worn out forearms, hands

[Bob]

(Bob is very frustrated and annoyed.)

This is a reoccuring problem.  My hands and forearms feel "tight" after I practice.  It can be just from one day of practicing.

It only seems to happen when I'm working full time.  If I have a break, I don't notice it so much.  It must be from working all day.  Just that.  Use of the hands during the day.  General fatigue from a day of work.

I must be pushing it too much in my practicing.  I must be pushing it too much without realizing it.  And then the use of the hands for the rest of the day just pushes it more.

Any advice?   This is just really frustrating.  Maybe I just can't push things at all when I'm working full time because my body can't take it.

[lagin]

Hi Bob.  I had the exact same thing about 5 times so far in the last couple years.  When you catch it early enough, you can just take a few days off piano COMPLETELY and then start back slow, with breaks every so often.  If you push it too far, you might be looking at a week off.  I've done both so far.  But the worst one I did, was when I had to cut my practice in half most days, and take days off, AND went to a massage therapist.  She loosened the built up tension in my arms and then it was much better after that. 

Also, you know how your arms are really hot after you play hard?  The therapist told me that if you run them under as cold of water as you can stand and then let them drip dry, it helps to flush out the toxins that build in there while playing.  The way I look at it is, it certainly can't hurt to try it.

So, yeah, you can ignore all this if it doesn't apply.  It's just my story and my opinion.  But know you are not alone, and I understand your plight! 

Btw, I had to back off typing and stuff like that, too.  But now it's back to normal.  Until next time .  Though, as I get stronger and have more stamina, it takes more and more each time to set my arms off like that, so that's a good thing at least.

[pianolearner]

Hi Bob.  I had the exact same thing about 5 times so far in the last couple years.  When you catch it early enough, you can just take a few days off piano COMPLETELY and then start back slow, with breaks every so often.  If you push it too far, you might be looking at a week off.  I've done both so far.  But the worst one I did, was when I had to cut my practice in half most days, and take days off, AND went to a massage therapist.  She loosened the built up tension in my arms and then it was much better after that. 

Also, you know how your arms are really hot after you play hard?  The therapist told me that if you run them under as cold of water as you can stand and then let them drip dry, it helps to flush out the toxins that build in there while playing.  The way I look at it is, it certainly can't hurt to try it.

So, yeah, you can ignore all this if it doesn't apply.  It's just my story and my opinion.  But know you are not alone, and I understand your plight! 

Btw, I had to back off typing and stuff like that, too.  But now it's back to normal.  Until next time .  Though, as I get stronger and have more stamina, it takes more and more each time to set my arms off like that, so that's a good thing at least.

I agree with what lagin said about 'toxins', not sure about the remedy. Have a look at these articles, there may be something useful you can glean from them, look at "Improving your Lactate Threshold" in the second link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactic_acid

https://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/lactic.htm