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Tendinitis and other pains, warnings, and suggestions
I didn’t know quite where to post this. I’m seeking an ear to listen to my frustration and my fear and to plead with everyone to stretch and warm up your muscles and tendons before playing, and to monitor your body for signs of overuse, too much repetition, poor posture, poor fretting positions, etc.
I had tendinitis last year in my fretting arm that was caused by overuse and extreme stretching of fingers to reach some chords. I thought I was limber enough, but overuse and repetitive action caused severe tendinitis and tennis elbow. I couldn’t play for 3-6 months (I cheated a little from months 3-6 using alternate tunings and power chords). I spent months getting acupuncture and steroid shots, and was just short of going to physical therapy. The cost was exorbitant, and I was very down during that time. I kept up with the daily lessons (watching them) and stayed active in the forums and virtual open mics that I was attending, but it’s not the same. Luckily, I was eventually able to play without pain.
Unfortunately, I’m devastated that the tendinitis and tennis elbow have returned. I’ve been in a huge growth period with my playing and improvement, and I was ecstatic. The momentum was high and I was having so much fun. This past week the pain started again, and there is a new pain too in my upper, outside arm that feels like tendon damage too.
I’ve definitely been playing a lot more, and it is so easy since I work at home all week to just pick up the guitar on a whim and play something. I’m practicing a lot of songs for a guitar meet up I’ll be attending in Florida next week, so there has been a very concerted effort to practice more, longer, and harder to prepare for it. That was my downfall, I think. I thought I was stretched out and limber enough to play, and I do weights to insure my muscles and tendons are stretched, tone, and strong, and I wasn’t experiencing any pain. Maybe a twinge now and again. Then it hit constantly, and it’s very painful and uncomfortable.
I learned from the first time that I should stop playing immediately, so I don’t cause more permanent damage. I use ice for swelling and heat to try and make it feel better. I massage the forearm, elbow and upper arm a few times a day. I’ll be heading back to the acupuncturist and ortho doctor as soon as I’m back from Florida.
I’m just so disappointed and depressed over the situation, because I know how hard it was to overcome initially. My suggestion to everyone is make sure you are stretching and your muscles and tendons are warm before practice/playing & afterwards. There is a great stretching video on TAC that I suggest everyone view and practice. It is so important. Stop playing if you feel any discomfort or tiredness in your hands/arms. See a doctor immediately if you feel any pain in your arm or hands that lasts more than a day or two.
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This discussion was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by
Loraine.
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This discussion was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by
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6 Replies
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That was a great reminder about the importance of stretching before playing. Hope you are feeling better and pain-free soon.
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Thank you for your well wishes @darcelle
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Hi @Loraine , I am feeling your pain in sympathy. Hang in there. The only thing I have found that allows me to play into the hours and hours zone is not practicing harder but the opposite: practice playing easier. It gets back to your old “tension manager” which you correctly identify as feeling a “pain” when you are playing. I would suggest your tension level might need more tweeking? only a suggestion.
Lately I have been dealing with my fingers going numb on my fretting hand after playing a bit. To correct this, the moment I feel my fingers starting to numb I stop my right hand activity and work on relaxing my hand/arm while keeping where I was on the fretboard fretted. It allows me to fine tune my shoulder elbow wrist while relaxing my hand in position. When I get it all lined up my feeling comes back into my fingers and play continues.
I am a stretching fanatic too…without it I would not be where I am. Stretch gently and slowly, silly putty style.
Healing Vibes Your Way
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Thanks for your reply @jumpinjeff . I’ll have to modify my approach. I knew I was playing a lot, but I also thought I was limiting my time and breaking it up. But the arm didn’t like it.
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@Loraine I am so sorry you are dealing with another bout of tendinitis. It’s painful and frustrating as it steals many days from our guitar journey. It is treatable and it will resolve but the weeks and months of not being able to play seem to drag on and on.
Tendinitis, once you get it, likes to come back to visit frequently. You are doing all the right things to treat it, and once it has subsided, need to continue to baby yourself as you go back to your guitar playing. As the others have said, it’s important to always warm up, stretch, be mindful of good posture and ergonomics, and play as relaxed as you can.
I have found that if I am having any difficulty in playing/learning a new piece that the best thing for me is to just immediately put it away on the back burner and go play something easier and more relaxing.
Sending guitar love and healing prayers!!
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Thanks @Carol-3M-Stillhand . I was not aware that tendinitis was recurrent once had — truly a !$@#*.! major bummer. I thought I was being careful, but working on the computer all day, playing a game on my iPad and playing guitar was just too much repetitive motion and use of the hand and arm.
It doesn’t help that I have fibromyalgia, and all my muscles are super tight and painful all the time, and stretching and massaging may be beneficial, but my muscles typically will not relax. This causes many problems.
Thanks for your well wishes.
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