Think I have tendonitis - taking a break :(

[Chuckwalla]

Originally Posted by Michael_V

Sounds like you have deQuervain's tenosynovitis. Take it seriously and follow your doctor's and physical therapist's advice. Trying to play through the pain could be career ending.

This! I have been fighting deQ for over a year now. I have ice on my wrist now. At first, I thought it was being caused by my playing tech. I'm sure that something to do with it. I had gotten back in to playing when it started. It got to the point where I couldn't play or use my left hand without intense pain. Tried it all: injections, PT, meds. All worked short term, but it always came back. About the time I started playing again, I also started a new workout that involved a lot more strength training. On a whim, I asked one of the athletic trainers at the gym to watch my workouts. She made the observation that I was holding my wrist in a "weird" position during my upper body training. Anyway, made some adjustments and the wrist is on the mend.

Don't not try and "work through it". I have scar tissue now, so I will never be a 100% without an operation. Take a look at everything you do, not just playing, it may be something else that is adding to the problem.

[wailsound]

Get a doc to look at it and maybe go see a specialist. Also stop playing. Give your hand a rest and let the swelling go down, then get an understanding of how your hand is working then when things have settled down develop a stretching routine. If you carry on without adjusting how you use your hands you will do permanent damamage. It happened to me around 5 years ago, I had to stop playing for 6 months and when I started again I went to a specialist musical Physio who was impressed that I went before I had any injury and put me on the right track to keep me playing. Now I understand whats going on I listen to my hands and know when to stop. I'm now playing more and my hand issues have basiclly gone, it may take a bit of time but you have to start to heal yourself then work on adjusting what you did to cause the problem. The biggest thing I will stress is don't rely on pain killers or anti inflamitory medication, this won't fix your issue only mask whats going on and if you carry on it will stop you from playing all together. Good luck and I know it may seem never ending keep at it and never forget to rest.

[Michael_V]

I had tendonitis that I played through for a long time. Ended up getting worse and eventually required three surgeries. Couldn't play for three years. Now I'm playing again but I lost a lot of speed that I doubt I'll ever get back. I'm a lot more careful now. Listen to your body. Always warm up. Take breaks. If something hurts, stop doing it.

[Goerman]

+1 on De Quervain's Tenosynovitis (if this is indeed what you have). I have been dealing this for more than a year now. Bets advice here, stop playing NOW, and go see your doctor. If it is De Quervain's, I will tell you, that many of the suggestions here, while well intentioned, are absolutely the wrong thing to do. I am back to playing albeit with several adjustments and taking it easy. I do sleep with a splint (made by an OT) and I do still experience bouts of pain. Here is some info http://www.medicinenet.com/de_querva...is/article.htm

[Frankenstrat86]

Originally Posted by Baminated

nutritional yeast & lechitin granules in shakes (talk to your doctor if it's ok for you to eat that stuff)
these have done wonders for me
http://www.newgrip.com/musicians.html

Also, get in a gym with a climate controlled pool, and start doing laps

I had it for almost 2 years and got back in playing shape !

I second the newgrip it's helped me for a longtime although now that my insurance is back I'll be making appointments to remedy my issue. All the same the newgrip will still be worn to act as a preventative measure. I even did a testimonial on the site videos section.

[JDouglee]

Originally Posted by Bieling3

... I also did exercises with 5 LB dumbbells

^THIS. Muscle support of surrounding areas is key, so your wrist isn't just taking the hit alone. I suffered through this many years ago, therapists were
useless, a few curls every couple days saved my playing. (gently at first tho).

[strobosilence]

I hope you're healed by now, but if you're not (and also haven't followed some foolish doctor's advice for surgery - looks like these guys don't care much about us going on playing he he) then the only thing that helps is ice.

rubbing the painful spot(s) with a block of ice for at least 5 minutes a few times a day and/or dipping your whole forearm into water with ice-cubes for up to 10 seconds repeatedly for about 2 hours every day. it will take a while till you start seeing improvement and even more till you're able to play pain-free again (one week to a couple of months, the longer you've been playing with pain, the longer it will take to go away). just stick to it! it will pay off.

I got tendonitis playing up to 8 hours a day and I couldn't touch a guitar (or hold anything with my left hand) for almost one year. I thought I'm done playing. now I can play again for as long as I need and man I swear on ICE.

it's not really about how hard you press the strings or what your guitar is like, most people get tendonitis from clicking a computer mouse in an office all day long - it's about movement repetitiveness - that is, what we do when we play guitar.

after (and while) you get well try to adjust your general body position (sit straight, open chest, avoid shrugging) as a good blood circulation through those pressure points in the shoulders and neck will keep your arms healthy. stretch your arms/forearms as often as you get the chance and ALWAYS warm up before you start playing.

[ivers]

I experienced some pain recently that made it hard to play for longer periods, so I tried to play with a thumbless grip, which made me view the role of the thumb differently.

The way I see it, the thumb isn't on the neck to add any kind of pressure or force, but to rest, as the fretting fingers can fret the notes fine on their own by careful placement. This realization changed my outlook, and helps me prevent pain. My technique feels a bit more fluid too, as my thumb slowed me down by pressing on the neck.

Not saying it's a cure for every ache and pain, just something to think about.