 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: graceej13
Date: 2007-03-11 03:38
Hi. Has anyone had surgery to repair the thumb joint on your right hand? I am scheduled April 10th and am hoping to play this summer in community band, and I wondered if anyone else has gone through this.
It's basal thumb arthritis, and they will be rebuilding the joint using a tendon from my arm.
Thanks in advance.
PGrace
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Author: D
Date: 2007-03-11 10:46
I haven't had the surgery you are having, but I can tell you from experience that tendons are very slow to heal and normally need help from a knowledgeable physiotherapists. I think playing in the summer sounds risky - depending how you heal.
My inclination in your position would be to buy one of those supports that takes the weight of the clarinet across your stomach or to get someone very clever to build some kind of rigid glove which goes back as far as the elbow and as far forward as the mid hand but with a device on it to take all the instruments weight from your thumb, still allowing your fingers to move. Maybe the stuff that those permanent wrist supports are made of would work. It would have to specially designed though to avoid causing further damage. I had tendonitus in my feet, and you don't want to end up with that in your hands.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-03-11 12:57
Grace,
I'd definitely recommend you use a Quodlibet FHRED telescopic support which attaches to the thumbrest and supports the clarinet on the seat cushion when you're sitting down playing.
As I've said, I recommended one of these to a player with a fractured shoulder (and humerus as well I think) and she's playing with good posture now, and there's hardly any strain on her right arm.
http://www.quodlibet.com/FhredGen.htm
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: CJB
Date: 2007-03-12 13:26
I've not had the operation you are going to have but did undergo an op to remove a benign tumour from the base of my thumb. This only involved veins and muscles, nothing to do with tendons.
Whilst I was able to play 3 weeks after the op the weight of a Bb was difficult to deal with. I got away with using a neck strap some of the time (I really don't get on with neck straps on clarinets) and balancing the bell on my knee some of the time. It took about 6 months before I was playing normally again - though some of that was also due to re-learning my right hand position as the tumour had been restricting the position of my thumb.
What I did find easier was to play either Eb or preferably bass (though missing out any notes that need the thumb keys!)
All the best for your op
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Author: salvey
Date: 2007-03-12 13:37
Grace - Yes, in January, 2006 I had a "thumb basal joint arthrotomy" in my right hand. Recovery time for me was about two months, but the results are worth it: no more pain, complete restoration of function and range of motion, and no change in the appearance of the hand or thumb. I'm having the left thumb done in June.
I was able to play the sax at about the two-month period, but the clarinet took somewhat longer. It's problematical as to whether you'll be ready to play clarinet by summer, however. Nevertheless, I'm sure that you won't regret having the surgery.
Salvey
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Author: graceej13
Date: 2007-03-14 11:09
Salvey,
Thank you for your message about the surgery. That's just what I wanted to hear from someone - even if I don't get to play until late summer or next fall at least I know it will eventually be ok.
Good luck with your left thumb. I hope you are just as successful with that one.
Grace
PGrace
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