Klarinet Archive - Posting 000190.txt from 1996/09

From: Richard Faria <faria@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Authoritative advice needed
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 23:35:50 -0400

>Everybody please read this carefully and tell me whatever thoughts come
>to mind which might be helpful - even ideas not addressed here. I know
>we've discussed some of this many times, but this time I will *really
>really* pay close attention.
>
>I have begun to experience pain in my right wrist, very likely due to a
>dramatic increase in the duration of my practice routine over the past
>three weeks. In 17 years of playing, I've never had increasing pain like
>this. Soreness, sure, but not pain which recurrs every time I practice
>and worsens over time.
>
>I haven't taken Advil or anything for it yet. Those of you who are
>experienced with this - or better yet, physicians on the list - please
>refresh my memory: does Advil diminish..or aggravate..the probable
>inflamation in my wrist? Should I consider one of the other OTC
>products, i.e.; Tylenol or Aleve or Bayer? Should I avoid aspirin? What
>is the effect of acetominophen?
>
>Beyond this, I know from the many others I've spoken to that icing the
>wrist will very likely help, so I plan to give this a try. My gut
>instinct tells me also that a well-chosen wrist brace will help a great
>deal, serving to bolster the wrist and afford it greater stability when
>supporting the instrument for the long periods that I practice. So I
>need another piece of authoritative information, either from a physician
>on the list, or from somebody who has experienced this and has been
>successful with a wrist brace: is there a specific kind, brand name, or
>model which is known to have the right effect - perhaps one which has
>been used successfully by one of you on this list? I remember from
>conversations with Ricardo Morales and Sean Osborne that their braces are
>custom made, but I've misplaced my contact information for them. Could
>anybody provide me their contact info again? Hopefully there is something
>available commercially which will alleviate my problem. Should it be
>something loose-fitting but rigid? Should I be concerned about restriction
>of blood flow from a brace which fits snugly?
>
>I know that what I should do is consult a physician directly, but I'm
>exploring this avenue first because I suspect very strongly that the crux of
>the problem rests in the area of physical relaxation. My body is too tense
>from personal stress, and I'm seeking ways of minimizing the harmful
>side-effects of that stress while I alter my mindset and lifestyle...in
>order to effect greater relaxation during practice and performance.
>
>The increase in practice time is concurrent with the increase in my
>performance activities. I'm teaching more. I'm gigging more. I've got
>an audition for yet another orchestra in 4 days. Thus, with the increase
>in music to be learned, I'm putting in many daily hours on both Bb and
>bass clarinet (bass has problems of its own related to neck angle, but no
>wrist problem since I'm not supporting the instrument). I don't
>anticipate a decrease in activity or practice time over the next four
>months, so I desire to take quick and effective action. Please respond
>genuinely with whatever you've got.
>
>Sincere thanks,
>
>Neil
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Neil Leupold
>Southern Methodist University
>Meadows School of the Arts
>nleupold@-----.edu
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Neil,

Sorry to hear about your hand problems. As far as the brace idea goes, I
can't help you contact Sean or Ricardo, but there is an article by Rosario
Mazzeo in a back issue of the Clarinet (May/June 1989, pp. 7-8) on how to
make (or have a physician make) a hand brace of the type Sean uses. It is a
great article that I usually give to students who are having RH problems.
They take the article to their doctor and say "make me one of these", with
good results. I won't bother to explain the idea behind the brace, Mazzeo
does a much better job. I'd be interested to know what input you get from
Sean and Ricardo.

Best of luck.

******************************
Richard Faria
Assistant Professor of Music (Clarinet)
Ithaca College
School of Music
Ithaca, NY 14850-7240
Office (607) 274 3425
Fax (607) 274 1727
faria@-----.com
http://www.ithaca.edu/music/music4/
******************************