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Playing whilst getting over RSI, Tendonitis, Carpal et al.

Started by optomagis, December 10, 2006, 10:21 PM

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optomagis


I had a search on the forum for this, but haven't found anything that really discusses this point, and I am hoping for some positive reinforcement, although, I have prepared myself for the worst (kind of).

For the last few months I've been practicing with an injury, developed through drumming, and assisted by working in an office environment (keyboards, mice etc). Its a really strange injury, in that I don't believe its carpal, or tendonitis because I cannot solidly identify any of the associated attributes with what I'm feeling (that said, it might be a 'refering injury', for example, when your liver is injured, your shoulder hurts).

I went to a GP, and he told me to squeeze his hand as hard as I could, I did so, and he asked if I felt any pain, 'no' I replied. What actually hurts is, if you move your hand as far to the side as it will go (for example, with your right arm in the air move just your right hand horizontally to the right so that your thumb is pointing forward from the wrist) - THAT hurts me - a sharp pain in the side of my wrist.

I don't have inflammed tendons, and I don't believe this is 'in' the carpal tunnel, so I'm pretty confused. Anyway, yesterday I practiced with the band, and I have adjusted my technique so that I play using my wrist totally vetrically, and of course my fingers. Now, I believe this is, if not correct, a better technique, than I was using, and as a result my Flexor carpi radialis hurts, as if it hasn't had a workout for a while. Is this a step forward? When I flex my right hand to the right, it no longer hurts as much, and I'm using Voltaren to help (even if its just psychological).

Please tell me this is better. I have a really important gig in January that I want to make, but of couse I wont risk my wrist for it. I do do stretches (the ones on Vater.com), and in between practicing with the band, I don't practice (which I HATE not doing)...

smoggrocks

i'm no hand specialist, but my general rule of thumb [pardon pun] is, 'when in pain, do not play.'

seriously. you can mess yourself up really badly. and considering you don't yet have a diagnosis, you could just be aggravating the prob.

get thee to a hand specialist and get diagnosed. don't play for a while. with any luck, you have a minor sprain that can be iced and aspirin'd and that's that.


not that you have it, but a resident dc'er had the dreaded carpal tunnel, and has been out of commission for some time.

drumwild

Quote from: smoggrocks on December 11, 2006, 11:41 AM
not that you have it, but a resident dc'er had the dreaded carpal tunnel, and has been out of commission for some time.

That's heart-breaking and true!

I had Tendinitis that was so bad my band started auditioning drummers.

Stay on top of that stuff if you expect to continue drumming or working with a computer. Seek professional help, like yesterday!

Smoothwood

I came here looking for some answers to this very question myself and the original posters problem sounds almost identical to mine,all the way down to modifying my grip on my hi hat hand to French grip (almost totally vertical).  My problem seems to be the middle finger of my right hand.  While I play the tendon in my wrist that controls the middle finger starts to get sore, but while playing I can extend my middle finger out (essentially flipping the bird to my toms) and the pain goes away, but when i curl the middle finger back around my stick and hold the stick in a normal grip, the pain returns.  No amount of stretching seems to make it stop.  It doesn't happen at all when I just warm up and bang around on a practice pad though, only when actually play the kit.  I also work in a heavy IT environment and spend a good amount of time on the computer but I try to practice good ergonomics and usually work related stuff doesn't bother my wrist, just drumming.  You guys think a hand specialist is in my future?

optomagis

I'd say you might not have a good technique (not that I can talk), but I definately put my carpal down to work. I've been drumming for so long with no problems, and now I'm in pain from working. Although I'm sure drumming doesn't help.

Can anyone answer my question though? Is the, or should the flexor capri hurt when exercising proper technique in drumming? Thanks

bigdrums

Dude I hear your question, I'm not familiar with the 'flexor capri' terminology but if they are the muscles in the side of your wrist, either the inside or ouside I may have your answer.

A couple of years I started lessons with a well know teacher in the UK by the name of Bob Armstrong.  On my very first lesson he looked at the way I was striking the drums and told me that my hands should be flat when I play each stroke.  Whether the stroke comes from the wrist or arm.

I realise that there are certain grips where this is not the case but I think I'm correcting saying they are used for fast light bounce work (french grip anyone?).

Anyway, If you strike the drum with your hand 'vertical' as you say, or with your thumb pointing up and you little finger pointing down, chances are you will stretch your hand and wrist downwards too.  Bob told me this can stretch the tiny muscles in the side of your wrist nearest your thumb, and squash the ones in the side of wrist nearest your pinky.

It took me quite a while to adjust to playing with my hands 'flat' as it were... especially when trying to play louder/more forcefully.  Now that I'm used to the techinque more, I've never felt more comfortable playing.

I hope this helps, but above all I'd get yourself to a well known or well respected teacher that can give you some really sound advise on your grip and technique.

Best of luck, Josh

optomagis

Hey Josh,

Thanks for the post, and it does help. However, I think I misled you because I meant that I was using German grip (palms facing the ground) and use my wrist completely vertically, not even letting it go slightly towards an angle. I didn't mean french grip (which has by the way, massively improved my drumming technique).

Thanks though mate.

I think I'm slowly getting better too. Going to physio next week.

optomagis

Hey everyone. Just though I'd let you know I've been to the physiotherapist, and he said my wrist was definately treatable, perhaps even 'cureable'. I was given a set of exercises and some other things to do, so I thought I might share them with you here, incase any of you have these troubles I currently have. That said, I should tell you what I was diagnosed with: Tendosvagular (roughly), its not quite tendonitis, but it would reach that stage if I wasn't careful.

**Please note, if you're in pain see your phyisotherapist. These exercises are for me, but I'm sharing them because I thought maybe some feedback from your guys would be good, and also because it can't hurt to try some of the stretches I was suggested to follow**

1) Take an ice block in a tea towel and slide it up the left, middle and right side of the affected wrist 6 times each for 5 minutes.

2) After doing 1), stick your hand and wrist in a tub of hot water for 20 mins. This forces the blood to reach the area faster, and thus helps the healing process of the tendons.

3) Prayer stretch (palms and fingers together infront of the torso) stretch to about a 6/10 so that the tendons stretch and don't resist you. Do this 6 times a day for 30 seconds each.

4) Arms out infront, one arm over the other, palms touching. Interlock your fingers and with the 'bottom' hand, pull the top one. This stretches the top of the wrist (repeat for other arm), 6 times a day, 30 seconds each

5) General finger and palm stretches, 6 times, 30 seconds

6) Play carefully! Don't push your body when its in pain (i.e. its hurting, not when you're going for a workout).

Thats the advice given to me. I also have to go back every 2 weeks, and because the phyiso guy said I'm hypermobile, I have to develop much more control and muscle than the average drummer. Thats why I'm not a prodigy yet...

thanks

RouteThreeBlues

I am a graphic artist/technical writter, so I sit at a computer ALL day, then play some computer gaming at night, and also drum. I have carpal tunnel bad in my right wrist. At this point there isn't a lot to be done about it other than surgery.

You find ways to cheat/adapt at doing things. One tip for people in the same situation: learn to run your mouse with your left hand. I ran 2 mice at work, a regular optical with my left hand, and for fine detailed work I used a track ball mouse on my right which helped a lot.

skn

Hey everyone. Just thought I'd update you on the RSI/tendonitis/carpal front. I am the original poster (optomagis), but I forgot my password and stuff, so now I'm just 'skn'.

Anyway, I'm still in the same environment I was in when I first got 'wrist issues', but by improving my technique and taking it easy at work, I've managed to severely reduce my wrist issues. I think its just a psychological issue now, and I expect to wince in pain, but there is no pain...

Anyway - just thought it may help someone out there...

Take 'er easy.

skn