Klarinet Archive - Posting 000514.txt from 1998/10

From: "Donna" <donna.l.abrahams@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Carpel Tunnel Syndrom
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 19:56:31 -0400

Hi all,

I am new here, (subscribed yesterday) but would like to make a suggestion
re this injury (apologies if I am repeating anything that has already been
said, of if I have got the wrong end of the stick).

8 years ago I was in a car accident in which I damaged my right hand (I
also broke my neck but that was minor in comparison). I damaged my thumb
knuckle quite badly, so it was swollen for about 3 months. Anyway, when I
first saw the consultant about it (and my neck) I was quite lucky in that
his daughter was a cellist, so he was aware of how musicians feel about
injuries. He put my arm in a plaster cast for 2 weeks, and then suggested
I find ways of alleviating the pressure on my thumb. With my college's
consent, I was allowed to do my end of term recital with a saxophone neck
strap attached to the clarinet, and by resting the clarinet on a low
musical stand (with my music on another stand behind that). This helped me
in my recuperation. But the consultant was also very helpful in that he
explained that the thumb knuckles are actually one of the worst things
anyone can injure because there is so little blood that goes to the actual
knuckle - so he said it really was a case of being patient, and exercising
the thumb without pain.

Regards

Donna Abrahams
Worcester, UK

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