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Post by RickW on Jul 10, 2023 9:40:25 GMT -5
I’ve never had much of a problem with my hands. Through playing 5+ hours a night when I was in a band, up to playing an hour a morning working through the Conservatory Canada Blues and Jazz syllabus, to writing and recording and playing pretty much every day, and going to my weekly jam, I’ve had tennis elbow a couple of times, but my hands themselves never gave me grief. I have a couple of friends who are going through major issues with arthritis, and can barely play, and I feel for them.
But this year, at the ripe old age of 66, it’s catching up. Getting pain in my left hand, in the knuckles, and the palm. I’ve jammed my index finger twice in the last few years, and both times took a while to heal, and it still bothers me a bit. I’m not sure what the rest of the issues are, I suspect just osteoarthritis (wear and tear,) but going to see my doctor this week to talk about it, in case it’s something else, and to get ideas as to what I can do.
Not unexpected, but still sucks, as I can’t just sit and play for as long as I want, whenever I want. It may simply be overuse, and taking a break, resting, stretching will fix it, or at least help. But I really do still love to play, and all the education, and the jam, have my playing at what’s probably the best it’s ever been.
Such is life. How the rest of you doing?
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Post by epaul on Jul 10, 2023 9:45:17 GMT -5
Ever since I switched to trombone, I have had no more hand issues. I have experienced some neighbor issues, however.
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Post by Marshall on Jul 10, 2023 9:51:03 GMT -5
I’ve had thumb issues on my left hand for 20 years. Switching from Taylor necks to fat old Gibson type necks continues to control that.
But most recently, I had a 3hr practice 2 days before a 3 hr gig and I found during the gig I got cramps in small muscles in my right picking hand. It was weird and made it difficult to play some songs cleanly.
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Post by Russell Letson on Jul 10, 2023 10:06:48 GMT -5
About five years back while I was playing my Michael Dunn, my left thumb cramped up--went right across the palm. The Dunn has a very shallow, wide neck and a flat fingerboard, and since then, I've had to be careful about neck profiles. I can't play the Dunn for long before feeling the discomfort. And in what I suspect is a separate process, the joint at the base of the thumb has also started to get achy--that feels like ordinary arthritis, which I also sometimes feel in the left index finger.
My Cloutier has the same kind of 1-7/8" nut and flat fingerboard as the Dunn, but a much deeper profile, so I'm pretty sure that I'm finally paying the price for decades of tight-grip thumb-over fingerings. I can still use those grips, but only on necks with some meat on them--ironically, old-style V profiles are among the safest for me, and the nice round shapes of the Eastman, Loar, and Epiphone Broadway archtops let me play long sets with almost no discomfort.
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Post by PaulKay on Jul 10, 2023 10:50:53 GMT -5
I have been exceptionally fortunate to not have any major issues with my hands... so far. No pain, no restrictions. I keep waiting for signs of arthritis since I have it in my neck.
I can't keep a set of nails to save my soul, but that's another issue.
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Post by Hobson on Jul 10, 2023 10:53:24 GMT -5
Mine are fine. But I seldom play more than an hour a day. Even when I was playing for the community chorus and various ensembles, it never bothered me. Other body parts are degrading though.
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Post by majorminor on Jul 10, 2023 11:11:45 GMT -5
58 and mine are getting stiffer for sure. Gnarled hands run in the family on my mom's side. My acoustic steel string playing is trending more to flat pick and strummy these days.
For those of you with issues I'd really encourage you to spend some time on a crossover nylon. They are much easier on your hands and can be enjoyable.
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Post by Marty on Jul 10, 2023 11:14:43 GMT -5
I have not been able to play since 2020. Although now I can get my hand around the neck enough to feel the action and fingering.
I was just working on a bass, I can play that.
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Jul 10, 2023 12:16:14 GMT -5
I haven't been able to play since 1947. Hands are fine, though.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,910
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Post by Dub on Jul 10, 2023 12:30:09 GMT -5
About 25 years ago I was at a jam with some friends when my right hand suddenly, in the middle of a tune, curled itself into a painful ball. I couldn’t open it and it was difficult to pry it open using my other hand. One of the group, a dear friend, was a nurse at UIHC and recommended I see a hand specialist. That visit resulted in a referral to a rheumatologist where I was diagnosed with RA exacerbated by osteonecrosis of the lunate. My RA affects both hands and especially the wrists. Since then I’ve been treated for RA using various medications.
My hands often have some level of pain but I’ve learned to adjust the way I play to keep pain to a minimum. I only use barre chords above the fifth fret where I can keep my wrists straight. Often I’ll use partial chords. Playing is more comfortable standing than sitting and I’ve worked out a lot of little “comfort” strategies. I like to play thumbstyle tunes anyway so thumbing the bass strings feels comfortable and natural. Anything to avoid bending my wrists.
For example, when playing Elizabeth Cotten’s Wilson Rag I’ll play 7x7767 for a G7 instead of moving down to a 320001 because it’s less painful. The G7(add9) (7x7767) is far easier and way more comfortable.
Other techniques I picked up from Travis include minimizing the number of fingers used to form a chord. I make the first position E chord with two fingers and the first position F chord using my thumb and three fingers. I often use Travis’s 221222 (thumb over 5&6) instead of a normal B7. It’s faster, more comfortable, and often sounds better. If I have to make the B7 shape (221202) I do it without my thumb and catch the two bass strings with my middle finger. Minimizing the number of fingers used to form a chord also gives you finger(s) left over for adding other notes.
When flatpicking, I have to remember to move the pick with my thumb and index fingers, not my wrist or arm. This is rather like Tony Rice’s technique which I believe he also adopted to avoid pain. Alas, it turns out there’s more to sounding like Tony Rice than just that. Who knew? If I forget and flatpick using my wrist I’m soon reminded by the pain to quit doing that.
Holding the guitar “a certain way” helps and its worth spending time to find your certain way. For me, holding the neck out away from my body helps and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how high on my chest the guitar should be. I always us a strap so the guitar is always where I need to have it.
It takes time to work out what’s most helpful for you but is time well spent. Quit thinking about how one is “supposed” to play and find ways that work for you. It will be way more comfortable.
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Post by RickW on Jul 10, 2023 13:43:13 GMT -5
58 and mine are getting stiffer for sure. Gnarled hands run in the family on my mom's side. My acoustic steel string playing is trending more to flat pick and strummy these days. For those of you with issues I'd really encourage you to spend some time on a crossover nylon. They are much easier on your hands and can be enjoyable. Yeah, one of my friends with severe problems got a Lowden crossover. What a gorgeous guitar. I have one a friend made for me, I should play more, and see what that’s like.
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Post by RickW on Jul 10, 2023 13:44:48 GMT -5
I hadn’t thought much about neck profile. I’m going to have to try a few things. But I’ll see what my doctor says first about cause, though as I said, I suspect it’s just wear and tear.
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Post by epaul on Jul 10, 2023 14:16:23 GMT -5
Don't mention the, um, er...
Hmm... I wonder if profile matters there?
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Post by epaul on Jul 10, 2023 14:18:12 GMT -5
LAWN MOWER HANDLE! Sheesh, Todd. Don't be so juvie!
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Post by david on Jul 10, 2023 14:33:28 GMT -5
Like Russell and Marshall, my hands have fewer problems with deeper necks. My pain seems to come from my right shoulder, but it emanates from stenosis around C-5 and C-6.
I will take Dub's advice and try standing and/or using a strap with differing guitar heights.
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Post by drlj on Jul 10, 2023 14:59:47 GMT -5
No real problems. I get a little pain in my left thumb on occasion but the fingers still move pretty well for an old guy.
My pain is in my ankle so, unlike Dub, I can’t stand and play. I have to sit and the problem is sitting causes my hip to ache so I have to put up with that pain to avoid the other pain. Maybe I should lie flat on my back & try it that way.
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Post by coachdoc on Jul 10, 2023 16:16:46 GMT -5
I’ve had thumb issues on my left hand for 20 years. Switching from Taylor necks to fat old Gibson type necks continues to control that. But most recently, I had a 3hr practice 2 days before a 3 hr gig and I found during the gig I got cramps in small muscles in my right picking hand. It was weird and made it difficult to play some songs cleanly. Be sure to stay hydrated. Not ETOH either.
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Post by howard lee on Jul 10, 2023 19:40:40 GMT -5
I had a 12-month bout of stenosing tenosynivitis (aka trigger finger) in the middle finger of my fretting hand about, what, two years ago? I DM'ed Terry to talk about it and he suggested a couple of things. The finger would lock up when I bent it, and it would POP! when I tried to straighten it. Not conducive to smooth guitar playing. I sought a hand specialist (another reason living in this town is worth it) and went through a series of three hydrocortisone injections into the tendon. After the third one, things seemed to loosen up. I also introduced some more anti-inflammatory foods into my diet, quit drinking alcohol and quit eating chunks of cheese. The upshot was that it cleared up (and there was much rejoicing!) and for the last two years, knock wood, I have been playing with as much flexibility in that finger as I ever had. This is a good thing, because without being able to play guitar, I'd be completely miserable instead of only partially miserable. www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammationAn anti-inflammatory diet should include these foods: tomatoes olive oil green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards nuts like almonds and walnuts fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges
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Post by RickW on Jul 10, 2023 19:48:01 GMT -5
www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammationAn anti-inflammatory diet should include these foods: tomatoes olive oil green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards nuts like almonds and walnuts fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges Eat that stuff pretty much every day. Italian wife and all. Not enough fatty fish.
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Post by howard lee on Jul 10, 2023 19:49:42 GMT -5
www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammationAn anti-inflammatory diet should include these foods: tomatoes olive oil green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards nuts like almonds and walnuts fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges Eat that stuff pretty much every day. Italian wife and all. Not enough fatty fish.
Me, too. Keep it up. Inflammation is a bear and causes all sorts of problems.
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