiddler that can't fiddle? I thought about harp, but I think the pulling action on the strings would be just as bothersome as holding the fiddle out from my body.
I started playing three years ago, and I really enjoy playing. I suppose I can switch over to my mountain dulcimer, but that has a tendency to bother my wrists if I play for more than 20 minutes.
Has anyone else had a similar problem, torn labrum and recovered enough to play fiddle again without surgery?
Lori From Wisconsin
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by lorilynn
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
My sympathies. I know how frustrating it can be, when it hurts too much to play the fiddle. I had "frozen shoulder" type tendonitis after straining my left shoulder two years ago, and still have some discomfort. I now slip an extra pad under my shirt to help with it.
For me, mandolin was only a little better--too much tension in the left arm, fingering those tight doubled strings. (Also, if you have wrist troubles, all that fast picking will make your right wrist hurt, for sure.)
I think that pennywhistle is probably the easiest instrument on your body, in general.
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by mickray
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Which shoulder?
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by reenactor
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Oh man, that is the worst sort of news. Last year, at this time, I had a severe left elbow injury. The fiddle was absolutely out. For me, with my sort of injury, the mandolin was a natural. The instrument has the same fingering, but picking rhythms and learning chording was another thing altogether. At least it gave me something to focus on for the very long months I couldn't play my fiddle.
In the end, however, I guess it depends upon your injury. Best of luck to you.
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by oriley
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
I believe Tom McConville had all sorts of problems with shoulders and pain and he was greatly helped by something called Alexander Technique....might be worth a try and there's plenty of info on the net.
My sympathies go out to you.
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by john knoss
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
How about if you don't hold it out from your body, Lori?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCsRNDFH-lg
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by joesmith
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Which shoulder ?
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Must be the left shoulder--"hold out the fiddle"
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by mickray
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Well, we haven't heard from her which shoulder - I guess the most practical solution is to borrow someone's mandolin and see if it hurts
If it's the left shoulder, what kind of rest are you using? If it's the right, can you comfortably hold your fiddle more in front of your body (or stop raising your right shoulder)?
# Posted on December 28th 2007 by reenactor
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Get a tin whistle, the Alpha and Omega of trad instruments. Give yourself time to rest.
# Posted on December 29th 2007 by jig
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
I have seen a local fiddler play with the chin rest placed in the center of the instrument. Wonder if that might help.
I have chronic "guitar shoulder", but it is much improved since switching to smaller body guitars, but not sure if you can do that with fiddle?
Also try not to sleep on that side. I find that hurts the shoulder. You have to stop any pressure on it for a while. Sometimes anti-inflamatories, rest, will help it back. I knocked mine back a lot, but a good long playing out can get it going again, though never as badly as before. It's tolerable, but never perfect. I have to play, so suffer a bit. It's not so bad once you find the cause and stop doing it as much as you are able without giving up playing.
good luck....
# Posted on December 29th 2007 by irisnevins
Shoulder injury
lorilynn; have you taken your fiddle into the sessions with your physical therapist?
I have an occupational therapist, for a hand injury, & have found her to be the best source of information. BTW I do not play fiddle. Here is a previous discussion regarding Alexander Technique;
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/1973
Good luck & take care of yourself.
Mandolin? . . . What about tenor banjo?
Cheers!
# Posted on December 29th 2007 by Random_notes
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Yes it's my left shoulder. I use a shoulder rest Khun and a chin rest is on one side towards body, I hold it out at 45 degrees from my body, I try to keep my head straight but I often find I'm looking at the fiddle.
I played my fiddle for my therapist and his suggestion was to play with my left arm supported, I've tried that and I tried playing about 20 minutes - way too long as it turns out. He thinks I should stick to 5 - 10 minutes of playing at the most right now. How depressing is that. I can't even get through one set in that time.
Posture is definitely an issue so watch posture as you play. I'm going to check out the Alexander technique. Thanks for the feedback and support.
# Posted on December 29th 2007 by lorilynn
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
My brother just had surgery for a torn labrum. Is that not an option in your case? After the recovery period maybe you could still play -- may not ever be quite the same again, but maybe????!!!!
# Posted on December 29th 2007 by justwhistle
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
To disagree with an earlier reply - I reckon a mandolin, properly set up, of course, should be just the thing while you sort out the shoulder. It's the same fingering and stretch as the fiddle, plus you can hold it down in your lap, unlike the fiddle action, which is quite an unusual posture, if you think about it.
PS Mandolin strings are only tight if you have a heavy guage string; a light guage, or a low action, should be perfectly playable for a fiddler, although of course you have to sort out your plectrum technique - see many previous postings re such for mandolin, tenor banjo, bouzouki, etc.
Good luck.
# Posted on December 29th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
gAuge......
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Help, I can't play my fiddle now because of shoulder injury
Several things you could try:
A center chin rest. I might change positioning enough to make playing more comformtable.
You could do a lap hold like the old-time fiddlers where the violin rests in your lap, and your bow arm is dropped way down.
You could switch sides completely, fingering with your right hand and bowing with your left. You would need a left handed chin rest. This would be like relearning though, and might prove difficult, depending on your ability to retrain your muscles.
# Posted on January 2nd 2008 by hpinson