About two years ago I started noticing that my left hand was becoming sore from playing accordion; I took up concertina, thinking that it would be a bit kinder on the arm because it's more balanced. But the tension started spreading all the way up to my shoulder and now it's getting so bad that my little finger won't work properly when I'm playing fiddle or guitar, which is my main instrument..
Someone warned me about all this when I first started playing tunes on fiddle about ten years ago; back then the classical players all scoffed at the traddies, saying that we'd regret defecting to the dark side of music when we all ended up as thirty-year-old cripples. I'm not thirty yet but am getting very worried about what this all means!
Does anyone have any wisdom on how to reverse the cripple factor? I'd love to keep playing tunes for at least another sixty years... and I love the concertina! SOS!
are there any shiatsu practitioners in your area? Monthly shoulder, neck and arm treatments will do wonders. See a physio about it too - they can be quite harsh on your nerve bundles - mine would just attack the back of my neck and my spine with her thumbs and elbow for the better part of an hour, but it really pays off.
also, ask them about exercises you can do to open up the channels between your neck and hands.
And when the shiatsu person starts on your pressure points - pay attention! There are a couple just below the elbow that can relieve wrist and finger pain if you know where to press.
Because you are still so young (less than half my age) you should definitely see a professional. When the muscles get frozen in bundles, they can be unfrozen with manipulation, exercise, stretching, and as suggested above shiatsu. Young people are not immune to osteo-arthritis so see a pro if the routine methods don't help. Keep us posted of how you treat this as it could be helpful to us all.
I have to do an exercise routine everyday, and particularly before playing that involves pinching between thumb and each finger in succession, alternating with clenching the fist and spreading the open hand. I have an eight count routine to simulate reels and a 6 count for jigs.
Katie, I should also get an experienced teacher to look at and advise on the posture you adopt on each instrument you play. If poor posture is the origin of your problem and is not immediately rectified, then the problem is not going to be cured in the long term by medical or physio treatment - that' s just treating the symptoms and not the cause.
It's not for nothing that a good violin teacher (or a teacher of any other instrument for that matter) will spend considerable time and effort in getting the pupil's posture and control correct, right from the start., because they know the problems that will inevitably arise if they don't. It's a truism to say that a player won't progress to a good level if the foundations aren't in place.
cod liver oil and glucosamine would help your joints if there are any problems there (although you probably know this). i get tension in my left wrist when i (try to) play low whistle. its most likely that i'm doing something wrong.
"are there any shiatsu practitioners in your area?" No, but there's a boy practices with his Suzuki up & down our street!
But seriously, a fiddle playing friend of mine is having terrible trouble at the moment with her shoulder, & she is 'almost' at the stage of trying a Cortizone injection to see if that'll help.
Here is a piece about these injections.
It might be worth joining this board yourself & asking a few questions.
Thanks fellas - the posture thing is an old issue, and although I'm doing everything I can to learn concertina properly, there ain't no teachers out here! Dunsarnit.
Thanks for the ideas, I'll let you know how it goes - I've heard that swimming is a good way to go as well, but the local reservoir's still a bit chilly at this time of year!
I used to go to an osteopath, which was fantastic - but it's expensive. And I've heard that acupuncture does good as well. I'm guessing that hanging out on the net probably isn't the best way to go, but hey, whatcha gonna do?
"Poor helpless lady"... don't remember putting that on the website! I thought the photo accentuated my muscles.
And yes, actually, it is rocket science! Ever tried being in a band and asking for a shoulder massage? It's always, "Oh yeah, in a bit" and "Stop whinging, I'm in more pain than you".
I've had "frrozen shoulder" and physical therapy did not work until the referring orthopedic specialist threatened surgery if they couldn't fix it. Guess they didn't want that so they increased the agressive treatment until LO and behold, it got thawed. It WAS painful up to the point it stopped and I've had no problem since.
My Dad has had back problems for years, but Alexander Tecnique lessons solved his problem. You learn about posture and muscles and so on, they can really help to improve your playing posture if you visit them and take your instrument(s) in.
The cortisone injections do help; I've had a few in my shoulder, sadly for reasons other than music. The problem is that it removes a lot of pain, but not necessarily what is causing the problem. Alternating ice and heat often helps as well.
Well, acupuncture was a pretty bizarre but amazing experience, and seems to have loosened things up a bit - that and I'm supposed to be taking literally 45 chinese medicine pills a day for my joints (kind of like swallowing lots of ball bearings). I highly recommend this treatment for bung arms like mine - I reckon this together with osteopathy and a bit of swimming will be a good way to set things right.
crippled wrist
crippled wrist
About two years ago I started noticing that my left hand was becoming sore from playing accordion; I took up concertina, thinking that it would be a bit kinder on the arm because it's more balanced. But the tension started spreading all the way up to my shoulder and now it's getting so bad that my little finger won't work properly when I'm playing fiddle or guitar, which is my main instrument..
Someone warned me about all this when I first started playing tunes on fiddle about ten years ago; back then the classical players all scoffed at the traddies, saying that we'd regret defecting to the dark side of music when we all ended up as thirty-year-old cripples. I'm not thirty yet but am getting very worried about what this all means!
Does anyone have any wisdom on how to reverse the cripple factor? I'd love to keep playing tunes for at least another sixty years... and I love the concertina! SOS!
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by katiebee
Re: crippled wrist
are there any shiatsu practitioners in your area? Monthly shoulder, neck and arm treatments will do wonders. See a physio about it too - they can be quite harsh on your nerve bundles - mine would just attack the back of my neck and my spine with her thumbs and elbow for the better part of an hour, but it really pays off.
also, ask them about exercises you can do to open up the channels between your neck and hands.
And when the shiatsu person starts on your pressure points - pay attention! There are a couple just below the elbow that can relieve wrist and finger pain if you know where to press.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by Q
Re: crippled wrist
*head*, neck and arm treatments, I meant.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by Q
Re: crippled wrist
Because you are still so young (less than half my age) you should definitely see a professional. When the muscles get frozen in bundles, they can be unfrozen with manipulation, exercise, stretching, and as suggested above shiatsu. Young people are not immune to osteo-arthritis so see a pro if the routine methods don't help. Keep us posted of how you treat this as it could be helpful to us all.
I have to do an exercise routine everyday, and particularly before playing that involves pinching between thumb and each finger in succession, alternating with clenching the fist and spreading the open hand. I have an eight count routine to simulate reels and a 6 count for jigs.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by windybaer
Re: crippled wrist
Katie, I should also get an experienced teacher to look at and advise on the posture you adopt on each instrument you play. If poor posture is the origin of your problem and is not immediately rectified, then the problem is not going to be cured in the long term by medical or physio treatment - that' s just treating the symptoms and not the cause.
It's not for nothing that a good violin teacher (or a teacher of any other instrument for that matter) will spend considerable time and effort in getting the pupil's posture and control correct, right from the start., because they know the problems that will inevitably arise if they don't. It's a truism to say that a player won't progress to a good level if the foundations aren't in place.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by lazyhound
Re: crippled wrist
cod liver oil and glucosamine would help your joints if there are any problems there (although you probably know this). i get tension in my left wrist when i (try to) play low whistle. its most likely that i'm doing something wrong.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by flisstle
Re: crippled wrist
"are there any shiatsu practitioners in your area?" No, but there's a boy practices with his Suzuki up & down our street!
But seriously, a fiddle playing friend of mine is having terrible trouble at the moment with her shoulder, & she is 'almost' at the stage of trying a Cortizone injection to see if that'll help.
Here is a piece about these injections.
It might be worth joining this board yourself & asking a few questions.
http://boards.webmd.com/webx?THD@221.SoSkaWXdGmZ.0@.59b1bd88/0!thdchild=.59b1bd88/0
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: crippled wrist
Of course Q, you actually meant this, didn't you:
http://www.shihtzu.org/
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: crippled wrist
Thanks fellas - the posture thing is an old issue, and although I'm doing everything I can to learn concertina properly, there ain't no teachers out here! Dunsarnit.
Thanks for the ideas, I'll let you know how it goes - I've heard that swimming is a good way to go as well, but the local reservoir's still a bit chilly at this time of year!
I used to go to an osteopath, which was fantastic - but it's expensive. And I've heard that acupuncture does good as well. I'm guessing that hanging out on the net probably isn't the best way to go, but hey, whatcha gonna do?
Anyone tried yoga for such things?
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by katiebee
Re: crippled wrist
er, yes. That's exactly what I meant. Take three a day, one after every meal. Do not exceed the recommended dosage.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by Q
Re: crippled wrist
Katie, my father had a frozen shoulder for months & was sent to all the best specialists in Edinburgh, but nobody could help him get rid of it.
So finally, in desperation he went to an acupuncturist & within a few short weeks he was cured!
I wouldn't have believed it, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.
It may not work for everyone though, but I'd say it must be worth a shot, especially if you've tried everything else.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: crippled wrist
"Poor helpless lady"... don't remember putting that on the website! I thought the photo accentuated my muscles.
And yes, actually, it is rocket science! Ever tried being in a band and asking for a shoulder massage? It's always, "Oh yeah, in a bit" and "Stop whinging, I'm in more pain than you".
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by katiebee
Re: crippled wrist
Also checked out your site. Great music & fine singing!
Wishing you a 'short road' back to perfect health.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: crippled wrist
Thanks Ptarmigan, I reckon acupuncture is the thing to try. It's worked for friends of mine too. Thanks for the advice and all.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by katiebee
Re: crippled wrist
Much agree with acupuncture. I've had cortisone treatments; they work but are very painful. Use them as a last resort. Good luck!
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by dmarie
Re: crippled wrist
I've had "frrozen shoulder" and physical therapy did not work until the referring orthopedic specialist threatened surgery if they couldn't fix it. Guess they didn't want that so they increased the agressive treatment until LO and behold, it got thawed. It WAS painful up to the point it stopped and I've had no problem since.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by windybaer
Re: crippled wrist
I brought this on myself, really - got a major twinge going on, off to the acupuncturist tomorrow! Yaaargh!
# Posted on October 24th 2005 by katiebee
Re: crippled wrist
My Dad has had back problems for years, but Alexander Tecnique lessons solved his problem. You learn about posture and muscles and so on, they can really help to improve your playing posture if you visit them and take your instrument(s) in.
# Posted on October 24th 2005 by kjay_bc_box
Re: crippled wrist
The cortisone injections do help; I've had a few in my shoulder, sadly for reasons other than music. The problem is that it removes a lot of pain, but not necessarily what is causing the problem. Alternating ice and heat often helps as well.
# Posted on October 24th 2005 by TaoCat
Re: crippled wrist
Well, acupuncture was a pretty bizarre but amazing experience, and seems to have loosened things up a bit - that and I'm supposed to be taking literally 45 chinese medicine pills a day for my joints (kind of like swallowing lots of ball bearings). I highly recommend this treatment for bung arms like mine - I reckon this together with osteopathy and a bit of swimming will be a good way to set things right.
Fingers crossed...
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by katiebee