Playing with tendonitis

[tenderland]

Hello,

     I have been struggling with a tendonitis issue with the left hand for some  time. I do not have Carpal tunnel as far as testing has shown. This is very frustrating. I can play but if I play to much the soreness and stiffness comes back in the hand. If anybody has some advive they are willing to share it would be appreciated.

Thank you
J

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I would follow whatever advice your doctor has given you, especially with regards to playing piano.
Are you seeing a physiotherapist? Did the tendonitis come from playing piano? If so, maybe you could visit a musician's clinic and see what could be causing the problem.
Personally, if possible, I would let it heal first. There are treatments for pain and inflammation but I imagine that the problem could only get worse if you keep playing without letting your hands heal a bit. I've been told to soak hands in warm water and essential oils before playing and do certain stretches in the water and ice the hands afterward. Paraffin wax treatments were also really nice.
Oh and my piano teacher swears by this gel that smells like mint for any pain. Not sure what it's called.
I'm not a doctor, or a professional pianist, but I'm just speaking from my own personal experience (tennis + piano =? ) as well as some of my friends' experiences.

[ledger_lines]

I mentioned in another post about a book I'm reading. Its called Piano-Yoga and it goes into quite some depth about looking after your hands. Looking at their website and talking about a musicians clinic, there is a piano-yoga retreat in London this week at Kings Place. Says "build strength and suppleness in the fingers and hands" so might be useful if you live in London somewhere.

But it looks like you need to go see your doctor as well. My teacher uses an oil that seems to help me as well. Submerging my hands in warm water and doing gentle stretches seems to help as well. There might not be a 'cure' but you should be able to manage the condition. 

[tenderland]

Thank You for the response.

 Unforunately the problem began when I was starting to play after a long absance. I think I started back in to fast and hard playing all scales and all Hanon vigorously. I think I learned a leson, slow and easy.

I tried not playing for a year and it did not work. Sometines I wish it was just Carpal tunel so I could have surgery and be done wit it. Well it looks like excersixe and modertion for now.

[polojarvi]

J,

I've had problems with various repetitive stress issues, though mine are mostly elbow issues. What has worked best for me is, first, finding an occupational therapist who specializes in upper body issues. With a good therapist, if you have nerve entrapment problems, gentle manipulation and posture exercises can begin to loosen things up. Then I've been using Scott Sonnon's intuflow joint mobility exercises. Here's a youtube link to the first one:

These simple exercises help me get the flow back in my joints. I used to have some numbness and discomfort, and this combination has helped a lot.

Also, if you have a timer and set it for a half hour or twenty minutes and get up and move around when it goes off, you'll find you can practice longer with less stress.

From what I understand, tendonitis comes not just from the repetition but from fixed positions, so loosing up your playing would probably also help. To do that, you watch your own gestures at the piano, sensing the degree of looseness (probably especially in your wrists). It's incredibly easy to over  determine keeping your position correct, especially if you're just returning to playing and are being extra careful to do everything right. If you give yourself some practice session where you're just noodling around and practicing loose playing, you'll start to notice the subtle distinction between tension and looseness in the joints. In the wrist especially (for me at least), it's very subtle, but also readily noticeable.

One last bit of advice from my therapist that has been helpful. Consciously breath deeply throughout the day. After she talked to me about this issue, I started paying attention to how I was breathing while practicing. Much to my surprise I found I was holding my breath a lot. Each time you hold your breath you are starting to create tension.

I hope this is helpful. I'm not an MD; these are just things that work for me.

DJ

[venik]

Hello,

     I have been struggling with a tendonitis issue with the left hand for some  time. I do not have Carpal tunnel as far as testing has shown. This is very frustrating. I can play but if I play to much the soreness and stiffness comes back in the hand. If anybody has some advive they are willing to share it would be appreciated.

Thank you
J

I used to have this problem then I figured out that I was simply playing too tense.

The main problem I was having was I didnt relax immediately after the key(s) is struck. I would keep pressure on the key just to let it sustain.