Hi all,
I thought I'd start a discussion on this as I'm sure its something you will have suffered from or will sometime in the future and I'm lookinf for some advise.
I started to get tendonitis/tendinopathy in my left hand (around the palm/ just below the little finger). It come on about 4 months ago when I joined a band and had about 40 songs to learn and pratice. However since then I just cannot shake it - I've tried resting for a couple of weeks (inbetween gigs), ice/heat, massage, and even acupuncture. Been doing a lot of reading the last week into Tendinopathy (the loose term given to long term pain coming from tendons/mucles) and there doesn;t seem to be any clear advice at all. I've analysed my technique and its pretty fine - I never had an issue, before so really believe it was the sudden volumn in playing.
I'm at a point where I need to make a decision about this - either keep on playing just a little each day until it hurts (1 hour max) or quit the band and give up guitar for 6 months or so (which will let them down, and stop my only enjoyment in life).
Just wondering if anyone else out there has had this and any advice that might work.
thanks
Comments
I used to play with 10-46 strings in standard on a Fender with a high action. Between that, and practicing (and attempting to bend) on acoustic guitars a lot I did eventually injure my hand when I ramped up the amount of playing I was doing.
These days I use a medium action and thinner strings - on a Fender I'd use 9-42s in E standard. I'm playing in a lower tuning and using thicker strings but still on the same principle. FWIW I'm using 11-56 for C#/Drop B, which on my PRS/Gibsons feels pretty nice. I have also stopped trying to bend acoustic wound strings like they're electric strings.
Have you sought any help? You might benefit from seeing a physiotherapist who has experience with hand injuries. Seeing a GP probably won't help beyond getting a referral to a specialist if that is necessary.
Knowing my body quite well and having several (non guitar) injuries in the last couple of years, I think this will take 3 to 6 months to truely go away. I'm sure after 2/3 weeks I probably will be pain free, but I know it will just come back . I went to see a physo straight off the bat, but she couldn't really help. cheers for your thoughts though.
Dropped my guitar strap an inch or two and it went away
Turns out in the few years I took off I got "thicker" and my guitars got higher as a result...
If you're playing stood up get the strap set up to a playing height rather than a depth (as seen in those sedulously avoiding the appearance of any practise).
In your wrist are two bone that are used in wrist locks... hold your arm out, palm facing upwards, now point the fingers up, now try and point away from yourself with the thumb... doing this makes the bones rub together it'll feel a little uncomfortable if you do this gently... get someone else to do it and you'll yelp.
If you want it to hurt more bring the elbow in.
Now you might be thinking that's self defence - but really that's how you play guitar and the last part simulates playing the higher frets. It's also the same position the South Korean police use to apprehend armed criminals... but you do it to yourself with a block of wood.
I think I'll have to go back to the doctor for some drugs (can't take over the counter anti-inflammatories as I have asthma)
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Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
totally agree with all this... my personal rule of thumb [what I teach to my lil' stude's] is that no matter if you're seated or stood, that hand must be at least the same height from the floor as your elbow [preferably the hand being a little higher].. so you forearm should be at minimum, parallel with the floor..
if you're a metal-head and need to wear the guitar low [for cool factor and also because this position works very well with the picking hand for modern riffing], then they need to consider an alternate "posture" when shredding that ensures the line from the back of the hand to the elbow is at minimum straight, or better concave [to slacken the tendons].. think Schenker in a straddle stance with the lower V between his legs.. or Slash in a similar stance with the back of his LP rested on his thigh and it's neck almost vertical like playing a cello.. when they do this they are not only "looking cool", they are actually overcoming a posture problem and effectively creating a position as if the guitar were strapped right under the chin like a jazzer.. simple.. cool looking.. but very effective.. I do something similar myself.. it's not always about being a poser, although that aspect is a nice side-effect.. lmao