Hi, I''m Nic. I''m new around here. Been
playing the flute for 8 years now, just upgraded to a Yamaha pro and I love it!
My only problem is... Shortly after my regional band concert, I developed pain
and weakness in my right wrist, so bad I either can''t play cause it hurts, or
I feel like I can''t move my fingers. My doc says its not carpal tunnel, but
he''s not sure what it is. Does anyone have any idea what is going on? I''d
be lost if I can''t play anymore! I''d already gotten accepted to college
for music ed! My hand can''t poop out now! Anyway, just wanted to see if
anyone had any ideas. P.s- I can play, just not for longer than 30 minutes or so
and nothing too technical- it hurts! Lotsa love, Nic
Pain and weakness...
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
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AG950Flute
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2003 4:24 pm
Pain and weakness...
that's really unfortunate that you're having
hand problems. i've known several people that have suffered similar problems
and can only practice in 30 minute segments. for now, i think that's the best
thing to do to let you muscles relax and heal. depending on where you go to
college, the health clinic there may have a trainer that knows a great deal
about musician strains and injuries. also, there's alexander technique which
focuses on your body and how you hold your instrument and what you may be doing
incorrectly to cause body pains or discomforts. i've personally never taken an
alexander technique class, but am planning to this summer. also, colleges may
offer this course as well. just some ideas. i hope things get better soon!! best
of luck
hand problems. i've known several people that have suffered similar problems
and can only practice in 30 minute segments. for now, i think that's the best
thing to do to let you muscles relax and heal. depending on where you go to
college, the health clinic there may have a trainer that knows a great deal
about musician strains and injuries. also, there's alexander technique which
focuses on your body and how you hold your instrument and what you may be doing
incorrectly to cause body pains or discomforts. i've personally never taken an
alexander technique class, but am planning to this summer. also, colleges may
offer this course as well. just some ideas. i hope things get better soon!! best
of luck
Courtney
Morton
Morton
-
tarzaflute
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 6:59 am
Pain and weakness...
hi 
I've upgraded to an open hole flute too and
experiencing similar problems. One of my friends told me to do different finger
excercises, the reason for the pain is most likely because you are straining
your pinky so you should warm up your hands and fingers as well as your tone and
sound, along with tuning before you play to avoid pulling muscles in your hands
Tara!
I've upgraded to an open hole flute too and experiencing similar problems. One of my friends told me to do different finger
excercises, the reason for the pain is most likely because you are straining
your pinky so you should warm up your hands and fingers as well as your tone and
sound, along with tuning before you play to avoid pulling muscles in your hands
Tara!Tara!
-
tarzaflute
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 6:59 am
Pain and weakness...
I've got some more info for you. I've been
experiencing the same problem and after doing simple yet affective excericises
my wrist and fingers have felt great! These are some of the excercises I do: -
Put my hand up against a wall giving my wrist an angle of about 45 degrees, then
I tap each of my fingers, one at a time against the wall without lifting the
others, sounds simple but its hard to do with your ring finger. See how loud u
can make the sound, but like all excercises, don't hurt yourself or strain
yourself. - Get a stress ball or some medical putty from a chemist and squeeze
it, concentrating on your pinky and ring finger, because they are most likely
causing the pain in your wrist. - Link your 2 pinkies and pull, but not too hard
so it hurts, just so u feel a difference, then do this with the others, but
definately don't pull too hard. - Grab each finger, one at a time with the
fingers of your other hand and do a trill like movement with each of your
opposite hand fingers, and do this with both hands and all fingers. These are
the excercises I know of, also a valuable book to get would be 'The Gilbert
Legacy' by Dr. Angeleita Floyd. I got told this would be good when I first
mentioned my injury. It says stuff about correct finger positions and stuff.
Anyway I hope this helps u and I hope all goes well for u, bye! [8)]
experiencing the same problem and after doing simple yet affective excericises
my wrist and fingers have felt great! These are some of the excercises I do: -
Put my hand up against a wall giving my wrist an angle of about 45 degrees, then
I tap each of my fingers, one at a time against the wall without lifting the
others, sounds simple but its hard to do with your ring finger. See how loud u
can make the sound, but like all excercises, don't hurt yourself or strain
yourself. - Get a stress ball or some medical putty from a chemist and squeeze
it, concentrating on your pinky and ring finger, because they are most likely
causing the pain in your wrist. - Link your 2 pinkies and pull, but not too hard
so it hurts, just so u feel a difference, then do this with the others, but
definately don't pull too hard. - Grab each finger, one at a time with the
fingers of your other hand and do a trill like movement with each of your
opposite hand fingers, and do this with both hands and all fingers. These are
the excercises I know of, also a valuable book to get would be 'The Gilbert
Legacy' by Dr. Angeleita Floyd. I got told this would be good when I first
mentioned my injury. It says stuff about correct finger positions and stuff.
Anyway I hope this helps u and I hope all goes well for u, bye! [8)]
Tara!
-
krisgmusic
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2003 12:56 pm
Pain and weakness...
I had horrible shoulder and arm pain, although in
a slightly different way. Most of it was due to overpracticing and tension. You
may want to check out two possible conditions that could cause this problem. The
first is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Most doctors know how to test for this but
some do a halfway test and say "Oh no, that's not it." Don't let some doctor
who doesn't perform tests thoroughly diagnose you. It took me six doctors and
three specialists to find out that I did not have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Good
thing I didn't let the do the surgery!), but I did have a pinched nerve in my
neck from right shoulder tension that had caused pain, numbness, and weakness
all the way down my right arm- through my armpit and down the inside of my right
arm- through the outside of my elbow and down the forearm, and then mostly to my
wrist and ring/pinky fingers. It was mostly a dull, throbbing, achy pain. It got
to the point where I could barely play before I went to the last doctor. She
actually listened because her sister is a violinist and has had some issues.
After three months of physical therapy last summer, I can play again, but not
like before. I take frequent breaks and I stretch before and after practicing.
If the pain is mostly in the right hand have someone face you and cup their left
hand under your right kind of backwards to create a "ball" for you to curve your
fingers around. Also have someone lower and pull back your shoulders, especially
the right one, while the other person creates the right hand ball for you. This
is a much better posture. I had no idea that I was scrunching myself up so badly
in my shoulders while tensing my right hand. Having two friends help me feel the
correct posture and hand position simultaneously really helped. Sometimes
problems like these sneak up on you over time and you don't realize how out of
whack your position has been. As someone else here has said, Alexander Technique
is great. I also highly recommend Yoga and Pilates work for stretching and
lengthening the feel of your body. Trust your own knowledge of your body over
any doctor's diagnosis. Only you know what the pain feels like. Always double
and triple check any diagnosis that involves invasive procedures. My search for
the real answer lasted twelve years. Trust yourself and hopefully you can get it
under control sooner.
a slightly different way. Most of it was due to overpracticing and tension. You
may want to check out two possible conditions that could cause this problem. The
first is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Most doctors know how to test for this but
some do a halfway test and say "Oh no, that's not it." Don't let some doctor
who doesn't perform tests thoroughly diagnose you. It took me six doctors and
three specialists to find out that I did not have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Good
thing I didn't let the do the surgery!), but I did have a pinched nerve in my
neck from right shoulder tension that had caused pain, numbness, and weakness
all the way down my right arm- through my armpit and down the inside of my right
arm- through the outside of my elbow and down the forearm, and then mostly to my
wrist and ring/pinky fingers. It was mostly a dull, throbbing, achy pain. It got
to the point where I could barely play before I went to the last doctor. She
actually listened because her sister is a violinist and has had some issues.
After three months of physical therapy last summer, I can play again, but not
like before. I take frequent breaks and I stretch before and after practicing.
If the pain is mostly in the right hand have someone face you and cup their left
hand under your right kind of backwards to create a "ball" for you to curve your
fingers around. Also have someone lower and pull back your shoulders, especially
the right one, while the other person creates the right hand ball for you. This
is a much better posture. I had no idea that I was scrunching myself up so badly
in my shoulders while tensing my right hand. Having two friends help me feel the
correct posture and hand position simultaneously really helped. Sometimes
problems like these sneak up on you over time and you don't realize how out of
whack your position has been. As someone else here has said, Alexander Technique
is great. I also highly recommend Yoga and Pilates work for stretching and
lengthening the feel of your body. Trust your own knowledge of your body over
any doctor's diagnosis. Only you know what the pain feels like. Always double
and triple check any diagnosis that involves invasive procedures. My search for
the real answer lasted twelve years. Trust yourself and hopefully you can get it
under control sooner.