Guitar Player's Injuries

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Shade on March 26, 2009 at 7:50am

Ted,

I had a problem with my left index finger a few years back caused by overpracticing a particular lick. I couldn't bend my finger. I happened to work with some occupational therapists who made several recommendations to me. First, they said stop playing. So I didn't play for a month. They gave me some exercises to do to strengthen muscles involving a special putty (sort of like silly putty) and rubber bands. They also had me do heat treatments with a wax bath. They also made me a splint, but I think that made my finger stiffer when I wore it so I stopped doing that. Anyway, I think just not playing and giving my hand time to heal was the main thing. I have 95% use of this finger now with no discomfort. You know this may be an opportunity for you to learn some good slide technique in the mean time. You could put this time to good use improving your music theory or history knowlege or to actually write out some music. It wasn't any fun for me not to play for a month and I was in a band that was gigging twice a week at the time. But, the alternative was having a permanent injury and really not being able to play as well as would like if I hadn't taken the break.

Permalink Reply by Ted Hechtman on March 27, 2009 at 6:57am

Thanks David. I usually put the slide on my index finger (the injured one) and there's pain when I push down with the slide. Not playing for a month. Wow. I think seriously about it. I really appreciate your input.

Ted

Permalink Reply by Susan Palmer of Lead Cat Press on March 27, 2009 at 6:34pm

Hi Ted,

Since you just bought my book, I can suggest that you work on the isolated rhythm exercises. As each new string is introduced, you'll find 2 full pages of rhythm studies that you can play without using your left hand at all (because they are open string rhythm studies.) Use a metronome, go slowly, count out loud and try to play them forwards as well as backwards. Doing this work will not only give you something to do, but it will help your chord rhythms and help your reading in general. Be sure to work with a teacher, even if it's just for a little while, so she/he can check your picking. You really want to concentrate on hitting the strings down on all the downbeats and up on all the upbeats.

I also have a hand injury and I cannot perform anymore. If you see a doctor, make sure she/he is good.

Susan Palmer
Seattle University Guitar Instructor
Author of "The Guitar Lesson Companion" - The Book, CD & Video Package for Students Taking Lessons
www.leadcatpress.com

Permalink Reply by Ted Hechtman on March 27, 2009 at 8:45pm

I hope so. It really worries me. I'm seeing either of two orthopedists in the same office next week.
I just had a knee operation and she'll be looking at the hand also. Thanks for the suggestion. Sorry about your injury.

Permalink Reply by Ted Hechtman on May 4, 2009 at 8:09pm

It is going to be surgery and where are all the alternative therapies when you need them. It has gotten worse. The thing won't bend. Dm is out of the question. C isn't a piece of cake. Got to fix it.

Permalink Reply by Mark Wolff on May 17, 2009 at 3:57pm

I can relate to your sense of frustration. I've had a different hand injury for years. Pain/tenderness smack in the center of left palm (fretting hand). Not carpel tunnel. Doctors have not been able to diagnose a problem. It has improved gradually with time but still limits my playing ime to no more than 60 to 90 min at a time before I have to give it a good rest. I think it may be nerve damage but not sure how it happened. I'd be interested if anyone has experienced this and what you've done for diagnosis/treatment. I hope your "Jersey Finger" improves and pain subsides over time.

Permalink Reply by Ted Hechtman on May 17, 2009 at 7:08pm

Thank you. It's so odd. I took being able to play and planning to improve my playing for years. I've even got this song I'm working on that I can't really work on. I hope you find out what's wrong. Nerve damage or whatever else it is.

Permalink Reply by J J Hildreth on May 22, 2009 at 8:54pm

In 1984 hit by a car...
shatterered my left wrist.. 2 surgeries, pins and casts for 8 months

Dropped an engine ( 350 chevy) on my right pinky

Boxer break right pinky... cats for 4 months
Ran my left index finger veritcally through a table saw.. surgery and casts
Sliced down the middle of my left midlde finger parting it in half through the bone..to the first knuckle

Gangleon the size of a golf ball removed from my right wrist.. surgery and casted for 2 months

Shattered the ball of my right shoulder and ripped the rotator cuff apart... surgery and casts for a year

Pushed my right hand into a shpoer.. ( jig broke)

Removed my right thumb at the first joint... index finger at the first joint
middle finger came off in four pieces to the middle joint... most of the bone stayed

Drove 17 miles to a hospital followed by a siren screaming CHP
he drove off when I removed the towel from my hand at the emergency entrance
receptionist fainted when I showed her the baggie full of parts on ice

All reattached.. told I would never play guitar again.. .. I am not as good as I was and won't be the pro player I was not going to be anyhow, but I still finger pick

Surgeries and casts for a year...

Those are just the highlights

Now what was that about your Carpal ( yupppie disease of the week) tunnel syndrome ??

Permalink Reply by J J Hildreth on May 22, 2009 at 8:56pm

For some reason, I cannot edit my posts , please excuse my typing
I think fast and type poorly

Permalink Reply by J J Hildreth on May 22, 2009 at 8:58pm

Oh, forgot to answer the question, " what do you do about it"

You buck up and go on with life and learn not to whine about inconsequential matters

You learn to cope.

Permalink Reply by Ted Hechtman on May 22, 2009 at 9:26pm

Okay. You made your point. Sorry I brought it up. Only no matter what you went through I still can't use the finger right? I'm not a yuppie. I don't have carpal tunnel and I'm out of here.

Permalink Reply by Ted Hechtman on May 22, 2009 at 10:34pm

You know. I'm impressed with your resilience and your self reliance and whatever other terms describe it. I hurt my stinking finger and I hoped someone could tell me they had a way of working with it that wouldn't involve surgery. That's all. Right! What is your problem with that exactly? Is that whining chief? I figured this was a sort of friendly place. I guess I was wrong. So. yeah. I didn't go through what you did and you haven't gone through what I've gone through which believe me is a lot more than my mentioning the finger only I figure the other stuff is private. Sorry to have offended you.