Klarinet Archive - Posting 000824.txt from 1998/01

From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net>
Subj: Her Hernia
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 00:50:07 -0500

DAVVICSCTT wrote:
>
> Greetings,
> I have noticed lately that there are some Phds on the list.
My degree is a lowly MD, but I do repair umbilical hernias, so perhaps I
can help thee..

> First let me say that I in no way blame playing bassoon for this problem.
If you were an oboist, you would place the blame on your reeds, for
being too stiff and forcing you to overblow. So why not blame the
bassoon!

> Almost a year ago I had successful surgery for an umbilical hernia. It was
> small and was repaired on a local anaesthetic. My recovery was quick. When I
> play now I will feel a slight bit of discomfort in the area of the hernia.
> It's not pain so I am not alarmed. More perhaps like a tingling or an itch. I
> am quite physically active (amateur triathlete) and don't feel any discomfort
> in any other activities, just playing, and not all the time. The sensation
> usually occurs when I'm using a great deal of support ie. the end of a long
> phrase.
It is at this time that the abdominal muscles make the greatest active
contraction to move air from the lungs.

> Is it possible that the area is still not healed? This seems unlikely
> to me since I stretch quite a bit when swimming and feel nothing in the area.
Unlikely indeed. Were it not healed it would be always painful, red,
irritated, sensitive to the touch; or, more likely, the hernia would be
recurrent. Apparently amoung your daily repertoire of activities, it is
the ends of phrases on bassoon that most strains your abdominal fascia.

> Oh, yes,before I forget, the hernia was located directly above the navel. I am
> a strong player and have played for about 20 years. Any advice would be
> appreciated.
> Vicky
> DAVVICSCTT@-----.com
Your description leads me to suspect that long blows on the bassoon lead
to the stretching of the hernia site, with some sensation resulting. So
long as that is the only symptom, I would reassure you.

Look at what Tabutreau said about playing the oboe, take three breaths
out, AHH AHH AHH, then blow. Doing so places you farther out in the
process of exhalation, increases your conscious muscular control of
exhalation, and probably will cause your symptoms.

But remember, this advice cost you nothing.

Robert Howe, MD