 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Robin
Date: 2000-09-04 12:32
Hi.
Some of you might recall me posting a little while ago about a blister on my lip, which you, and I, and the lady in the pharmacy concluded was a cold sore.
I did use Zovirax, and it did eventually go away.
Well, this week I have had another one, and after a week of no playing, I took it to the doctor today. He told me that what I had wasn't a cold sore but what he described as a "pressure sore". This was because;
my sore appears smack bang in the middle of my lip (unlike cold sores which almost always occur in sides of the mouth); I have had no childhood experience of herpes, the virus known to cause cold sores; My sore appears as one sore as opposed to a small collection of blisters; Zovirax seemed to have had no effect; it appeared immediately after a long practice session; and the sore did not appear to be associated with a cold or flu.
So - have any of you had any experience of this? A sore which won't go away which forms on the pressure point of the mouthpiece on the lip? It sounds like a small thing, but a week and a half off playing when I'm not even ill is a very big deal for me. And it sounds stupid to tell orcehstra managers and teacher that "I can't play because of a sore on my lip!!!"
Please help..
Rob
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Author: ken
Date: 2000-09-04 14:43
I remember your earlier post, sorry to hear Mr. Lipkiller is back...hehe. A number of general observations: if Doc is right and it's truly a "pressure sore" I'd consider the following. It appears you're an experienced player and might just require a quick fix or adjustment in your breathing and/or practice routine. First, what does your teacher say about it? If he/she says it's just part of the craft get another opinion. Don't have a teacher? If you're dedicated and intend on playing for life GET one before you inflict permanent damage! These sores are dead serious and debilitating...take it from me, I've had herpes simplex for 18 years and by necessity had to keep playing whether I had one or not. Over the years of not allowing them to heal properly, I literally kept playing the scabs right off, over and over to the point my lower lip is now scarred. There's nothing worse than not being able to perform! Do you have a warmup routine and how long are your practice sessions? Do you play consistently 1 to 2 hours 5 days a week, etc. OR are your playing habits situational and you'll go 5 hours one day, off the horn for two days, back on for 3, off for 2...yada, yada? Erratic woodshedding definitely contributes to this kind of swelling. If that's the case, be more systematic and methodical in your practice time, plan it into your day like anything else and stick with it, keep conditioning your chops. Also, don't forget to add in your gig time. As far as basic mechanics, there might be excess pinching/tight-throated/choked playing causing uneccessary strain...especially if you're up in the trees allot (altissimo register). But, before you run to the mirror change one milimeter of your embouchre, or equipment (especially if your an advanced/professioanl player) keep it simple, ALWAYS re-assess your beathing fundamentals and air stream first. Ideally, we all want to play pressure-free and as much from the diaphram (deep gut support) as we can, that's the real source of that dark, warm/round tone we continually strive for along with better control and lightening technique. Robin, focus on these areas with guidance from a good teacher and I'm confident those sores will become farther and few between. Sotto Voce! <:-))))))
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Author: Robin
Date: 2000-09-05 00:14
Thankyou for your helpful advice, ken.
But I should clarify something that was a bit ambiguous in my post. By 'pressure sore', the doctor was talking about a sore which resulted directly from the pressure of the mouthpiece on my bottom lip. It's good and bad news really. On the one hand, I don't have to be so worried about the contagious factor (herpes simplex) and I don't necessarily have to wait until it's completely healed before playing, but on the other, not many people seem to have experienced it and it's a bit of a mystery (in that it's not Herpes).
Rob
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