Klarinet Archive - Posting 000968.txt from 1999/04

From: "Buckman, Nancy" <nebuckman@-----.us>
Subj: RE: [kl] TMJ treatment and playing
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 07:20:09 -0400

Hi Cheryl,

I understand your trepidation as far as treatment and playing ability
afterwards is concerned. I have been treated with the most benign procedure
(muscle retraining and simple appliance) to the most invasive procedure I
can think of (surgically broken lower jaw) for this most unpleasant ailment.
However, I cannot see how you will ever retrain muscles if you simply do not
play for a period of time while you undergo this retraining.

My experience during my entire treatment period (six years) was to play
continuously, so as to be able to make the minor changes that were
necessary each time something new was done. If you wait until everything is
completed the change becomes a major one that will definitely interfere with
your embouchoure. Unless your therapist is a clarinetist, he/she cannot
understand the embouchure concept. I am assuming you already have a
reasonably good embouchure.

As you progress from one muscle-training session to another it helps to be
able to continue playing so that your face remembers the good position that
it has been accustomed to. Maybe your therapist would be ammenable to
having you do some embouchure practice on the clarinet while you are in
session. Then you will benefit from the continuing practice and your
therapist will gain some information on how best to treat a clarinettist, in
addition to watching what you do with your face muscles while you play.
That way if there is something about your embouchure that the therapist
objects to, you can both solve the problem to each other's satisfaction.

I am not a therapist. I can only tell you of my experience throughout my
treatment for a very severe TM joint problem. Mine is under control, but
still gives me problems from time to time. I will be followed for the rest
of my life by the orthodontist and the oral surgeon, with a few trips to my
physical therapist when necessary. Here's hoping you are in a much better
situation. By taking care of this problem now, you will avoid much greater
trouble later on. If you want to discuss this further, I am always
available. Best of luck.

Nancy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cheryl [SMTP:n741@-----.ca]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 1999 10:09 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] TMJ treatment and playing
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I have been lurking for some time now and have enjoyed the discussions
> which have been going on.
>
> I have just been diagnosed with TMJ and have to have treatment (being
> fitted with an appliance) over the summer due to the migraines that are
> occuring. I will not be able to play for a couple of months as they are
> "unlearning" the habits that my muscles have learned over the years and
> are
> retraining them afterwards.
>
> Has anyone else out there experienced this? If so, I am wondering what
> damage is incurred to embouchure etc and the rebuilding that will have to
> happen after this as I have a performance planned for the end of summer
> (about a month after treatment) and am worried about how this is going to
> affect it.
>
> Thanks in advance for any imput/comments
> Cheryl
>
>
> Cheryl Morehouse
> Coordinator UNB Music Camp
>
> http://www.unb.ca/FineArts/Music/camp.html
>
>
>
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