Klarinet Archive - Posting 000174.txt from 1996/04

From: Stephen Gregory <s.gregory@-----.NZ>
Subj: Re: Arthritis and playing (was Metallurgy?)
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 1996 06:21:41 -0400

on the 6 April Brucs wrote:

> I haven't actually tried the FHRED device, but one that is similar.
> About a year and a half ago I suddenly had an onset of rheumatoid
> arthritis. (Never had it in any family members before.) Anyway, I
> asked a clarinet repairman in the Chicago area (Rick Sayres) what I
> could do, because I couldn't hold my clarinet. He was familiar with
> this FHRED thing, but I had to go to Edmund Nielsen Woodwinds
> (double reed people) across town to see a brouchure.
>
> At the time I was taking occupational/physical therapy in a local
> hospital for my arthritis. I showed them the picture, and they made
> a similar apparatus for me (*FREE*). I know the FHRED is more
> "professional" and engineered great, but it costs about $140.
> Anyway, this helps tremendously taking the weight off my right hand
> and you can still move around. But you have to sit. It attaches to
> the thumb rest and has a stick-like device that rests on the chair.
> I understand another model may be coming out where you can stand.
> If you really need it, get it or make one.
>

Bruce

I also have had rheumatoid Arthritis for 5 or so years and since then I have
been using a Saxaphone neck strap to take the weight off the right thumb.
By hooking it around the thumb rest I can play for long periods and
move the clarinet where ever I want standing or sitting. And it is cheap.
I could I suppose solder a small ring to the top of the thumb
rest to take the hook! maybe some day.
I have not seen or heard of the FHRED but I had seen a device that
hangs from the neck and has a metal tube on it that kind if looks
like this )--- the curved bit sits against your body and the
thumb rest attached to the pointed end. I never had a try with it as
it was a couple of years before I got RA. Have you seen anything like
in the USA or any where else?
Do you have any other ideas on this subject?

Stephen

*************************************************
Stephen Gregory
Christchurch
New Zealand
E-mail s.gregory@-----.nz