Wrist pain DAMMIT

[knucklebrain1970]

Anybody ever have this problem. I'm just about finished with El Negrito and there is the 5th bar or so , the part pictured below when the pinky of the left hand does the hammer on from open d to f
http://webpages.charter.net/kfarrelldba/a.JPG

Well when I do this I get a sharp pain on the back of the wrist, right about by the suicide spot. Sometimes it's just a pain, sometimes it's like that little electrical pulse like when you hit your funny bone, sometimes it just feels like a clicking. I've started doing the stretching I found on this site
http://www.nylonguitar.com/streches.htm

I also use a dynaflex ball too which supposedly helps carpel tunnel syndrome. I don't have carpel tunnel, I never have problems typing and my hand never hurts from typing and I type all day for my job. However this is becoming increasingly annoying. Do you cats suggest continuing with the stretches, dynaflex gyro ball and perhaps getting one of those guitar hand grip exercizers as well? I did injure my wrist a while back mountain biking and it's never been the same. I just sprained it bad, it was not broken. I went to physical therapy and basically stopped going as I could do the exercizes they gave me at home. I'm just not sure what is the best option for strenghtening/stretching this. Any help is appreciated.

Kevin

[brian richardson]

knucklebrain,
can't you use the 3rd finger for the hammer on.
i don't know the key but maybe that would work.

if it hurts stop. had tendonitis in my pinkey, from playing villa lobos prelude on a guitar with very high action, few years back. you
don't want that. good luck.

[Todd]

Brian,

Does tendonitus go away? Does it come back?

I've never had any pain. Im just curious.

TK

[brian richardson]

Todd,
it took a really long time to 'go away'. about a year :shock:
it doesn't bother me now but, it's never 100%. that's why
when knuckle talked about his wrist 'clicking' i made the connection.
the tendon was twisted-like when you twist a rubber band fully and then
twist some more and it begins a second row of twists? kinda like that.

i guess it would come back if i did the same as before but, that guitar
is long gone(needed a new finger board) and i not hip on finding out :lol:

[knucklebrain1970]

I'm wondering if a shorter scale than 650 would be better for me. What is the next size down? 630 or something like that? My hand has always hurt. F chords kill me, even only fretting the bottom 4 notes causes great pain in the wrists. What do you guys think about shorter scale. I'm assuming the frets are closer together, but are there any drawbacks to using a smaller scale guitar? I'd have to have one built probably too right?

Kevin

[cdikland]

After about an 8 years break due to a right elbow injury, I started playing again a little over a year ago. Initially, my left wrist was causing me so much trouble I was afraid I would have to give up playing once again. I tried all kinds of exercises and wore wrist braces but nothing made the problem any better. The sharp pain and electrical shock you talk about describes my situation at the time to the tee. My problem was that I would tense up during a complex shift in playing position. Everyone told me to relax and release the tension. Easier said than done. Most of the pieces I was playing at the time were at about grade 6 (RCM) level.

Last spring I decided that I need to backup a bit and play easier material. I started with pieces at grade 2 level and while not the greatest compositions they also did not cause me any discomfort or pain to play. Within several months I moved up to grade 4 level where I am now. I have not had wrist problems since. Much to my surprise, the grade 6 pieces which earlier caused me discomfort no longer hurt my wrist. I still can't make them sound very musical though so I think I'll stick at the lower grade for a bit longer. Ok, so I wont be performing for anyone or uploading my works any time soon but the material I am studying these days are much less frustrating and 'pain free'.

Recently, I injured my left arm/elbow during a home renovation project. Once again, I am in a situation were I can not play without great discomfort. Fortunately, my right hand is fine so these days I am playing strickly RH exercises using all open strings. Boring as hell to say the least but it is better than giving up entirely or trying to play through my injury which would only compound the situation. In the long run this recent injury may be a blessing in disguise. When the world hand you a lemon, make lemonade.. :D

[TheEvan]

I'd suggest lessons with a good teacher. Even a few lessons may help correct the problem. It may require a layoff as well. But obviously something needs to be done differently.

[cdikland]

I've never had any pain. Im just curious. TK
That's cause your a cool, calm and collective kind of guy.. 8) :lol:

Seriously, though.. Besides raising the risk of injury, I think tension holds many of us back for a long time. The fact you never had any pain suggest to me you probably are less (if any) tense than "normal" and is one of the reasons you play as well as you do.

"Tense guitarists don't last long", Regino Sainz de la Maza

[daniel711]

Try wrapping your wrist with a cold pack after each practice session (just like baseball pitchers do). I've been doing this ever since my teacher suggested it, and I've never had pain since. I was experiencing wrist pain a while ago, and it never came back. Get one of those ready made cold wraps that you keep in the freezer. They carry them in most drug stores.

[jdschoe@juno.com]

Some OT's think strengthening the fingers is part of the solution to wrist pain....and also of benefit generally to guitarists and other musicians seeking to avoid carpal tunnel and to build speed and flexibility. (See www.fingerweights.com for info on finger weight-training for rehab and music.) I haven't tried them yet so can't personally say they work but at least two OT's locally have told me they have had success in reducing finger/hand/wrist pain for their patients with the exercise system recommended with these fingerweights.

Backing off and reviewing fundamentals of technique is certainly another time-tested approach to pain problems.

How interesting that you have no pain troubles at the keyboard. How do you hold your wrists when you type? Any useable hints there which are transferable to your hand position in guitar playing?

[guitarplayer12217]

one cause of wrist problems are barre chords. try to lay back on your bar chords. some people play barre chords all the time and have no troubles what so ever but others tend to have pain. try to cut back on your barre chords and try to reduce the tension in your hand(tuck your hand behind the neck and move your left elbow closer to your side)

[larilian]

Most of the pieces I was playing at the time were at about grade 6 (RCM) level.

. I started with pieces at grade 2 level and while not the greatest compositions they also did not cause me any discomfort or pain to play. Within several months I moved up to grade 4 level where I am now. When the world hand you a lemon, make lemonade.. :D

Cdikland,
Could you explain the grading system that you are using to describe pieces? Is there a reference you know of where I can find out what the pieces that I am learning are graded? Thanks.

ps.
Hope your able to work through the pain Knuckle.

[cdikland]

Cdikland,
Could you explain the grading system that you are using to describe pieces? Is there a reference you know of where I can find out what the pieces that I am learning are graded? Thanks.
The grades I am referring to are pieces I am learning in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Guitar Series Grades 1 thru 8 published by Frederick Harris Music (http://www.frederickharrismusic.com/). I use these books along with Noad's Solo Guitar book. Sometimes a study in the Noad book is also within one of the graded RCM book. At this point I spend some time studying additional material in the RCM book before I proceed with the Noad book. I am assuming this additional material is at the same level or grade as the current piece within the Noad book. Works for me.... :D

[Jubilee Valence]

tweedle-de-dee... :arrow: http://www.ironmind.com/ironcms/opencms/IronMind/Main/captainsofcrush1.html............................. ................. :twisted:

[larilian]

The grades I am referring to are pieces I am learning in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Guitar Series Grades 1 thru 8 published by Frederick Harris Music (http://www.frederickharrismusic.com/). I use these books along with Noad's Solo Guitar book. Sometimes a study in the Noad book is also within one of the graded RCM book. At this point I spend some time studying additional material in the RCM book before I proceed with the Noad book. I am assuming this additional material is at the same level or grade as the current piece within the Noad book. Works for me.... :D[/quote]


Thanks for the info :D