The dangers of playing guitar

[stratmosphere]

Lately my hand has been feeling more sore than usual after practice. I practice in small installments throughout the day and have always felt a little sore, but thought that was normal. I am only 20 but this morning was the first time that carpal tunnel became a serious concern for me. I can't even put pressure on my hand now without pain. Now this just started this morning and I have elected to stay away from my guitar for a while (as if I had a choice I can barely use my left hand right now). I'm just feeling really bummed right now that this could be an issue. I used to ice my hand once in a while and my girlfriend would massage it for me, but this is the first time I really dont think I can play. Anyone have similar experiences?

[dantedayjob]

What kind of work do you do? Have you taken steps such as sleeping with a wrist brace? Think about your wrist position/orientation when you play, does your wrist bend? Can you adjust to keep a level plane across the back of your forearm/hand?

[strat a various]

I had a couple of friends, lifelong guitar players, who developed some sort of carpal-like syndrome. One of them decided on surgery.
I've noticed that some of the afflicted guitarists I've encountered have developed the habit of practicing in a sitting position that forces the left hand to help support the balance of the guitar. The entire weight of the guitar should be supported by a strap or on your knee/thigh. If you bear any weight on your left hand, it will get very sore.
This is an easy habit to develop, and a hard one to break. Whenever you play, watch for it.

[mtmartin71]

Lately my hand has been feeling more sore than usual after practice. I practice in small installments throughout the day and have always felt a little sore, but thought that was normal. I am only 20 but this morning was the first time that carpal tunnel became a serious concern for me. I can't even put pressure on my hand now without pain. Now this just started this morning and I have elected to stay away from my guitar for a while (as if I had a choice I can barely use my left hand right now). I'm just feeling really bummed right now that this could be an issue. I used to ice my hand once in a while and my girlfriend would massage it for me, but this is the first time I really dont think I can play. Anyone have similar experiences?

My pain is not as serious, but I notice that my left hand has a tendency to cramp now, mainly after lifting weights or using it to grip something heavy for extended periods of time. I can't say that it happens after playing guitar, but it creates a situation where I have to try and stretch it. I'm not sure if this is carpal tunnel (I do a lot of repetitive typing as well). Interested to see what people say.

[stratmosphere]

I dont work right now and have only been playing guitar for a couple years now (though I do play a lot). I always thought I had descent form and the cramping I got was just normal.

[dantedayjob]

I don't know about others, but I wouldn't describe the carpal tunnel issues I have had as "cramping", it manifests as pain at the base of my hand and numbness in my palm and fingers. When it was at it's worst, putting pressure on something with my left hand would result in a feeling that I would describe as being like an electric shock.

[uOpt]

Carpal tunnel doesn't have anything to do with cramping and it won't come from playing guitars except possibly if you have your right arm pressed too firmly on a sharp guitar body edge (e.g. a Les Paul).

You definitely want to see a doctor about this. At age 20 you aren't supposed to have your arms and hands fail.

[xzzy]

I get pretty bad cramps in the palm of my hand if I start jamming out a lot of barre chords.. it seems to come from planting the pad of my thumb against the back of the neck, allowing me to clamp down and complete the barre. Does this sound familiar?

I don't think this is CTS, but something else that I've had zero luck identifying. Initially I thought it was CTS, so I started doing stretches and adjusting my play position. This helped me in other areas (I type a lot at work as well), but I still got the cramp in my thumb. So I figured maybe it was a strength problem, and I got a hand exerciser. Used it for months (still do), and I still get cramps.

I can play for hours with my thumb hooked over the top of the fretboard, but within minutes of playing "properly", my thumb hurts. Sure would like to figure out what the issue is, because I get the feeling it's holding me back.

[stratmosphere]

I don't know about others, but I wouldn't describe the carpal tunnel issues I have had as "cramping", it manifests as pain at the base of my hand and numbness in my palm and fingers. When it was at it's worst, putting pressure on something with my left hand would result in a feeling that I would describe as being like an electric shock.

This sounds almost exactly as what I am feeling this morning. I'm kinda scared I am going to make a doctors appointment.

[stratmosphere]

I get pretty bad cramps in the palm of my hand if I start jamming out a lot of barre chords.. it seems to come from planting the pad of my thumb against the back of the neck, allowing me to clamp down and complete the barre. Does this sound familiar?
.

Yes this sounds familiar and this is what I thought/think is normal, but now its starting to hurt all the time even when I'm not playing guitar.

[Ken Ho]

Less likely to be carpal tunnel syndrome at your age, than tendonitits form overuse.
See a doc, get a DIAGNOSIS !!

[stratmosphere]

Less likely to be carpal tunnel syndrome at your age, than tendonitits form overuse.
See a doc, get a DIAGNOSIS !!

I sure hope not, I just made an appoinment. I have actually been diagnosed with tendonitis before, but it was in the other hand from working out too much. I always go overboard with things.

[AnthonyStauffer]

I've been a programmer/web-designer for 10 years, with obscene amounts of typing and at times have had tingly wrists and elbows. Backing off on the typing helped tremendously. But I bring this up because I'm also one of those guys who plays with heavy strings, and does a lot of bending. Even with that added strain, and all the typing, I've never had serious problems with my hands or wrists.

But the other day, a friend of my, a guitar teacher, and an awfully talented guitar player mentioned that he had upped his strings from 9 to 10s and his hand swelled up from the added strain. I've been playing with 11s or 12s (tuned down) since I can remember and never had that happen. Moral of the story is that your hands are your own, and they ain't like anyone else's for better or worse. Take care of them and do what you got to do :)

[TuftySpoon]

Im currently taking some days off cuz
My hands got sore. My right hand pinky gets a weird sensation like its cramped. Its my own fault though as it took a lot of of repetition. I think its a matter of time off especially if youre only 20.

[bobcs71]

I've had issues with my hands since I was in my early 20s & I'm 37 now. I work on a computer during the day. I've had tendonitis in a couple times. I have carpal tunnel in my right hand. Now the doctor says I have arthritis in both wrists. I've continued playing through rest and advil. I recommend checking with a doctor & paying attention to your body.

[cram]

tendonitus for your age is a good possibility.
I have bad symptoms on my right hand due to years of computer power use - I've even switched to an alternate keyboard layout of dvorak to help. (You'll not see me type with fat fingers here usually).
I even have developed a "bible bump" or gangliatic cyst on my right wrist that comes and goes.

I'd guess tendonitus though. I am such a doctor, it's rediculous! ;)

[Julia343]

I get pretty bad cramps in the palm of my hand if I start jamming out a lot of barre chords.. it seems to come from planting the pad of my thumb against the back of the neck, allowing me to clamp down and complete the barre. Does this sound familiar?

I don't think this is CTS, but something else that I've had zero luck identifying. Initially I thought it was CTS, so I started doing stretches and adjusting my play position. This helped me in other areas (I type a lot at work as well), but I still got the cramp in my thumb. So I figured maybe it was a strength problem, and I got a hand exerciser. Used it for months (still do), and I still get cramps.

I can play for hours with my thumb hooked over the top of the fretboard, but within minutes of playing "properly", my thumb hurts. Sure would like to figure out what the issue is, because I get the feeling it's holding me back.

I have this. I don't do barre chords anymore. It could be DeQuervain's Syndrome and/or tendonitis.
You'll also notice that when you play with the "cradle" grip on the neck rather than the traditional that your wrist tends to be in a more neutral and safer position.

I still play the barre chords but use a thumb wrap around on the 6th string, or if the music permits I'll just use a drop tuning. If it's good enough for Nancy Wilson, Robin Trower, and George Lynch, it's good enough for me. I cannot play with the thumb on the back of the neck anymore. I also have everything downtuned a full step. Hybrid string sets. Heavy bottoms/Light tops.

Hand exercisers are crap and usually way too stiff. Get a thing of Power Putty in the Light Blue (extra soft). That will be sufficient.

Also this thing is a reason I had to go over to thinner profile necks like the thin U necks on the ESPs and the short scales like those on the Mustang and Jaguar. I can deal fine with the thin U on ESPs with a 25.5" scale, but no dice on a 24.75 on a Les Paul. The LP neck is too thick for me to be able to thumb the E6.

Book correct technique doesn't work for everyone because it is designed for the perfect hand.

[xzzy]

It could be DeQuervain's Syndrome

That's pretty interesting, because the wikipedia article says one potential cause is analog sticks on game consoles.. which I also use quite a lot.

Symptoms don't match however, though I suppose I should spend less time diagnosing myself and more time asking a doctor. ;)

[Julia343]

I blew out my thumb working on a chord change from open Dm to F barre. And it had to be that change. I already had some micro tears where the tendon attaches to the muscle on the palm of the hand (the muscle that goes off to the thumb) from doing too many barre chords. Then I got some micro tears on that same tendon where it attaches up in the middle of the forearm. It inflamed, caused and impingement on the nerves, and caused some numbness in my fingers.

I ended up having X-rays (no arthritis), an MRI (which showed the soft tissue damage), and an EMG which fortunately showed no nerve damage.

Rx: rest for a few days, warm up sufficiently (e.g. soak your hand in warm water before playing), and ice after.

Having dealt with tendonitis before on the piano, I also realized I'd have to change how I was approaching things from a technical angle, and had to find something that worked.

So go to a hand specialist and get some tests done. you may need some PT for the hand and there are Certified Hand Therapists who work with musicians. When you start back playing you'll need to start back slowly. 10 minutes days 1-3, 15 mins days 4-7, and so on. Take a break to stretch every 20 minutes.

I too spend time with an XBox 360. Funny thing though is that the thumbsticks don't cause me any problem -- just don't squeeze the controller or push down on them. Gentle. You get the same result and you get faster.

[MartinPiana]

I have had various issues throughout my arms and they're all under control now. I'm typically wary of chiropractors and am not into the bone crunching stuff, but I had one highly recommended to me and she worked on my muscles very effectively. She also identified various causes (including sleeping on my arm! injured while sleeping!) and gave me exercises. Haven't needed to see her in more than a year. For my left forearm, two, uh, muscles? strands of muscle? had fused together and she did some painful work on them, a twice a week for a month, and the problem was gone. Fortunately, I did not have carpal tunnel (I was worried I did) - maybe you don't either.