Klarinet Archive - Posting 000389.txt from 1998/02

From: nelsona@-----.net
Subj: tendonitis
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 1998 07:17:29 -0500

While I do not personally have tendonitis I presently have a broken hand
to deal with & as such am travelling to Toronto to see a hand specialist
& for physiotherapy twice a week. I have had plenty of opportunity to
observe people with tendonitis & the treatments since early Dec. First
& foremost deal with the cause..get your self to a medical professional
who specializes! Then do exactly what they tell you don't mess around!
As for the swelling I have had a substantial problem & have found
(reccommended by my doctor)the best way for dealing with that is stick
the affected area under as running tap water as hot as you can stand for
15 seconds...then in a bowl of ice water for 15 seconds, then back in
the hot water, then back in the cold...for a total of 6 to 8 times.
Then I have been taping each finger with Coban tape & using a tension
bandage on the hand....Keep the hand up above your shoulder for the next
10 minutes or so. By this time most of the swelling is gone & I get to
start on the exercises again. I have been doing this nearly every hour
for 2 months & gradually have worked it down to just the ice water 3 or
4 times a day.
The end result? Well so far I have no strength in the hand but I am
playing! We are doing Don Juan & our wind ensemble is doing the Weber
Clarinet Concerto in about 3 weeks (all 9 clarinets doing it together at
same time...so my fingers are working now..just don't ask me to lift or
squeeze anything!
IF....& i STRESS IF...you do have tendonitis you must not wait & you
must look after it.