Hand/wrist/arm health for guitarists.

brianlux · January 17

Well, for starters players, take care of your hands, wrists, and elbows. They're often the first things to go in that order. I wish I'd been a bit easier on mine.

I saw a photo of Neil Young in Rolling Stone recently. He not only had his usual pinkish-red wrist wrap, but it looked like he had finger wraps as well, both on the right side. That got me wondering what to use for wrist and elbow support. I have arthritis, tendinitis, and mild carpal tunnel issues in both hands, and worst in right hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Lately, there have been days (like, most) where my entire right arm is in a lot of pain.

I've started physical therapy, and take all the supplements, but I haven't been able to get good advice for compression help like wraps or braces. Anyone have suggestions based on experience with these things/ suggestions for things you've used?

Thanks!

Jason P · January 22

I was having problems with my thumb for the past several months to the point where I was ready to go see a specialist ... It magically went away a few days ago although I still feel it a little bit. I took about 3 weeks off playing to rest it. I was ready to give this a try ...

https://www.push.eu/products/hand-braces/push-metagrip-thumb-cmc-brace

It's not cheap, but if it works it will easily be worth it. Other things to consider are ergonomics (good playing chair, wrist position, thumb position, classical style positioning, foot stool, reducing string playing pressure in fingers, etc)

brianlux · January 22

Jason P said:

I was having problems with my thumb for the past several months to the point where I was ready to go see a specialist ... It magically went away a few days ago although I still feel it a little bit. I took about 3 weeks off playing to rest it. I was ready to give this a try ...

https://www.push.eu/products/hand-braces/push-metagrip-thumb-cmc-brace

It's not cheap, but if it works it will easily be worth it. Other things to consider are ergonomics (good playing chair, wrist position, thumb position, classical style positioning, foot stool, reducing string playing pressure in fingers, etc)

Good tips, Jason, thanks.

That thumb grip looks like something I could use for my left hand from time to time.

I'm going to physical therapy again today. The first time actually made my right wrist worse, but that was partly on me for not thoroughly explaining what was going on. My orthopedist (who is great) gave me some more tips and said to keep up with the PT. So fingers crossed I'll get better help this time.

Hope your thumb stays well, J.

Stove · February 5

Carpal tunnel release surgery....4k. Got my left hand done last year and going to get my right hand done this year.

Jason P · February 13

Does anyone use anything to protect their fingers? I had a high E string give me a paper cut on a finger (probably due to dry hands / winter) and have heard of people using polish or other methods to help with long playing sessions.

gimmesometruth27 · February 20

Jason P said:

Does anyone use anything to protect their fingers? I had a high E string give me a paper cut on a finger (probably due to dry hands / winter) and have heard of people using polish or other methods to help with long playing sessions.

a thin layer of new skin or super glue should work. just make sure it is dry before you play.

i fucking hate that the official new skin page sends you to amazon to buy it though. you can get it in any pharmacy.

https://newskinproducts.com/

gimmesometruth27 · February 20

so i sustained an injury that makes it hard to play guitar. one that i never thought would make playing guitar painful. about two months ago i sustained an umbilical hernia and that thing stuck out so far i could not play guitar. no matter what guitar i used, wherever it hangs, it rubbed on my belly button and was painful. i had it surgically repaired today, so hopefully in the next few weeks i can start playing pain free again.

brianlux · February 20

gimmesometruth27 said:

Jason P said:

Does anyone use anything to protect their fingers? I had a high E string give me a paper cut on a finger (probably due to dry hands / winter) and have heard of people using polish or other methods to help with long playing sessions.

a thin layer of new skin or super glue should work. just make sure it is dry before you play.

i fucking hate that the official new skin page sends you to amazon to buy it though. you can get it in any pharmacy.

https://newskinproducts.com/

Good point! I've even gotten it from our family owned grocery store. No need here to support Bezos!

**********************

Hey, have any of you found a computer mouse that you like that helps with carpel tunnel. Damn wrist is killing me!

gimmesometruth27 · February 20

brianlux said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

Jason P said:

Does anyone use anything to protect their fingers? I had a high E string give me a paper cut on a finger (probably due to dry hands / winter) and have heard of people using polish or other methods to help with long playing sessions.

a thin layer of new skin or super glue should work. just make sure it is dry before you play.

i fucking hate that the official new skin page sends you to amazon to buy it though. you can get it in any pharmacy.

https://newskinproducts.com/

Good point! I've even gotten it from our family owned grocery store. No need here to support Bezos!

**********************

Hey, have any of you found a computer mouse that you like that helps with carpel tunnel. Damn wrist is killing me!

i am in and out of a lot of surgeons' offices on a daily basis and most of them are using most of the ones on this list. carpal tunnel is something a lot of orthopaedic surgeons get at some point in their career so they all try to prevent it with these space age looking mice.

https://www.lifewire.com/best-ergonomic-mouse-11703163?utm_source=googlepaid&utm_medium=con&utm_content=Cj0KCQiAhtvMBhDBARIsAL26pjFKLaS_ibDXgXtaIMV5LblP0hFTYII7G2muwwpDV0pGZvrB-OoVgNcaAu37EALw_wcB&utm_campaign=commerce-dd-Mouses_Lifewire_Combined_CommSEM_DSA&utm_term=best mouse for carpal tunnel&kw=paidnoads&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22386391432&gbraid=0AAAAACeazfCiZH29a8F4RiguJJgQZ_xcr&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhtvMBhDBARIsAL26pjFKLaS_ibDXgXtaIMV5LblP0hFTYII7G2muwwpDV0pGZvrB-OoVgNcaAu37EALw_wcB

brianlux · February 20

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

Jason P said:

Does anyone use anything to protect their fingers? I had a high E string give me a paper cut on a finger (probably due to dry hands / winter) and have heard of people using polish or other methods to help with long playing sessions.

a thin layer of new skin or super glue should work. just make sure it is dry before you play.

i fucking hate that the official new skin page sends you to amazon to buy it though. you can get it in any pharmacy.

https://newskinproducts.com/

Good point! I've even gotten it from our family owned grocery store. No need here to support Bezos!

**********************

Hey, have any of you found a computer mouse that you like that helps with carpel tunnel. Damn wrist is killing me!

i am in and out of a lot of surgeons' offices on a daily basis and most of them are using most of the ones on this list. carpal tunnel is something a lot of orthopaedic surgeons get at some point in their career so they all try to prevent it with these space age looking mice.

https://www.lifewire.com/best-ergonomic-mouse-11703163?utm_source=googlepaid&utm_medium=con&utm_content=Cj0KCQiAhtvMBhDBARIsAL26pjFKLaS_ibDXgXtaIMV5LblP0hFTYII7G2muwwpDV0pGZvrB-OoVgNcaAu37EALw_wcB&utm_campaign=commerce-dd-Mouses_Lifewire_Combined_CommSEM_DSA&utm_term=best mouse for carpal tunnel&kw=paidnoads&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22386391432&gbraid=0AAAAACeazfCiZH29a8F4RiguJJgQZ_xcr&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhtvMBhDBARIsAL26pjFKLaS_ibDXgXtaIMV5LblP0hFTYII7G2muwwpDV0pGZvrB-OoVgNcaAu37EALw_wcB

Thank you, bud! Time for me to upgrade to Star Trek level computing!

Jason P · February 20

gimmesometruth27 said:

so i sustained an injury that makes it hard to play guitar. one that i never thought would make playing guitar painful. about two months ago i sustained an umbilical hernia and that thing stuck out so far i could not play guitar. no matter what guitar i used, wherever it hangs, it rubbed on my belly button and was painful. i had it surgically repaired today, so hopefully in the next few weeks i can start playing pain free again.

Sounds like a good reason to get into playing a lap steel guitar!

Hopefully everything goes well with the recovery

gimmesometruth27 · February 20

brianlux said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

Jason P said:

Does anyone use anything to protect their fingers? I had a high E string give me a paper cut on a finger (probably due to dry hands / winter) and have heard of people using polish or other methods to help with long playing sessions.

a thin layer of new skin or super glue should work. just make sure it is dry before you play.

i fucking hate that the official new skin page sends you to amazon to buy it though. you can get it in any pharmacy.

https://newskinproducts.com/

Good point! I've even gotten it from our family owned grocery store. No need here to support Bezos!

**********************

Hey, have any of you found a computer mouse that you like that helps with carpel tunnel. Damn wrist is killing me!

i am in and out of a lot of surgeons' offices on a daily basis and most of them are using most of the ones on this list. carpal tunnel is something a lot of orthopaedic surgeons get at some point in their career so they all try to prevent it with these space age looking mice.

https://www.lifewire.com/best-ergonomic-mouse-11703163?utm_source=googlepaid&utm_medium=con&utm_content=Cj0KCQiAhtvMBhDBARIsAL26pjFKLaS_ibDXgXtaIMV5LblP0hFTYII7G2muwwpDV0pGZvrB-OoVgNcaAu37EALw_wcB&utm_campaign=commerce-dd-Mouses_Lifewire_Combined_CommSEM_DSA&utm_term=best mouse for carpal tunnel&kw=paidnoads&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22386391432&gbraid=0AAAAACeazfCiZH29a8F4RiguJJgQZ_xcr&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhtvMBhDBARIsAL26pjFKLaS_ibDXgXtaIMV5LblP0hFTYII7G2muwwpDV0pGZvrB-OoVgNcaAu37EALw_wcB

Thank you, bud! Time for me to upgrade to Star Trek level computing!

lol i hope you find something that works. most of those looked kind of expensive but i guess if you want ergonomics you gotta pay for it. hopefully it helps.

gimmesometruth27 · February 20

Jason P said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

so i sustained an injury that makes it hard to play guitar. one that i never thought would make playing guitar painful. about two months ago i sustained an umbilical hernia and that thing stuck out so far i could not play guitar. no matter what guitar i used, wherever it hangs, it rubbed on my belly button and was painful. i had it surgically repaired today, so hopefully in the next few weeks i can start playing pain free again.

Sounds like a good reason to get into playing a lap steel guitar!

Hopefully everything goes well with the recovery

honestly i thought about that, haha

thanks man. i am pretty sore today but it's not awful. i am glad they were able to do it laproscopically so i only have a few tiny incisions instead of a big one. most of my pain is from the air that they had to pump into my abdomen to distend it enough to be able to get the instrumetation in to do the work. that is supposed to go a way by post op day 2 or 3 which will be this weekend. i just hope i can get back to playing again without the guitar rubbing on my belly button and causing a ton of pain.

brianlux · February 21

gimmesometruth27 said:

Jason P said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

so i sustained an injury that makes it hard to play guitar. one that i never thought would make playing guitar painful. about two months ago i sustained an umbilical hernia and that thing stuck out so far i could not play guitar. no matter what guitar i used, wherever it hangs, it rubbed on my belly button and was painful. i had it surgically repaired today, so hopefully in the next few weeks i can start playing pain free again.

Sounds like a good reason to get into playing a lap steel guitar!

Hopefully everything goes well with the recovery

honestly i thought about that, haha

thanks man. i am pretty sore today but it's not awful. i am glad they were able to do it laproscopically so i only have a few tiny incisions instead of a big one. most of my pain is from the air that they had to pump into my abdomen to distend it enough to be able to get the instrumetation in to do the work. that is supposed to go a way by post op day 2 or 3 which will be this weekend. i just hope i can get back to playing again without the guitar rubbing on my belly button and causing a ton of pain.

Oh man, I am so sorry I somehow missed your earlier post about this. Bummer! I hope you're rocking big-time again soon! Best wish, to the Tone Master!

Hand/wrist/arm health for guitarists.

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