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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Tendonitis?
Posted by: Lisa Nov 22 2008, 12:59 PM
It's now for 1,5 months that i'm not really able to play any guitar, i've went to some doctors and here's my story:
One day I started to feel pain I suddenly felt pain in my left elbow and especially in my left wrist. It started with a difficult classical song with wide intervals. Then I went to a doctor and I had to take some pills. But that didn’t work and I went to a sports doctor and he said it was an overload, and they were 2 ways to heal it: 1. warm my arm up with some sort of things with seeds in that you can warm up in the microwave ( I don’t know how to translate it) and I had to stretch my arm. But that didn’t work so I’ve did way 2 and that was that I should go to another doctor and he putted some needles in my arm to relax my muscles ( in Belgium that’s called acupunctuur ) But that didn’t work also so I have to go back to the second doctor. It’s now for a month and a half that I can’t play so I’m really tired of it. Does anyone been through the same and has some tips? And is it tendonitis, because I’ve been reading some stuff about that on the forum. I always feel pain, not just when I attempt to play guitar. I mostly feel pain in my elbow and upper arm and shoulder, but often in my lower arm too, so its actually in my whole arm. I’m actually able to play guitar without that much of pain so I’m wondering if I’d just better ignore the pain and play like I used to play? Does anyone has some suggetions or something?
Thx
Posted by: kjutte Nov 22 2008, 02:01 PM
One day I started to feel pain I suddenly felt pain in my left elbow and especially in my left wrist. It started with a difficult classical song with wide intervals. Then I went to a doctor and I had to take some pills. But that didn’t work and I went to a sports doctor and he said it was an overload, and they were 2 ways to heal it: 1. warm my arm up with some sort of things with seeds in that you can warm up in the microwave ( I don’t know how to translate it) and I had to stretch my arm. But that didn’t work so I’ve did way 2 and that was that I should go to another doctor and he putted some needles in my arm to relax my muscles ( in Belgium that’s called acupunctuur ) But that didn’t work also so I have to go back to the second doctor. It’s now for a month and a half that I can’t play so I’m really tired of it. Does anyone been through the same and has some tips? And is it tendonitis, because I’ve been reading some stuff about that on the forum. I always feel pain, not just when I attempt to play guitar. I mostly feel pain in my elbow and upper arm and shoulder, but often in my lower arm too, so its actually in my whole arm. I’m actually able to play guitar without that much of pain so I’m wondering if I’d just better ignore the pain and play like I used to play? Does anyone has some suggetions or something?
Thx
If I understand the problem correctly, it's only fixed by working out with the arm. Atleast that's what they told me in the army.
I don't think you should play guitar, but work out in some way or another, until it feels better.
Let's hope this helps.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 22 2008, 02:34 PM
Sorry to hear that Lisa. The first thing I would do is browse for information about the issue. You mentioned you have tendonitis. Did the doctors directly confirmed that? I don't know the details about treating a tendonitis, but you should make a small break from playing the guitar for now. Don't worry, you will make it up quickly when you get better, but for now, just focus on treating your arm best way you can. I hope you feel better real soon.
Posted by: Jose Mena Nov 22 2008, 04:37 PM
One day I started to feel pain I suddenly felt pain in my left elbow and especially in my left wrist. It started with a difficult classical song with wide intervals. Then I went to a doctor and I had to take some pills. But that didn’t work and I went to a sports doctor and he said it was an overload, and they were 2 ways to heal it: 1. warm my arm up with some sort of things with seeds in that you can warm up in the microwave ( I don’t know how to translate it) and I had to stretch my arm. But that didn’t work so I’ve did way 2 and that was that I should go to another doctor and he putted some needles in my arm to relax my muscles ( in Belgium that’s called acupunctuur ) But that didn’t work also so I have to go back to the second doctor. It’s now for a month and a half that I can’t play so I’m really tired of it. Does anyone been through the same and has some tips? And is it tendonitis, because I’ve been reading some stuff about that on the forum. I always feel pain, not just when I attempt to play guitar. I mostly feel pain in my elbow and upper arm and shoulder, but often in my lower arm too, so its actually in my whole arm. I’m actually able to play guitar without that much of pain so I’m wondering if I’d just better ignore the pain and play like I used to play? Does anyone has some suggetions or something?
Thx
Maybe Kris Dahl can be of help here, I've read in he forums he had tendonitis, you probably won't be able to play for some time, maybe you over stressed it. Take a break and focus on theory, ear training and other stuff related to music, it will still make you better at guitar.
Good Luck
Posted by: FenderBeater Nov 24 2008, 12:17 AM
I'm going thru something similar and have already been to a doctor but we all know how doctors are.."carpal tunnel..operate, tendonitis take these pills". I was told I have RSI but will have to get a scan next week to find out exactly what.
I don't have pain but I get very small numbness 3rd and 4th fingers and under forearm, slight burning feeling and some needles and pins sensation my pinky is basically useless for playing guitar. I've taken 2 weeks off and yesterday I tried to play slow for just 1 min and nothing has changed. I was also told I might have some nerve strain or damage from possibly playing too much. Was told by the doctor to rest and go get the scan done so I'll ask when I go about your issue. One thing that helps ALOT for tendonitis, if that's what you have, is L-lysine and DMSO might work too, try them out. I'm very familiar with DMSO from my powerlifting years and it does work for joint pains and aches.
Do not ignore the pain man, you'll be sorry. At least I don't have any pains but I still have some motor skills screw up with the pinky.
Go get a scan it will reveal your problems, have you done that yet?
Posted by: sigma7 Nov 24 2008, 12:32 AM
Quick ANSWER THIS QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU LEAN ON YOUR LEFT ELBOW AT SCHOOL OR SOMETHING? lIKE DO YOU RES YOUR HEAD AGAINST YOUR HAND WHILE YOUR ELBOW IS PROPPING IT UP????????????????????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i went to a nerve guy and he said yah i have mild tendonitis but was irritated from median tunnel which is carpal tunnel in the elbow from leaning on it too much
Posted by: kclancy Nov 24 2008, 01:34 AM
I have been struggling with tendonitis for a few months now. It is in my right elbow though. I did not think that it was related to playing the guitar. However, when I was sick for a few days and I did not play the guitar, it felt a lot better. I am well now and playing and the pain is back. I play an acoustic dreadnought guitar and I think that my arm position might be incorrect.
I have been doing some physical therapy and it seems to be helping. My therapist has me working the area agressively. I am "kneeding" the area with my left hand fingers for ten minutes. It is difficult to explain. It is like I am grinding the area that has the pain. It hurts a little for the first couple of minutes, but then starts to feel better as the treatment proceeds. My therapist thinks that scare tissue in the elbow is now the cause of the pain. This is called tendonosis, which is a little different that tendonitis. What the rough message work is doing is breaking the scare tissue down. After ten minutes of this rough, but very focused message, I then message my forearm gently. I am trying to get some blood flow into the elbow. Tendonitis/tendonosis is hard to heal because of the very limited amount of blood that flows in the tendons. Increasing the blood flow will help speed up the recovery process. I do this for a couple of minutes. Then I strectch the forearm/elbow by bending the hand up and down. I do this for a couple of minutes. Lastly, I ice the elbow for ten minutes. I do this routine once a day.
Good luck with your treatment. I hope that you heal faster than I am.
Clancy
Posted by: SonofDestiny Jan 11 2009, 03:33 PM
I commented you on your personal page already, but I'm not sure whether you've checked it out. Anyway, you should look for an osteopath. I had this too and he helped me... I was better in like 2 weeks!
Posted by: Lisa Jan 11 2009, 04:13 PM
Hi everyone, I'm sorry for didn't inform you guys but I haven't been much at the site because I couldn't play.
Well a lot as happened. It appears that I don't have overloaded tendon, they thought it all come from my neck, because its was a bit stucked, but then I never felt pain in the neck so they didn't thought about it earlyer. So I went to a sort of osteopath/kinesist who cracked my neck and some sort of things and I did some exercises to detach my neck. But that didn't healed my issue. The special thing is that I have a big flying or servical rib sitting somewhere near to my left keybone (if you know what I mean, I don't know how to translate it properly) So they take pictures of it and I also had a CT scan. The doctors don't know what it else could be so they say that it's probably the rib who causes the pain, and then the only option there is, is to take away that rib, but that's really dramatic intervention and I will certainly not do that to soon. But for the moment I do play the guitar, because I have less pain than I had before I went to the osteopath and I can play the guitar with almost no pain. At the moment I'm not seeing any doctors anymore, I had enough of it and I'm glad the way it is now.
Posted by: fkalich Jan 11 2009, 04:47 PM
Well a lot as happened. It appears that I don't have overloaded tendon, they thought it all come from my neck, because its was a bit stucked, but then I never felt pain in the neck so they didn't thought about it earlyer. So I went to a sort of osteopath/kinesist who cracked my neck and some sort of things and I did some exercises to detach my neck. But that didn't healed my issue. The special thing is that I have a big flying or servical rib sitting somewhere near to my left keybone (if you know what I mean, I don't know how to translate it properly) So they take pictures of it and I also had a CT scan. The doctors don't know what it else could be so they say that it's probably the rib who causes the pain, and then the only option there is, is to take away that rib, but that's really dramatic intervention and I will certainly not do that to soon. But for the moment I do play the guitar, because I have less pain than I had before I went to the osteopath and I can play the guitar with almost no pain. At the moment I'm not seeing any doctors anymore, I had enough of it and I'm glad the way it is now.
It may go away. Often such pains just go away over time, completely, and who knows what it was. Has happened to me a number of times. Don't let anyone cut on you unless it is pretty clearly necessary. Actually I would steer away from any Doctor that proposed that is this situation, even as a suggestion. It may go way, or you may just be able to ignore it. But there also may be some who can give you a solid diagnoses if it persists or gets worse. Keep in mind, most people are pretty average, in any profession. The Sherlock Holmes types are not that common, but they do exist. But nearly all of them want you to think they have such abilities, no Doctor wants you to think he/she is limited.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jan 11 2009, 06:49 PM
I'm glad things are better now Lisa. As fkalich said, the pain may go away after a while, and the doctors are uncertain what it is, so just try to live a normal life and try not to worry about it too much OK? I hope all is well, cheers! 
Posted by: SonofDestiny Jan 11 2009, 08:32 PM
You're going to be fine! One day you're gonna be like: what!? Did I have an arm injury??
Posted by: Pedja Simovic Jan 14 2009, 12:39 PM
I hope things are better for you Lisa. Don't worry too much - stress never helps in anything
Rest, relax, do some exercises for stretching and warm up, and pretty soon you will be back to normal 
Posted by: John In Socal Jan 15 2009, 08:42 AM
some of those remedies sound pretty extreme. One thing that is probably certain is rest will not hurt the situation so keep giving that a try. But I would also seek some new doctors and specialists, possibly even out of the country if this goes on for more months. Before I let anybody take a rib out I would try to find some really good experts in this area. Just because you tried 2 or 3 doctors doesn't mean you have found the right one yet. It may take 10 or 20 doctors, possibly even going out of country to try something else. good luck.
Posted by: kaznie_NL Jan 15 2009, 03:29 PM
Tendonitis at 14? Not sure if it's possible 
Posted by: TheOldOnes Jan 15 2009, 04:40 PM
I think you will be okay to work through it although you may want to reduce your workload. I had pretty much the same thing about 3-4 months ago when I really increased my workload particularly in fast alternate picking exercises. My elbow really hurt but it really didn't seem to be a problem when playing guitar. But it was clear that the guitar playing was a big part of the problem. I stopped for a few weeks and that helped a bit but not much. Occassionaly massaging my elbow and putting ice on it occassionally helped. After a couple of weeks, I was going nuts so I started playing some of the exercises again but avoided some of the more intensive lessons. After a couple of weeks it disappeared.
As pointed out by Sigma in an earlier post, some of these problems are caused by a number of factors - leaning too much on your arm (which I recently took action to avoid - very difficult to address consciously) is something that you may want to consider - take a look at how you sit/stand while playing (and in other activities).
kaznie_NL - I had pretty severe tendinitis when I was 13-14 from my childhood aspirations of becoming a professional baseball pitcher. Had to give up pitching because of it.
Posted by: Daniel Realpe Nov 30 2009, 07:16 PM
check out the warm up and stretch exercises in the John Petrucci "Rock Discipline" DVD, they have really helped me
Posted by: Lian Gerbino Nov 30 2009, 07:46 PM
yes, these are very useful tips. it helped me a lot too after so many hours of practice.
Posted by: jafomatic Nov 30 2009, 08:38 PM
I suddenly feel younger by a whole year. Almost as if it were 2008 again!
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 30 2009, 09:21 PM
I think Lisa will appreciate the year-around support
Posted by: micpon Nov 30 2009, 10:01 PM
TOS (thoracic outlet syndrome) eg extra rib ?The symtoms use to be pain and weaness in the arm,cervical pain and headache," white" fingertips.
Posted by: Martz Nov 30 2009, 11:04 PM
I've read throught the whole thread and as I see it it could be one of the following:
* A nerve entrapment (compression) from either
-the neck (if you've had your head bent forward and tilted to the left)
-or further down at the elbow (they've mentioned leaning on the elbow)
-or as far down as the hand (if you've held your hand in a very strange angle)
* An overuse injury (called tendinitis, tendinosis) of the muscles in the forearm.
If it's a nerve injury you should be able to provoke the pain in the elbow by lengthening the nerve, -the most easy way is to tilt your head away from the arm and stretch the arm straight out or bend it like those egygian figures (head away, arm 90° with bent elbow and hand up (difficult to explain). You could also have some kind of numbness, pins and needles in your fingers. The thing with the 1st rib is possible, but very unlikely. Why would that suddenly start making a problem?? And an operation in the neck /Thorasic Outlet Syndrome in a 14 year old.... I wouldn't go with that. Stick with the osteopa/Chiro/PT at least a couple of years.
If it's overuse I would stop playing for a while and either go for the gym-excercises (talk to your physician/PT/Chiro) or treatment like cortison (maybe you're to young though) or the rubbing treatment (Deep frictions). An epicondylitis (as it's called) will go away within a year without treatment and much faster with.
To avoid getting it back... Warm up.. Slowly playing more and more.. And learing the correct technique.. But I can't help you with that yet since I'm a newbee at Guitarr
Hope you get well soon Lisa.
/Martz
PhD Physical Therapist
Posted by: Keilnoth Dec 1 2009, 01:13 PM
Woaw Martz, you should really post all those informations in the Wiki. There is a full page about injuries there and all that professional information is really helpful.
Posted by: bleak Dec 1 2009, 04:49 PM
I've had RSI for the past month or so but its recovering now and I can play about an hour a day of guitar. When you can't play and your injured it really feels like its never going to get better but it will in time, and its actually been really useful to have some time off from playing guitar - really makes you stand back and see what your goals are and where you want to go with guitar and also good extra theory and listening practice
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