Guitar players dealing with Carpal Tunnel... Need some help

  • Thread starter Thread starter PhloridaMan
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PhloridaMan

PhloridaMan

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Guys, recently I have been dealing with some issues in my left hand. I didn't really think anything of it at first but as the past two weeks have gone on, it's gotten progressively worse. I went to the doctor today and was told it was Carpal Tunnel. Due to the nature of my job, I am not too shocked to find this out, however it's beginning to hinder my ability to play quite a bit to the point where I had to back out of a show I was set to play this weekend due to not knowing if I am going to be able to play consistently from day to day.

My question to you all is, if any of you guys deal with this first off, and secondly, are there particular hand exercises any of you do to kind of get the numbness and symptoms to relax a bit. I have one of those gripmaster deals that I use from time to time but it hasn't seemed to do much for this issue other than cause me a bunch of pain and frustration.

I really just don't want to lose the ability to play completely. Music got me through a lot of crap in life and I use it as my release from reality a lot of times.

Thanks Guys!
 
I tend to stretch my wrist back and use some compression if the pain lasts several days.

When I'm in dire need of relief, I use extra strength Tiger Balm. It smells horrible but it does the trick for me. I keep some in the case just in case I need it during jams/gigs.
 
I couldn't play for 2 years, Chiropractic is the only thing that helped me. Had to go for at least 6 months or so, but then lasted for 15 years...

Recently hurt again (work related computer usage), so went back to chiropractic and it helped me play again

Firm believer in it.
 
I say this all the time and people think I'm full of shit.

This thing saved me and my wrist and thumb and various other little problems here and there.

Or, you can go down the HMO rabbit hole.
PCP > Specialist > MRI > Specialist > Physical therapy.


Google Flextend Glove.

Best $150 I've ever spent.

Just looked the regular glove is $120

I went the full 9 yards.

http://www.flextend.com/orderflextendac.html
 
Try Tai Chi, Dr Paul Lam has some good videos....no joke, also try a glucosamine/msm/chondroitin supplement. You can also try the dynaflex powerball and dropping string gauge to help. Hope one of these helps, cause this problem sucks for musicians :/
 
I got some seriouse issues with my left when I just started playing more frequently again. This excersise helped alot, also those weet bags you heat up in the micro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWtvCGC ... L&index=39
Would also recommend going to a chiropractor, those guys know what they are doing (most of the time).

I do that excersise pre playing and then some after. Recently I started getting pain in my right wrist, and index finger as well. Think I might be getting old :D

Hope you get better!
 
roccster":35sqkdc2 said:
I got some seriouse issues with my left when I just started playing more frequently again. This excersise helped alot, also those weet bags you heat up in the micro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWtvCGC ... L&index=39
Would also recommend going to a chiropractor, those guys know what they are doing (most of the time).

I do that excersise pre playing and then some after. Recently I started getting pain in my right wrist, and index finger as well. Think I might be getting old :D

Hope you get better!
Click to expand...

Thank you for the link for this! I recently had a 10 night gig and my wrist was cramping up on some of my guitars. Night one...took my new EBMM Luke III Neptune. By the end of the set, my left hand was very tired and sore. I also found that when playing live, the string spacing was bothering me due to the neck being more narrow. Next night, I brought my Les Paul Axcess. No issues. No pain or problems. Next night, brought my JS2410. Some cramping and tightness. Next night, back to the Les Paul and no issues. Night 4 brought my Jem FP2, again, soreness by the 3/4 mark of the 3 hour gig. We did have a couple of breaks between so I just brought an ice pack. Night 5 and the rest of the gigs, Les Paul Axcess. No issues. I find as I have gotten older now, I feel much more comfortable on the larger neck. So, a few guitars are now going to be for sale. The Neptune was returned and I'm grabbing another custom Axcess that has come my way.

That being said, I'm going to put some of these exercises into play. I usually do some simple hand and wrist stretches but these are a bit better.
 
+1 on seeing a Chiropractor. They don't just crack backs. They have Stem and Tens units that work wonders on my arms and hands from wrenching all day. But don't hold out on the spine, it delivers messages through out the entire body by way of nerves. You could have a successful adjustment from a DC, make it home, and woodshed it till dawn.

Hope you find something out.
 
Go have the surgery. I did and now have no problems. You'll wont be able to play guitar for 2-3 months after the surgery but it will be worth it.
 
Rest your wrists and hands. I had two periods of not being able to play. The longest one was almost 6 months. It's worth it just to rest

Good luck
 
Chiropractor is a good idea as is massage. I also ice my wrists for 20 minutes every night. Strengthening is important a too, I like this planet waves finger strengthen device. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VariGrip

The key is patience, tendons take a really long time to heal, so be patient
 
Thanks guys, as for resting my hands. Unfortunately, due to the nature of my life in general that is not 100% possible. I am a CAD operator and engineer by day so it requires quite a bit of time on the computer and I build and drive racecars the rest of the time. I am sure the vibration of hand tools etc aren't helping the matter. I will try some of the basic exercises first before I look into the surgery, even if it only allows me to put off the surgery until next winter. At 29, this is not exactly something I had expected to encounter so soon. It's rather depressing not being able to play what I want when I want right now.
 
Phil Jacques":2sz2aeuk said:
Thanks guys, as for resting my hands. Unfortunately, due to the nature of my life in general that is not 100% possible. I am a CAD operator and engineer by day so it requires quite a bit of time on the computer and I build and drive racecars the rest of the time. I am sure the vibration of hand tools etc aren't helping the matter. I will try some of the basic exercises first before I look into the surgery, even if it only allows me to put off the surgery until next winter. At 29, this is not exactly something I had expected to encounter so soon. It's rather depressing not being able to play what I want when I want right now.
Click to expand...

" I build and drive race cars, 18 fucking years " Frank Rizzo


Get the goddamn glove man :doh: I'm tellin ya. I don't work for the company and I don't endorse shit that doesn't work.

Watch the vids

https://www.google.com/search?q=flexten ... el&tbm=vid

The premise behind this all is that we are always moving our fingers in a gripping motion. This glove, exercises, stretches and strengthens your hand in the opposite direction.

balance_systems_flextend_restore_glove_ambidextrous_p1_250x346.jpg
 
CP is when the tendon on the palm side of your wrist gets to tight, overgrown and cuts off the nerve that goes under into the hand. The surgery cuts the tendon in two and it grows back together. The tunnel where the nerve goes through will be bigger and you'll be back to normal. I tried all the above suggestions and cortazone injections. The where only temparory relief. If you have workman's comp you can have your doctor confirm its caused by your job. It will pay for the surgery and your recovery time. My arms and hands would go numb daily and it was worse at night. It would wake me up 3-4 times a night completely numb. I would have to walk around shaking them for a few minutes to get them to feel normal, then do,it all again a few hours later. The surgery was instant relief, never had any problem since. I was 30 that was 18 years ago. I still workout 6 days a week and no problems. You can PM me if you need anything. Sorry for the bad spelling.
 
you could join immortal now that Demonaz has quit/left as ghost writer :D
 
Alot of good tips and tricks here, but in the end, if you really have the carpal tunnel and nothing helps, then I would go for surgery. Having that said, I wouldn´t do it until its a last resort. I always have a fear when thinking of surgery in my hands, what if it frakks em up completly?

Regarding your change of guitars, I have experienced that as well. I got my issue with my left hand when I bought a "new" Les Paul standard with the asymetrical neck. This neck was thicker then I was used to, I liked playing it but my wrist thought otherwise. So I bought a 2005 std with slim 60´s neck and that has helped me alot. So changing guitar (especially neck) is probably not a bad idea, and stick with the one that doesen´t hurt. As soon as something starts to hurt (in an unatural way) stop it.
 
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