Klarinet Archive - Posting 000137.txt from 1996/10

From: "Nancy Barlar (MUSIC)" <nbarlar@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Carpal tunnel syndrome: Please help my student
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 1996 16:51:16 -0400

There should be no reason your student should have to give up music
completely. Something she ought to check on is if she's ever had pain in
her bottom thumb joint. I had some problems there that became so severe
that I couldn't even drive. The pain was in ever possible place that you
could have tendonitis. My first doctor tried to tell me the same thing to
give up music and gave me wrist braces. My regular physician disagreed
and sent me to another specialist. He agreed that I had a problem with an
extremely loose joint in my right hand. He says that 80% of all women
have this problem at some time. He gave me a brace that kept my thumb
straight when I was doing everything else like writing, and I took it off
for playing. That along with a neckstrap completely relieved my pain. I
don't use the brace all the time anymore, but I still use it when it gives
me some problems. This may not help but it is worth looking into. Ask
her if she ever hurt in that area. Hope it helps!

Nancy Barlar