What to do if you have tendonitis?

[kriskicksass]

See a doctor and rest for somewhere between 3 and 12 months before playing again.

[danny elfboy]

That's not what I did
I realized that there was someone wrong in my technique actually in what I've been taught and so began my retraining. I researched on anatomy, neurology, physiology, weel coordinated pianists and so on. Then I started from scratch applying a new coordination, a coordination that had to prevent any accumulation of tension

So I never rested ... I just focused on letting the tendons heals by not using them improperly in my retraining and by preventing further tendon problems by adopting a natural effortless and tensioless technique

[pianistimo]

i've had muscle soreness from other activity.  whenever i feel that 'tension' that dannyelfboy is talking about from ANYTHING - i don't practice.  i don't play for a couple hours to a couple of days.  you can kind of feel it.  if it doesn't feel good -don't do it.  it's not like weight lifting where you push through it. 

you have to work up incrementally (which dannyelfboy has probably already done).  some students when they get to college want to all of a sudden put in 6 hours because they see someone else already doing it.  it's not always the time practicing - but the time spent thinking about your music and what you want to do with it.  also, listening to music is never wasted time.  talking with other musicians.  things like that.  (i'd start with 1 or 2 hours max and gradually work up to 3.  beyond three, you should really break up the practice sessions, imo).

i have occasionally opened jar lids or lifted heavy things out in the garden.  when my arms and wrists are sore - i never push it.  suppose it might be the same with tendonitis.  you might appreciate heat treatment.  fill up the dishwashing sink with warm water and just soak your wrists and arms up to the highest point that you can for 10 minutes or so.  it feels so nice. 

and, as dannyelfboy says - get some other opinions - besides your current teacher.  opinions from people who know how to use the alexander technique or whatever techniques combined that make for true relaxation.  practicing those doesn't mean you have to PLAY play.  it just means you can fiddle at the piano with learning the techniques for 15-20 minutes at a time when you are fully rested and your arms/wrists are not aching.  they should never ache from playing the piano.

[pianokid16]

btw i didn't get tendinitis from playing piano.. from physical activity like working out. but its healing pretty quickly considering I'm also using one of those wrist support things. Thanks for the suggestions!

[danny elfboy]

btw i didn't get tendinitis from playing piano.. from physical activity like working out

it's all connected
tendonitis is caused (except on pregnancy) by accumulation of muscle tension
so if you tend to accumulate tension you do it in whatever acticity
even writing with a pen can trigger tendonitis if there's accumulation of muscle tension
even lifting weight, playing tennis or gymanstic ... even if none of these activities is supposed to cause tendonitis

Tendonitis is not "natural" and getting it is never a matter of fate or cruel destiny, it is always caused by wrong our own wrong body use.
Getting tendonitis from whatever activity is a sign that one must reconsider efficient body use at the piano too

[ridr27]

Here is the link to an article I think you will want to read.


https://eeshop.unl.edu/medical.html

It talks about injuries related to musicians.

[pianokid16]

Thank you very much for your clever and helpful suggestions. ah it still hurts thow but it's getting better and it's not affecting my playing too much because it's not the same tendons that got hurt. thanks for the great advice danny elfboy.

[danny elfboy]

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