[ibanez6]

OK, so here's the thing.

I been playing acoustic Guitar fairly seriously for about 4 years. (been not so serious for about 30 years prior to that). My greatest improvement in guitar playing came from reading DADFAD's posts and playing his TABS, but that is another story. I actually got good enough for human consumption and played a couple of gigs.

Played every day up to 3 hours in one session, about 12 months ago I started to get sore fingers in my left hand. (I strum and pick with my right). I ingored that and played on. Over the next couple of months the pain spread up my arm with pain in my forearm and elbow. I finally sort medical advice once I started to get pain in the shoulder and neck after about 6 months.

Usually I felt nothing or little while playing but more severe pain when resting (ie the other 21 hours of the day) often the pain would wake me during the night.

The diagnosis was Tendonitis.

The treatment was rest and anti-inflammetries.

The rest fixed my neck and shoulder immediately, but not my forearm. The anti-inflammatries gave me a stomach ulcer, (a known side effect).

To get any further improvement of this condition I had to stop any activity that used my left hand. not just playing the Guitar, anything at all. I now haven't played for six months but my arm is just at a stage where I can play for 5 minutes a day without any effects. I am fairly sure I will never be able play for long periods but here's hoping.

OK so what have I learnt.?

It sucks getting old.

Don't ignore the warning signs.

I have learnt that Tumeric (spelling?) a cooking spice, is a natural anti-inflammetry, doesn't give you stomach ulcers and works just as effectively.

I tried taking Goji Juice - didn't seem to do anything positive.

I have been taking a whole lot of other vitamins and minerals I think they help and if anyone is interested I can give more details.

Anyways, I hope this helps someone so they don't go through this. I miss my guitar.

[billy16]

I've been having a bit of wrist pain lately, but it's only if I really push it. I work in a deli now, so using the slicer is really putting a strain on me. It's a continous thing, no matter if I'm using it or not, it hurts a bit. But it's not enough to worry me yet. My back is really what's bothering me. It was so bad the other day I actually turned down sex because it hurt so bad.

Maybe I should watch it. It only really bothers me when I use it a lot. Then if I rest it, I feel fine. I just can't push it too much or else it won't get better.

[builtmyownbass]

I got numbness in my picking hard the other day from playing too intensely - I hope that dosen't last, I'm no-where near being old. From now on, if I get any pain, I will immediately stop playing. Its not worth screwing up the rest of my life because of some over-lengthed practice session.

[journeyman1040]

it susks getting Old ! yes it does !
well Im 44 and and just recently recoverying from gas reflex.
I thought I had a ulcer, but luckly it was only gas or acid reflex.
Doctor prescribe Aciphex.
works good , but my bad eatinging habbit's had to change !
no more pizza, spice's foods, soda's , you know all the good stuff !
No more late night snacks. !!!
I use too love food ,, but now just eat because I have too !
its not exiciting anymore to eat !!! SUCK's !!!!!!!! ha ha ha
but the good news is I dropped 11 pounds and I feel good .
it was depressing at first but just now getting use to it .
what help me , was I asked around at work people my age or older.
I was surprised to learn a lot of my friends have experianced or have it worst than me !
acid reflex is been around awhile and a lot of people have it , just dont talk about it .
as for your pain on playing guitar, I know what you mean .
I experiance that too .
it might seem the end , but trust me its not !
just lay off the guitar for a while .
also try switching from acoustic or electic to classical nylon strings .
it might not sound as good but the nylon strings are much easier on your left hand !
well good luck and God Bless

[ninjato]

Chiropratic care, proper ergonomics when you play your guitar, and letting go of tension is the biggest thing. New players and even intermediate players I know, fret too hard. There is supposed to be NO tension whatsoever when you play. If something feels tense, then you are doing it wrong.

This is not to say bar chording is easy if you are playing a chord progression chock full of bar chords for 6 minutes of a song. That's tough for anyone, but over time, I have also realized there is a way to do that without my arm feeling like it's going to fall off. It takes a while to have the touch of knowing when it's enough pressure on the string without overdoing it.

I also find that my playng tends to be more relaxed if I'm playing in private and if I am putting on a show at an open mic, my fretting hand does tense a little but I feel that is more due to wanting to make sure I don't buzz on chord and hit everything "squarely". It has gotten better over the last few years as I've played publicly more and more. I pretty used to it now and so it allows me to relax a bit more.

This post has been edited by ninjato: 17 September 2006 - 11:22 AM

[builtmyownbass]

Chiropratic care, proper ergonomics when you play your guitar, and letting go of tension is the biggest thing. New players and even intermediate players I know, fret too hard. There is supposed to be NO tension whatsoever when you play. If something feels tense, then you are doing it wrong.

This is not to say bar chording is easy if you are playing a chord progression chock full of bar chords for 6 minutes of a song. That's tough for anyone, but over time, I have also realized there is a way to do that without my arm feeling like it's going to fall off. It takes a while to have the touch of knowing when it's enough pressure on the string without overdoing it.

I also find that my playng tends to be more relaxed if I'm playing in private and if I am putting on a show at an open mic, my fretting hand does tense a little but I feel that is more due to wanting to make sure I don't buzz on chord and hit everything "squarely". It has gotten better over the last few years as I've played publicly more and more. I pretty used to it now and so it allows me to relax a bit more.

A scalloped neck ensures this. You know when you're playing too hard

They can even be used for recovering!

[mrbung1e]

I had tendonitis a few years back after practising too hard. I got through it and apart from losing a fair bit of speed i'm none the worse. After I was back in business I went on a course at the Acadamy Of Contemporary music and had a couple of lessons from Dave Kilminster. He dissapointed a number of the students by spending the majority of his first lesson talking about health issues, but he's absolutely right, its not something to overlook at all.

[The Chord Master]

Chiropratic care, proper ergonomics when you play your guitar, and letting go of tension is the biggest thing. New players and even intermediate players I know, fret too hard. There is supposed to be NO tension whatsoever when you play. If something feels tense, then you are doing it wrong.

This is not to say bar chording is easy if you are playing a chord progression chock full of bar chords for 6 minutes of a song. That's tough for anyone, but over time, I have also realized there is a way to do that without my arm feeling like it's going to fall off. It takes a while to have the touch of knowing when it's enough pressure on the string without overdoing it.

I also find that my playng tends to be more relaxed if I'm playing in private and if I am putting on a show at an open mic, my fretting hand does tense a little but I feel that is more due to wanting to make sure I don't buzz on chord and hit everything "squarely". It has gotten better over the last few years as I've played publicly more and more. I pretty used to it now and so it allows me to relax a bit more.

Hi I'm not a very experienced player (only young) and this isn't really too much to do with pain, but I was wondering just what you meant by "no tension when you play". So... uh... yeah, what do you mean?

When I'm playing barre chords for a bit my wrist aches because I'm not used to it I guess, but the pain usually goes away 10-15 minutes after I stop playing. I only practice for about 45 minutes at a time anyway though.

The Chord Master (or not...)

[ibanez6]

Hi I'm not a very experienced player (only young) and this isn't really too much to do with pain, but I was wondering just what you meant by "no tension when you play". So... uh... yeah, what do you mean?

I think he means pay attention to how you are sitting and holding the guitar. Relax your back shoulders and arms. Sitting with bad posture for long periods will cause problems long term, esp as you get older. I am an advocate for standing up while playing, this helps your posture and the guitar sounds better too.

Your fingers and forearms will always have to work hard at making the chords and fingerings but there shouldn't be problems if you build up to it slowly. Tired hands and arms are normal just watch for unusual pains that don't go way with rest. If you know your hands are tired, give them a rest.

Tendonitis from over use is very rare under 40 years old.

[ninjato]

Hi I'm not a very experienced player (only young) and this isn't really too much to do with pain, but I was wondering just what you meant by "no tension when you play". So... uh... yeah, what do you mean?

When I'm playing barre chords for a bit my wrist aches because I'm not used to it I guess, but the pain usually goes away 10-15 minutes after I stop playing. I only practice for about 45 minutes at a time anyway though.

The Chord Master (or not...)

The level of tension will vary depending on the guitar you are playing and the string gauge you use. Acoustics are inherently a little harder.

When I say no tension, I literally mean no tension other than what is necessary to hold down the string(s) on the fretboard. In the begining, most beginners use 10x more pressure and effort than is necessary. As your skill and touch improves, the amount of pressure needed to play clean chords and melodies without buzzing and muting (unless intentional) becomes less and less. It gets to the point where it is "effortless" and "painless" (provised your action is setup properly on a guitar to your hand.

90%+ causes of tension is playing too fast beyond your current ability.

[The Chord Master]

Ah, thanks very much!
Yeah I agree with the thing about beginners using way more pressure than needed - I've found myself using less now but getting the same sound (yay!)