Damaged hands? too much playing?

[sebby123]

Ive been playing for about 6 years now im 18, I practice daily and i need to, As if i dont i feel worse the next day my hands have been taking a huge toll lately i cant legato as fast as i could before and chords are so much harder to play i mean i know fatigue happens over time but im 18? My hands ache and feel weak im in a band and we practice regularly, we currently are writing a new album so im trying to get my playing on par since the music this time around is alot more complicated ( Im playing alot more leads this time around),Was wondering if you guys had any idea what could help ive tried resting for a day but it really didnt help. Maybe ill take a whole week off and go blind into practice hoping it feels better, I just dont want it to get worse as music is something i hopefully want to do for a living but it feels like im wearing weights on my fingers i know i can play alot better than i have been but it really is taking a hard toll on me.
I had a part time job that really started to damage my wrist as it was scooping very hard ice cream for 8 hours straight, I quit that job about 2 months ago as it was affecting my playing. It got better and then all of a sudden got alot worse.

Any idea or opinions?

 

[kasperjensen]

I kinda know what you mean. Sometimes my hands just arent up to what my heads wants them too... even though I could play it with ease the day before. I havent decidedly felt pain, but definitely discomfort.
I was told once that I need to warm up properly before playing, as to not ruin my hands. I normally just grab the guitar, play the spider up and down once really fast, and then get to rocking. But I knew a guitar player who told me that it was the sure-fire way to develop arthritis. A specialist recommended that he warm up really slowly. Just single notes with one finger... really slowly. Sort of like you are going from the first moment you laid hands on a guitar, to the point where you are now in 45 minutes. Steadily building it up.
Too much playing can also cause impingement of the nerves (which is most likely what you are feeling)... which of course will lead to pain, loss of sensation among other things.
It is recommended to check your posture, warm up before and stretch after playing.
If it continues, I would see a physiotherapist in your area.

Good luck.

 

[stephen sawall]

kasperjensen welcome to the forum.

I lost my ability to play for 8 month because I over did it.

 

[Dazza1004]

makes me wonder how these guys who practise 6+ hours a day cope.

To the OP, I would go and see the doc if you haven't already, have a couple of days off the guitar if you can.

There are other things you can consider, diet and equipment come to mind.

Is the neck on your guitar too fat / too thin, are you eating right and drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of rest.

 

[glassjaw7]

Back in the day my guitar teacher (who plays 10+ hours a day) said that taking small breaks and gently stretching your wrists and fingers is a MUST if you play for hours a day.

Can't remember exactly, but try breaking for 10 min. per every hour or 1 1/2 hours that you play.

Also, do you have a job where you do a lot of physical labor? I worked for the pipeline for a summer and I couldn't touch a guitar the whole time. I felt crippled!

Good luck

 

[stephen sawall]

I was playing about 10 hours a day when I did the damage. I still do not have the hand I had before. I get hand fatigue well playing the bass very fast.

If you take a break you can still play slide.
I also play more clean after I relearned. We practice our mistakes.

 

[kasperjensen]

I reckon you have to think of it in terms of what it actually is... physical excercise, and treat yourself like an athlete. Proper stretching, and care of your body will increase the chance of being able to play a lot longer.
And like mentioned before, breaks are really important.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Wierd. I never had problems when i was younger and played a lot. I fucked up my right wrist by others means. I was drunk once in my friends garage and took a swing at his 100lb punching bag and hit it wrong. My wrist bent backwards and hurt for 2 months. That was around 1993, and sometimes it still hurts.

Another time i was on an ATV and my front right tire hit a stump that was hidden in weeds while i was in 2nd gear. It was like i slammed into a brick wall and someone hit my wrist with a hammer. Same wrist as well, the right one. It's a damm good thing i jerk off left handed since that wrist hasn't had any issues. I am serious though, just take breaks, stretch, and later on in life when your woman pisses you off make sure you punch the wall where there's no 2x4' in there.

 

[stephen sawall]

I have found just warming my hands with hot water before I play helps.

 

[sebby123]

Thanks to everyone Ill try warming up today for a good amount of time slowly and see if it helps, I woke up with the same feeling as well it doesnt hurt just feels kind of swolen and weak i havent picked up my guitar though that will be the true test, As for rest i havent been getting much lately so that my help and as for exercise i normally dont but im going to start to daily as maybe it will help if it does great if it doesnt then whatever im getting exercise regardless.
One thing i know that hurt my hands was PC Games so i deleted everything i had on my computer today so i wouldnt get tempted to play. I just hope i can get my playing back to how it was.

Also im playing on a Les paul with the 59 round back neck of a studio which ive allways said is a huge handicap for guthrie stuff .
I feel on chords it does hurt alot some time, I want to buy a suhr with a eliptical neck but i wont be able to afford 3k for like 6-7 months

 

[nbarts]

I said good-bye to my playing since I started working for 80hrs a week & sleeping 4 hrs a day. It's a good thing a can still play what I need to be played. Having rest & eating right are the 2 most important things, if they are not there, there is pretty much nothing you can do about it. Just a few days ago I was listening to some of my recordings when I was 17 (WOW, loooong time ago) & there is no way I can pull that off today.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

energy drinks are bad news for the hands!


and even soda, or more specifically sugar and caffeine.

 

[sebby123]

Good to know! I did a good workout today and have been eating health so far! I havent worked out in awhile my hands do feel better i must admit.
It seems like they arnt getting enough blood circulation.

 

[jcj]

I had/have tendonitis. Got it at your age, and wasn't smart enough to take proper care. I quit playing for about 7 years.

Take glucosamine (sp?) and make sure you warm up slowly, thoroughly, and stretch. Pay attention now, or it WILL end up screwing you.

 

[sebby123]

I had/have tendonitis. Got it at your age, and wasn't smart enough to take proper care. I quit playing for about 7 years.

Take glucosamine (sp?) and make sure you warm up slowly, thoroughly, and stretch. Pay attention now, or it WILL end up screwing you.

Thanks yea my mom looked at my hands and noticed they werent getting that much blood flow im going to the doctor this week hopefully to see if its tendonitis

 

[Dazza1004]

energy drinks are bad news for the hands!


or more specifically sugar and caffeine.

how come ?

 

[midnightlaundry]

Just put it off for a week, or two.