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Callus on the thumb

Author: Dana J
Date: 2005-01-30 12:30

Hi everyone,

I am not sure if anyone else experieces this problem but I have developed a callus on my thumb probably from gripping the clarinet too hard.

I know string players develope them at the tip of their fingers, but I was wondering, should I leave it or try to remove them? I tried to remove it before but it keeps coming back.

I have heard a callus is a sign for bad blood circulation so I am a little concerned.

If anyone has any say in this I'd like to know.

Thank you.

DJ

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Re: Callus on the thumb

Author: Dana J
Date: 2005-01-30 12:36

Hi again.

I just wanted to clarify that the callus I am talking about is the on the inner side of the thumb which touches the wood of the clarinet not the thumb rest.

Thanks

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Re: Callus on the thumb

Author: VermontJM
Date: 2005-01-30 12:56

I think most of us get it- it's just from the skin rubbing against the woods- just like the soles of your feet being a little thicker from being stood on. No worries. You'll be ok.

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Re: Callus on the thumb

Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-30 13:48

Hmmm.....seems unusual to be touching the wood. Small hands? Maybe you are gripping the horn instead of just supporting it.

Bob Draznik

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Re: Callus on the thumb

Author: William
Date: 2005-01-30 15:08

Planters wart?? I once had one on my thumb and was totally unrelated to clarineting or bad circulation. Just a fungus that some cream got rid of.

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Callus

Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-01-30 16:29

I've had one on the top of the thumb, first joint for many years. Nothing's falling off or turned gangrenous yet.

The fact that there is one on the inside of the thumb indicates that there is some contact and movement against the body of the horn, but (as was mentioned above) your body makes this kind of accommodation all of the time, cf palms of your hands and soles of your feet.

I've got (or have had) the following music-related callus points:

1) Top of first joint, right thumb (soprano clarinets)

2) Top of thumb second joint, right thumb, running lengthwise along digit (baritone sax thumb rest)

3) Inside of thumb first joint, right thumb (alto sax thumb rest, from a Conn saxophone (ouch!))

4) Outside of thumb first joint, slightly lower than 3) above, right thumb (baritone saxophone thumb rest)

5) Outside of index finger, at second joint, right index finger (from bumping the side trill keys on the bass clarinet; I use them more than I do on the sopranos)

6) Upper ball of thumb, inside edge, left thumb (from hitting register keys on all instruments)

7) Lower ball of thumb, outside edge, left thumb (from playing them repetitive low A eighth notes "hits" in rock music on the baritone sax)

8) Upper ball of thumb, outside edge, left thumb (from my bassoon playing days, from hitting the whisper key; a doctor insisted on removing this one with liquid nitrogen at the behest of my paranoid mother; three months later it was back...it started developing again last spring when I played a musical on the bassoon but it's gone again now.)

These would be of interest to a fellow player or to Sherlock Holmes, but the ones that I have that really attract attention are the two on the outside edge of the upper surface of the second joint of both index fingers, both about a half inch in diameter. These have developed from over thirty five years spent reviewing government documents filed in two hole punched folder, and they ain't going away any time soon...

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Re: Callus on the thumb

Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-01-30 17:57

BobD...I don't think it is unusual to be touching the wood with the side of the right thumb. How else can you depress the keys (i.e. without the slight pressure from the other side)??

I have a callous on that side of the thumb too, as well as one where the thumb touches the thumbrest.

I also have a "rough patch" on my left index finger from where it touches the A key without depressing it.

I can't tell you about all the other callouses like Terry did, because I'm diabetic and my fingers are riddled with holes and callouses from finger-sticks!

Katrina

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