 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: elizabeth
Date: 2002-02-07 22:56
I have been playing clarinet for about 3 1/2 years. Just recently (about a month ago) my right wrist has been bothering me. At first I thought it would go away, but it hasn't. It has been in pain constantly. Today I went to the doctor and was told that it is Tenosynovitis (a.k.a. inflamation of the tendons in the wrist). The only cause of it that I can see is from playing clarinet! I was ordered to wear a splint and rest my wrist (and reduce my preacitcing time). Of course this is impossible! I have a number of competitions coming up and I must practice! Has anyone had to deal with something similar to this? Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can allow my wrist to heal, but still be able to do what I love (play clarinet)? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-02-07 23:39
I don't recommend practicing while it is inflamed. To ease the pain I take Naproxin Sodium, the genetic form of "Alieve, " pick up a book on Theory and try to master things I should already know.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-02-08 02:40
You will find a number of posts dealing with wrist injuries on this forum. From everyone else's responses and personal experience, I find that the most useful way to "cram for a competition" in a situation like this is mental preparation and rehearsal. My personal exercise is to follow these steps:
1) Visualize yourself playing your personal model of clarinet. Hold your mouthpeice and setup in your mouth for your "feel".
2) Imagine where your fingers will go to get your notes. Concentrate on finger position. It's mind over matter; You no longer need the clarinet unless you want sound.
3) Practice embouchure with the mouthpeice in your mouth.
4) Visualize what you are playing, hear it in your head, you may notice that some of the things you hear will actually need to be improved on.
5) Mentally improve these things.
6) Visualize it until it seems to be played perfectly.
7) When your hand feels better, try to play what you were going over and you may see (or hear) a difference.
It's amazing!
Also, sometimes even taking a break will improve your playing.
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Author: Sandee
Date: 2002-02-08 03:17
I'm having the same sort of problem. What has helped somewhat is fashioning a way to NOT support my clarinet with my wrist/hands. [It's an ugly, simple thing - piling wood blocks on my case high enough for me to rest the bell of the instrument on the top block.]
When I went to the doctor, I made it clear that being able to play clarinet without pain was THE priority. It's imperative the doctor knows what is important to you....
good luck!
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-02-08 03:41
Oh, yes. I forgot to mention--stick with the Soprano, it only gets worse when you go to Bass.(Of course old age also helps the deteriation(sp).
Bob A
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-02-08 03:46
Bob - you ever played the e flat? *ducks for cover*
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2002-02-08 03:55
For the past few times i've played, i've gotten really bad shooting pains in my forearm and elbow.. Does anyone have any suggestions for that ?
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-02-08 04:27
I have a friend who now has to wear a "soft cast" cuz he fell of his motor scooter. He just wraps in on and secures it with velco strips. Slides a thin stainless steel strip down a built in pocket so he can't wiggle his thumb. He is now using an oboe strap to suport the clarinet and has had no problems. You might ask your Doctor about this set-up.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-02-08 07:02
Elizabeth, perhaps you should contact Steve Fox. A Sneezy sponsor, Steve's website advertises (among many other things): "Adaptations for players with special needs, such as key extensions and support mechanisms for removing the strain from the right hand, are offered." Evidently your difficulty is not unique, and help is available.
His email address is <steve@sfoxclarinets.com>
I really hope this helps.
Regards,
John
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-02-08 07:04
Well, let's try Steve Fox's email address again... how about just cut and paste
steve@sfoxclarinets.com
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-02-08 11:26
Try the Claricord. An Australian produced elasticated sling designed to take some of the weight while leaving some flexibility.
A friend of mine used it with success with a broken arm.
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Author: Lisa
Date: 2002-02-08 12:25
I have what my doctor referred to as "mother's wrist." Between lugging around a small one and playing clarinet, my poor wrist didn't stand a chance. I use the Neotech neckstrap with great success, though my section mates do sometimes say I look like a geek! I'd rather be pain-free than fashionable.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-02-08 16:47
Which makes me wonder: anyone ever play clarinet "left handed"? Repetitive stress injury is no fun and will get worse if you don't immobilize for awhile. The tendons also run around the elbow....every "hit your funny bone"? Ask baseball pitchers about elbow problems. I'd ask the doctor about physical therapy treatment possibilities also.
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Author: FT
Date: 2002-02-08 18:35
You can try using a neckstrap. When I don't use them, my wrist strats hurting in a couple of minutes. But since I use a neckstrap, it almost never hurts(My thumb still hurts, a little bit, but it hurts.)
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Author: robert glennie
Date: 2002-02-09 03:19
I think that also if you are using a computer that it will aggravate it since you have to keep the wrist elevated to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. I used to be bothered by that but I started to use a strap and it seemed to help a lot.
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Author: Chrissie
Date: 2002-02-09 04:09
I *strongly* support the idea of a neckstrap. The same problem happened to me senior year in highschool after about 6 years of playing... I let it persist a little too long and it still bothers me some, but the neckstrap helps a TON. I also recently got my thumbrest moved so that my hand would be in a stronger position...but that may or may not be an issue for you. (or you may have an adjustable thumbrest to begin with...) Good luck... don't let the pain continue! Clarinet is waay too much fun to let that happen.
Chrissie
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Author: Jamie Talbot
Date: 2002-02-09 11:11
I have a Ton Kooiman thumbrest on my clarinet.It,s completely adjustable
so it can fit any hand position.It distributes the wieght of the instrument between the knuckle of the thumb and the joint.
Problems that I was having with my thumb and wrist dissapeared overnight!
I highly recomend the product.
Ton Kooimans' website is on www.tonkooiman.com.
Jamie
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Author: Kim L.
Date: 2002-02-09 21:58
What you can do is try to assess what position your position your wrist hurts the most in. Then try to move your wrist around to a more relaxing position so that it doesn't hurt anymore.
Kim L.
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